Photo by Jeannette Lindvig

Wednesdays at Winterthur

Join us for demonstrations, talks, and guided walks covering a wide range of gardening topics. These events begin at 11:30 am on Wednesdays from April to October (except August).  Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Walks last 45-60 minutes. No reservations necessary.  Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.

Broad-Leaf Evergreens

11:30 am, May 22

Broad-leaf evergreen shrubs are valuable plants in any garden, formal or informal. Some have colorful flowers, but all impart a feeling of solidity through the seasons. The various habits and leaf forms can be used to provide texture and those with fine dense foliage can be sheared into fanciful topiaries.

Join specialist garden guide Ed Stevenson for a walk in the Winterthur Garden while we explore various kinds of broad-leaf evergreen shrubs and the ways they can be used in your own garden.

Sawmill and Duck Pond Hike
11:30 am, May 29
Mr. du Pont’s partner in creating his beautiful country estate was the land, so take a 1.5-mile walk over some of the less-traveled areas of the Winterthur property to enjoy this wonderful meeting of man and nature. Hiking from Brown Horticulture Learning Center, our first stop is the old sawmill on Duck Pond Road. Our return trip will take us by the duck pond, across Clenny Run, through the meadow, Quarry Garden, Oak Hill Garden, and Glade Garden before ending at the Galleries Reception Area.

This moderately-fast-paced walk over hilly terrain will traverse several surfaces including paved road, mowed lawn, gravel path, woodland trail, and open meadow. Specialist garden guide J. J. Cassey will lead the hike; she suggests sturdy walking or hiking shoes, insect repellent, and a bottle of water.

Ground Covers for Your Garden
11:30 am, June 5
Ground covers were once primarily used as a substitute for grass. In modern gardens, they are used as labor-saving devices and are available in different forms, textures, colors and sizes. Specialist garden guide Fair Bauernschmidt leads the way through the Winterthur Garden to explore a variety of ground covers for every interest and application.

How to Prune Spring-Flowering Shrubs
11:30 am, June 12
The Winterthur Garden is filled with fabulous spring-flowering shrubs—which means lots of summer pruning! Join associate curator, Carol Long, as she highlights the pruning of some of the more common garden shrubs as well as the proper tools to do the job right.
 

Container Gardening in the Shade
11:30 am, June 19
Enjoy a beautiful container garden even in the shade. Join Suzanne French, garden horticulturist, and learn how to create and maintain interesting container gardens for low light conditions.
 

It All Flows Downstream
11:30 am, June 26
Winterthur’s property contains an amazing series of ponds, streams, and springs. To keep the water flowing properly, monthly or yearly maintenance is required. Join Marlin Dise, farm and environmental superintendent, for a review of the current process for pond or stream restoration along with the plant and animal habitats associated with these waterways.

The Sheep at Negendank Barn: A Fine-Wooled History
11:30 am, July 3
Negendank Barn is an estate barn recently restored to house Merino sheep. The sheep graze the adjacent fields, providing a bucolic view to visitors that enter Winterthur's front gate. Winterthur is working with historic Greenbank Mill to restore the Merino flock.

Join Jessica Shahan, Greenbank Mill's livestock program coordinator, to learn about the history of this fascinating, rare breed and to meet the sheep up close! We begin at the Brown Horticulture Learning Center and travel by garden tram to the front gate.
 

Summer Houses and Gazebos
11:30 am, July 10
Three summer houses and two garden gates are carefully positioned in the Winterthur landscape. Discover the history of these dramatic pieces of architecture in the landscape on a meandering walk with estate historian Maggie Lidz.
 

Inspiration from the Winterthur Garden
11:30 am, July 17
Learn how to apply the artistic lessons of the Winterthur Garden to your home landscape with examples from the private gardens of Winterthur’s garden staff. Join Carol Long, Chris Strand, and Linda Eirhart as they illustrate the design ideas that they have adapted to their personal style of gardening.
 

Inside the Interns' Garden
11:30 am, July 24
Horticulturalist Dave Schurr leads a panel discussion with the real movers and shakers of the Winterthur Garden, the interns. Hear their take on a summer spent in the beautiful Winterthur Garden as the garden interns share their experiences of living and working on the estate.

As the Wood Turns
11:30 am, July 31
For nearly a decade, woodturner Ron Brown has been transforming wood salvaged from fallen Winterthur trees into exquisite pieces of functional art. The bowls, vases and various other woodenware he crafts are displayed and sold at Winterthur’s museum store. Join Ron as he explains and demonstrates the fascinating process that “turns” raw chunks of wood into uniquely beautiful creations.
 

Restoration of the Glade Garden
11:30 am, September 4
Have you noticed recent changes in the Glade Garden? Interested in the “how and why” of the plantings and installation? Join horticulturist Amy Bloom-Mountz for a discussion near the glade. Find out how cypress knees are used in the ponds, how the ponds were leak-proofed, and why every single rock along the pond’s edge was removed and replaced.

Small Trees and Large Shrubs for Thought
11:30 am, September 11
When selecting a small tree or large shrub for your landscape, there may be some attributes you will want to consider. Among these are growth rate, structure, texture, shade tolerance, soil conditions, flowering time, and bloom color. Join horticulturist Jim Pirhalla on a walk through the Winterthur Garden as he points out plant selection possibilities.
 

Explore Sycamore Hill
11:30 am, September 18
More than just an area with big trees, Sycamore Hill was one of Mr. du Pont’s last efforts of garden design and one of his most spectacular. Not only does the area have beautiful colors in the fall, it has one of the best of Winterthur vistas once one gets to the top of the hill. The Sundial Garden to the West and the farms to the East make it well worth the trip. After a garden tram ride to Sycamore Hill, specialist garden guide Duncan Pike leads this late-summer walk.

"Lost" Gardens at Winterthur
11:30 am, September 25
The Winterthur Garden evolved over the long gardening career of Henry Francis du Pont, whose interest began in the 1880s and evolved to a fine level of sophistication over 80 years. Join garden and house guide Debra Shedrick for a look at the “Then & Now” of the Winterthur Garden.

Tree Planting Demonstration
11:30 am, October 2
Planting a tree is a simple and enjoyable way to not only improve your personal landscape but also to improve the air we breathe and the water we drink. Join Kevin Braun, arborist, in discussing reasons for planting trees, the proper tree in the proper location, and the “do’s” and “do not’s” of tree planting. He will demonstrate the proper planting of a tree, involving the skills just discussed.
 

Fall Color on Oak Hill
11:30 am, October 9
Please join horticulturist Jessica Tsakiris as she guides you through a walking tour of Oak Hill highlighting plants with good fall color.
 

The Care of Young Trees
11:30 am, October 16
Almost every parent does everything possible to make sure their child has an opportunity to succeed. Join Kevin Braun, arborist, in discussing how to “parent” a newly planted tree or young tree that has found a home in your garden. He will discuss everything from watering, pruning, and nutrient management to getting your young tree off on the right path!
 

Fall-Flowering Camellias
11:30 am, October 23
One of the most exquisite flowers is the camellia. Recent breeding work has made it possible to grow more of the fall-flowering forms in the Delaware area. Join Linda Eirhart, assistant director and curator of plants, to learn about this breeding work, a camellia’s requirements, and the cultivars available. Enjoy a short walk to see our recent planting of white-flowering cultivars.
 

From Cuttings to Cornucopia
11:30 am, October 30
Search the Winterthur Garden and adjoining meadows for unusual end-of-season plant material to add unique interest to your autumn arrangements. Len Elwell, garden guide and flower arranger, will demonstrate floral designs in cornucopias, fireside baskets, and other containers.