December 29, 2023
The mesmerizing Chanticleer was worth it two visits during the September tour of Philadelphia. I flew in early from Texas to spend the day exploring Chanticleer, knowing I would see it again for a few hours on the second day of the tour. More is more! This was my 4th time visiting Chanticleer, and as usual, I took a million photos, which I’m still editing for your viewing pleasure. I will share them in the next few posts. Consider it a belated holiday gift to you, dear reader!
Let’s start with Chanticleer’s Teacup Garden, which you enter through a white-walled courtyard decorated with clusters of potted plants and tiled paintings of sunflowers.
One of the gardeners reminded my group of the daily bouquets that grace Chanticleer toilets, so I went into the ladies room around the corner to have a look. Wonderful!
I also admired the tillandsia arrangement in the knotty tree border hanging on the wall.
Once you walk through the door…
…you discover the Teacup Garden’s namesake — the modest and charming teacup fountain. Every year the gardeners at Chanticleer change the theme of the planting around the fountain. This year, rows of tall bananas formed leafy columns on either side, planted with silver and gold plants.
The mirror “sedge” of the fountain pours four streams of water into a circular pool.
Take a wider view
Along the perimeter of the yard, richly planted flower beds shine with texture and color.
Pots add elevation and focal points.
The teacup fountain was purchased in Florence, Italy by Chanticleer’s original owners, the Rosengartens, in the 1920s.
I enjoyed the garden with fountains on all sides and then headed up a short flight of stairs…
…and looked back, admiring the jungle effect of bananas, yuccas and other bold plants against the sleek white house (which I believe contains administrative offices).
Take a wider view
A wide grass path runs parallel to the house, surrounded by white flower borders. I especially admired the columnar metal trellises that run the length of this garden. If I ever had a real place, I’d love to have a welder build me something like that.
At one end of the grass path, a multi-colored American agave sits in an elevated metal tub, evoking the Apollo 11 lunar probe!
The long view
Returning home, I was intrigued by the vines and brown balls hanging from the balcony railing. I think they are with cockades moss balls?
A huge oak anchors the foamy white bed.
Japanese anemones, one of my fall favorites
Tucked away in the branches of an evergreen, one robin egg somehow remained in an abandoned bird’s nest at the end of September. Is this real or part of the magic of Chanticleer?
The venerable dogwood, which has just begun to turn red for autumn, occupies one corner of the garden’s lower courtyard. I believe it is a sedge lawn, but I can’t remember for sure.
In a tall blue pot, a variegated ginkgo shows fan leaves.
Pink and gold
Chanticleer does not place sculptures in its gardens. But his fences, chairs and benches, plant leaf boxes and even fountains are handcrafted works of art. I love this spiral handrail with tree roots and dogwood flowers next to the old dogwood.
Take a wider view
And now we are back in the courtyard of the tea fountain.
Next up: Chanticleer’s Tennis Court Garden. For a look at other gardens on the Philadelphia Area Fling Tour, start here at Paxson Hill Farm and find more links at the end of each post.
To read about my past visits to Chanticleer’s Teacup Garden, follow these links:
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