Covering the house are many climbing roses, including Rosa ‘Zéphirine Drouhin’. Antique roses are a passion of Diane’s. She also supports Wyck Historic House and Garden, which is noted for its historical rose garden nearby in Germantown. Diane also collects snowdrops (Galanthus) and regularly attends the Galanthus Gala held in Downingtown every year. She has a passion for daffodils, cyclamen, Epimedium, Geranium, and has an extensive collection of rare trees and shrubs, including Emmenopterys henryi, a large specimen of Styrax japonicus ‘Rosea’, and the California incense cedar, Calocedrus decurrens. She has a very large dawn redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides. It is likely this tree came from the Morris Arboretum and was planted by a previous owner. Some of the local arboreta, like the Morris Arboretum and Scott Arboretum, would have received seed or seedlings of the dawn redwood for distribution after it was discovered in China in the early 1940s. Additionally, Diane is a collector of garden books from the early 20th century authored by women.
There is a romantic quality to her garden. When they bought the property, there was a pre-existing boxwood parterre with intact hardscaping dating back probably 100 years ago. The garden is bordered by large masses of shrubs and trees that effectively enclose the space.
When Diane moved in, her now-woodland garden was covered with ivy and other invasive exotic plants. Today, it is a beautiful tapestry of woodland ferns, Epimedium, hellebores, and other plants she acquired from the many plant sales she frequented at local botanic gardens and arboreta.
In addition to Wyck, she is active in the Garden Club of Philadelphia and for decades has served in many management roles in the Horticourt at the Philadelphia Flower Show.
