Into the Asian Woods at Chanticleer
Who says you can’t have colorful flowers in a woodsy shade garden? In Chanticleer’s shady Asian Woods, I spotted this floating bouquet of bright zinnias, dahlias, sunflowers, and hairy balls. Gorgeous!
This is Part 5 of my visit to Chanticleer during the Philadelphia Area Fling last September. I spotted the water bowl on the way to the restroom, which is disguised as a teahouse in the Asian Woods garden.
Inside, another beautiful bouquet greeted me beside the sink.
Green Adirondacks blend in with a stand of green bamboo.
A nearly overgrown stone stair leads down to a rustic stone patio and wooden bench overlooking a shallow creek — a shady hideaway.
Chanticleer doesn’t clutter up their gardens with plant labels, for which I’m grateful. Instead, they put laminated plant lists in artisan-crafted boxes, each one unique to its garden space. I particularly like the box in the Asian Woods.
That little hand latch!
The interior — utterly charming
The garden in late September is a study in green. According to Chanticleer’s website, Asian Woods peaks in spring, “when epimediums, fairybells, jack-in-the-pulpits, and primroses burst into bloom with the new shoots of hostas, irises, and Chinese gingers.”
The shade would be nice on a hot summer’s day too.
But for now, let’s pass on through and head toward the Pond Garden.
Up next: Chanticleer’s lush Pond Garden, a great blue heron’s fishing ground. For a look back at the Elevated Walkway, Serpentine, and Bulb Meadow at Chanticleer, click here.
To read about my past visits to Chanticleer’s Asian Woods, follow these links:
- Every passage is a destination at Chanticleer, October 2021
- Up on Chanticleer’s elevated walkway and Asian Woods Garden, June 2016
- Asian Woods & Stream Garden, July 2008
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Digging Deeper
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The box is really cool. So many talented crafts people working in the garden. All these little touches are what makes it so unique.
Absolutely. I could have done a whole series just on the handcrafted pieces throughout the garden.
The box to hold the plant list is a work of art.
Love all the greens and contrasting textures.
Each plant list box is a work of art. My favorite is one shaped like a hornet’s nest. Coming up in a later post!