In 1913, several members of the Garden Club of Philadelphia joined with several women from other local gardening associations to form the larger Garden Club of America. The first meeting of the Garden Club of America took place on May 1, 1913 at Stenton, the Logan family estate in Germantown. This year as part of our outreach money, The Gardeners gave a sizable donation to Stention to help them prepare their gardens for the GCA Centennial celebration in 2013.

With that introduction, about a dozen members and friends of The Gardeners toured the Stenton mansion and its gardens in Germantown. Stenton was the home of James Logan, who served for many years as secretary to William Penn. The land was acquired between 1723 and 1730 and the house furnished in 1730. It originally sat on over 500 acres. Today it is comprised of six buildings and 3 arcres. It was a treat to have their director, Dennis Pickeral and one of our members, Peggy Shaver, tour with us through the mansion. Stenton is one of the earliest, best-preserved historic houses in Philadelphia. It is known as one of the most authentic house museums in the region

Just a mile away, and on our way to Stenton, we also visited The Wyck House, which was home to one Germantown family from the 1690s to 1972. At Wyck we toured their “old rose” garden with their horticulturist and roserian, Elizabeth Belk, their literature describes the Wyck rose garden as the oldest rose garden in America dating back to 1820. Many of us want to go back in the spring to enjoy more of the beauty and fragrance that we got a hint of on Thursday, September 20.

Both of these Quaker homes are described as having quiet elegance, but what interesting to everyone was the Quaker legacy left in the hands of daughters rather than sons.