March has finally arrived bringing with it the realization that spring is here.  The days are a little longer, the sun is a little warmer and the first of the spring bulbs are just starting to emerge, the tips of their emerald leaves poking skyward through the soggy earth.  While it still may be just a little early to start some serious gardening, it's the perfect time to start planning a few inspirational spring garden adventures.  Begin your tour with a trip to Garden Accents to get those creative juices flowing and to see what new, exciting items are available to enhance your garden spaces.  This is the time of year when our selection is at its best thanks to the recent arrival of our spring inventory orders.  Our display gardens are easy to maneuver due to great drainage since we sit high up on an overlook, and we have extensive paved areas which allow easy exploring through our thousands of planters, statues, fountains, birdbaths and architectural elements.  It's a great time to see our entire new spring inventory while we still have multiples of many items, perfect for those of us (myself included) who think more is almost always better!  

Continue nurturing the inspiration by venturing out to see some of the nation's most beautiful public gardens that are right here in our area.  We are so fortunate to be surrounded by so many amazing places:  Longwood Gardens is of course open all year, and many of the seasonal local garden attractions open their doors in just a few weeks including Chanticleer (opens March 30th) and Nemours Garden (opens May 1st).  If you've made the drive out to Longwood Gardens, you'll definitely want to venture just about an hour further southwest over the Maryland border to see the amazing Ladew Topiary Gardens which open again for the season on March 27th.  Other gardens you may want to visit for inspiration include the 2-acre formal Sinkler Garden at the Highlands Mansion in Fort Washington which is open year-round.  Don't forget the Arboretum at the Barnes Foundation, Tyler Arboretum,  Morris Arboretum, Bartram's Garden, Clivden, Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, Hortulus Farm and Garden Nursery, Mt. Cuba Center, Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, Tyler Formal Gardens, Wyck and of course, Winterthur.  A visit to any of these local treasures will rejuvenate your winter-weary soul and give you some wonderful ideas for your own spaces.

Mark Your Calendars:  Liz Schumacher Lecturing at Ladew Topiary Gardens on April 27th:

Liz has been asked to speak at Ladew Topiary Gardens during their Spring 2011 Lecture Series where she will be presenting a lecture and slideshow, The Artful Garden.  Liz presented this lecture back in January at the Barnes Association meeting, so if you missed it due to inclement winter weather, you're in luck!  The Artful Garden will be presented on Wednesday, April 27th from 10:30 am to 11:15 am.  Liz shares her years of experience as both an award-winning gardener and the proprietor of Garden Accents which she first opened in 1979 and discusses her ideas on how to create a personalized garden that can withstand the challenges of time and changing of seasons.

Ladew Gardens is less than a 2 hours' drive from the Philadelphia suburbs in Monkton, Maryland and was the brainchild of self-taught gardener, Harvey S. Ladew (1887-1976) who created 15 thematic "garden rooms" on 22 acres of his 250-acre Maryland horse property.  Late in life, Ladew determined to find a way of preserving his creation for all to enjoy.  The result is Ladew Topiary Gardens, Inc., a non-profit organization whose mission is "to maintain and promote the gardens, house and facilities in keeping with the creative spirit of Harvey S. Ladew for the public benefit and for educational, scientific and cultural pursuits."

Ladew Topiary Gardens opened to the public in 1971. Since then, the Board of Trustees developed a variety of special events to assist in maintaining this uniquely beautiful historic house and gardens.  Currently Ladew Gardens hosts approximately 30 annual events which include spring and fall programs, the My Lady's Manor Steeplechase Races, the Summer Concert Series and Children's Day.  The Garden Club of America has described Ladew's garden as "the most outstanding topiary garden in America." 

Pssst--Pass the Word:  The Shipley Secret Garden Tour is Coming!

If it's spring, the Shipley Secret Garden Tour must not be far away!  The Secret Gardens Committee of The Shipley School cordially invites you to tour extraordinary gardens in the Main Line on Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.  A Main Line tradition, The Shipley Secret Gardens 37th Annual Tour features magnificent gardens carefully selected to appeal to everyone but the locations are kept secret until you embark on the tour!  To reserve your spot on The Shipley Secret Garden Tour and for more information on additional events planned for the day, please click here.

New Spring Inventory--Hand-Selected High-Fired Glazed Pottery:  

If you've visited us before, you've seen the towering stacks of vibrantly colored pots and jars which add so much interest to our outdoor display areas.  These artistically glazed creations live outside all year long and are as tough as they are beautiful.  Thanks to a special process of high-firing, these are extremely hardy and the vibrant hues remain true from season to season.  We've just returned from the manufacturer where we had the pleasure of hand-selecting each pot and jar to add to our inventory.  We've chosen an outstanding array of solid designer colors and breathtaking drip glazes so there's something for everyone.  Also included will be some unusual self-contained drip glaze fountains.  We first brought in a huge number of these pots and jars back in 2007, and we happily returned this spring to repeat the order as they have proven themselves to be worthy of our "tried and true" category.  Our shipment is scheduled to arrive the week of March 28th!  Exciting!

Big, Strong and Beautiful!  XXL Planters Have Arrived:  

We're proud to present one of the newest items to our showroom--and they have the distinct honor of being the largest planters we've ever offered!  These oversized garden planters provide an amazingly generous planting area.  They're lightweight and provide ample room for just about anything you would want to plant in them including small trees.  Think of the landscaping possibilities--plant them with deciduous trees or evergreens and use them to add vertical interest and color to a poolside patio; plant large topiaries on either side of your garage entrance; create large living privacy screens on a patio or deck.  Size is no longer an issue as these planters are available in up to a 48" size!  These planters are crafted of a lightweight resin and are available in a variety of designs from romantic Mediterranean classics to the clean lines of contemporary design.  All feature pre-drilled drainage holes to encourage healthy roots and come with a 10-year limited warranty.  They are extremely durable and meant to withstand the harsh demands of summer and winter weather.  Stop in soon to see these wonderful planters and for best selection.  

Millstones of All Sizes Here at Garden Accents:

We like to keep a wide variety of sizes and styles of both antique and contemporary millstones on hand here at Garden Accents.  Millstones can be plumbed as a fountain, used as focal points along a walkway, used as pedestals for sculpture...The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.  Another very interesting application is using the millstone as a vertical focal point in a garden, securing it on its side burying it partially so that it becomes a sculptural garden accent.  Some of our creative customers have employed the larger millstones as centerpieces in driveways and courtyards and as large outdoor tables. Currently our stock includes:

- 79" Extra Large Antique Millstones
- 51" Large Antique Millstones
- 36" Granite Millstones with Swirl and Line Patterns
- 26" Granite Millstones with Swirl and Line Patterns

Locating antique and older millstones is becoming more challenging but you'll find one of the area's best selections here at Garden Accents in a huge variety of sizes and grinding patterns.  If there is a particular size or pattern you're looking for, please give us a call or stop in and we'll be happy to help you select the perfect millstone for your project.  We can even help with delivery and installation!

Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to
be only one of the instruments, not the composer.
~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth