In East Falls is the garden of Suzanne Penn. For the last 30 years she has been developing a series of “garden rooms” that make up a garden filled with her collection of plants; architectural elements and her own ceramic pots and artwork. She is the retired Conservator of Paintings at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Her artistry is evident throughout the garden where every garden space and color combination have intention. Many spaces in the garden have been developed to attract wildlife including many pollinator plants and a pond teaming with frogs. Her garden is featured in Private Gardens of Philadelphia by Nicole Juday Rhoads.
Tucked away in Chestnut Hill is the small residential garden of Janet Novak. Janet is very active in the Delaware Valley Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society, and her garden is packed with over 900 botanical gems. While Janet focuses on rock garden plants, she also has many other garden plants, including carnivorous plants, hardy orchids, and unusual native plants. Janet’s garden has been featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer and she has hosted many gardening tours.
Syd Carpenter is the retired Professor of Studio Art at Swarthmore College. Her garden was greatly influenced by the campus of Swarthmore College, The Scott Arboretum and Gardens. Additionally, Syd is known for her ceramic and sculpture work which is showcased in her garden in West Mt. Airy. Her garden was also featured in Private Gardens of Philadelphia.
