Garden Programs

Flower Power: Floral Artistry at Winterthur Exhibition
March 9–October 31

Widely known as a collector, horticulturist, and interior designer, Henry Francis du Pont combined these passions in the glorious flower arrangements he created for his home. Du Pont carefully considered color, shape, texture, and fragrance in developing complementary floral designs for his rooms and dining table.

In this exhibition, explore this crucial—and often overlooked—aspect of du Pont’s design prowess, from color palettes to specific flower and vessel choices.
Included with all admission tickets. Members free.

more info

Winterthur Farmstand
Saturdays, June 5–September 25
(or longer, depending on the weather)
9:00 am–1:00 pm
Route 52, just south of main entrance

Stop by every Saturday this summer for local, fresh produce and more. See the complete list of vendors and offerings below:

• Buck Run Farm—free-range beef
• Big Sky Bread—a variety of fresh breads, granola, and cookies
• Papas Pastry Shop—homemade pastries, pre-prepared foods, gluten-free foods, and even vegan yummies
• Maiale—specialty homemade sausages
• Jubilee Hill Dahlias—huge, gorgeous, locally grown, cut dahlias
• Local farmer Andrew Cleaver—fresh strawberries, melons, cantaloupes, corn, and tomatoes
• H. G. Haskell's SIW Vegetables—every vegetable you can imagine plus jams, sauces, apple butters, and his famous corn and tomatoes
• Red Haven Farm—free-range beef, poultry and eggs
• Delaware Specialty Foods—homemade salsas, potato salad, coleslaw, and other wonderful goodies made from local farmers' produce
• Mushroom Café—local mushrooms and mushroom soup, homemade scones, cookies, and drinks
• Bessie's—handmade aprons, bags, purses, and pot holders, all from American-made fabrics
• In mid-August, look for Clarke Green who will have a knife, pruner, and anything-that-needs-to-be-sharpened station available. Get all your garden tools sharpened so your work is easier.
• Happy Cat Farm (farming right here at Winterthur)—more than 200 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, peppers, and other veggies, all grown without pesticides

If you would like to receive e-mail updates about the Farmstand, please send us an e-mail at Farmstand@Winterthur.org. We will let you know what will be for sale and will highlight any new offerings. Your e-mail address will be kept confidential.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Wednesdays, April–October (except August), 11:30 am

Join us for demonstrations, talks, and guided walks covering a wide range of gardening topics.

2010 Schedule for July through October
July 7: Tree Climbing De-Mystified
July 14: Happy Cat Veggie Garden Tour
July 21: Winterthur's Specimen Trees
July 28: Maintaining a Wild Garden

September 1: Edible Ornamentals
September 8: Soil Structure: A Garden's Foundation
September 15: September Showstoppers
September 22: Warning: Nursery Stock to Avoid
September 29: Working Buildings of Farm Hill, from Past to Present

October 6: Wrought Iron to Nylon Webbing: Seating in the Winterthur Garden
October 13: Oak Hill: Fruits and Restoration
October 20: Bark: More Than Just Noise
October 27: Winterthur Garden History


Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. Walks last 45-60 minutes. No reservations necessary.
Members free. Included with general admission.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 9.8.10
Soil Structure: A Garden’s Foundation
11:30 am, September 8th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Is your garden all it can be? What can you do to bring your soil to life? Ted Lewis, specialist garden guide, leads this discussion of how to improve your garden’s soil structure for future gardening success.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Ikebana Class
September 11
9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Learn the design principles of this wonderful Asian art form and create a take-home piece in this class taught by Midori Tanimune. Tanimune, a highly regarded designer of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana, has been part of the Winterthur design team for more than ten years. Please bring your own clippers. Containers will be provided. Registration required. Call 302.888.4600.
$90; $80 Members

Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Garden Structures and Water Features
September 11 1:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 9.15.10
September Showstoppers
11:30 am, September 15th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Looking for ways to extend color in your garden? Join Linda Eirhart, assistant director of the garden, as we explore the Winterthur Garden to discover the last of the summer blossoms and find the earliest of fall blooms.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Flower-Arranging Workshop
September 16 and 23, 6:30–8:30 pm

Join Winterthur’s floral designers for this two-part class and create beautiful arrangements with the finest local flowers. The arrangements are yours to take home! All abilities are welcome. Bring clippers and, if you wish, a container. We will provide containers for those that need them. Registration required. Call 302.888.4600.
$130; $115 Members

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 9.22.10
Warning: Nursery Stock to Avoid
11:30 am, September 22nd
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Choosing the best woody nursery stock is a great start towards a successful garden. Good plant selection can be critical to your garden’s longevity. Learn what to look for in selecting a tree or shrub to get the most of your outdoor investment from Jim Pirhalla, garden horticulturist.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 9.29.10
Working Buildings of Farm Hill, from Past to Present
11:30 am, September 29th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Tour the remote barns and buildings and see how they are used in the present day. Marlin Dise, superintendent of Farm & Environmental, will discuss the history of how these buildings were used when the Winterthur farm was in operation. We will take a garden tram to the starting location; good walking shoes are recommended.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 10.6.10
Wrought Iron to Nylon Webbing: Seating in the Winterthur Garden
11:30 am, October 6th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Focus on the history of chairs and benches in the Winterthur Garden with Maggie Lidz, estate historian. Learn about the current collection of garden furniture at Winterthur.

After a walk in the garden, event will continue in the Rotunda for a 12:15pm lecture.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Fall Flowers and Fruits
October 9, 1:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 10.13.10
Oak Hill: Fruits and Restoration
11:30 am, October 13th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Oak Hill was created late in H. F. du Pont’s life and contains design elements that were considered “cutting edge.” The restoration of this garden area will be discussed by Carol Long, assistant curator of the garden, along with one of its “experimental” design features: fall fruits.





Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 10.20.10
Bark: More than Just Noise
11:30 am, October 20th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

The bark of a dog can be a greeting, a warning, or an irritation. A woody plant’s bark is not only functional but can provide a beautiful ornamental presence in the garden, especially in the winter. As we walk through the garden with Nora Sadler, specialist garden guide, we’ll look at some trees and shrubs with attractive bark and see how bark is helpful for plant identification.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Fiery Color: Fall Foliage
Photography Workshop
October 22–24
Timed for the peak fall colors of Winterthur’s landscape, this intensive weekend workshop is designed for intermediate photographers and beginners with basic knowledge. Students will work directly with internationally acclaimed nature photographer Allen Rokach to learn the many approaches to creating dramatic images of fall color.

Capturing the beauty of nature with a camera is a conversation among subject, light, lens, environment, and photographer. Through lectures, field sessions, review critiques, and individual consultations, Rokach will guide the students through techniques he has developed from more than 30 years of traveling the globe with camera in hand. Rokach helps both the skilled beginner and the serious photographer capture the essence of nature.

• Understand the difference between “beautiful” and “photogenic.” • Make the best use of natural light throughout the day. • Learn techniques in composition, line, shape, and texture. • Work with motion and reflection. • Achieve precise focus and controlled depth of field. • Establish a sense of place and mood matched to your mind’s eye.

The workshop will close with a presentation and review of your photographs as well as a discussion on “after-capture” techniques and improving your final image.
$295, $245 Members. To register, call 800.448.3883 or 302.888.4600.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 10.27.10
Winterthur Garden History
11:30 am, October 27th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Think you know the Winterthur Garden? Find out more about its history and design roots in a PowerPoint presentation by Maggie Lidz, estate historian. You’ll be amazed at how the Reflecting Pool garden has changed!
This program will begin at the Greenhouses and proceed to the Rotunda.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Late Fall Color in the Garden
November 13 1:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.

Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Conifers and the Winter Garden
December 11 1:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.