Special Garden Tours at the NER Convention

The ACS’ Northeast Region convention isn’t just about the tours and meetings on Friday and Saturday. We’ve got two fabulous gardens for you to visit either before or after the convention. The gardens are an invitation-only access to two amazing gardens that only convention-goers can visit.

Seven Springs Farm in Chester Springs, the garden of Bob and Nancy Holman, is a 10-acre property which includes a 1779 stone farmhouse, creek, and unique stone sculptures throughout the garden. The 25-year-old pinetum possesses some majestic trees such as Ginkgo biloba “Chi Chi” and a tall Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle tree) which has survived many cold winters. Other large conifers are spread throughout the property including Metasequoias and Taxodiums near the creek.

Clifford Haugen in Ambler has a large, open property filled with conifers and inviting hardscaping which enables the visitor to sit back and admire the mix of conifers. Beds of conifers, maples, and perennials fill the property, and are complemented by large boulders. These boulders and smaller rocks are then carried through to the other hardscaping elements including several seating areas, water features, and containers.

So come early to the convention, visit these unique gardens, and write down your favorite conifers from the tours. You’re sure to find them in the silent or live auctions, or maybe one of our Sunday morning vendors will have it for you. A conifer convention is the only way to get that rare prize! And remember - money raised during our regional convention goes right back to the regional display gardens to promote the love of conifers!

Registration will be closing soon. Make sure to book your hotel when you register, too! Contact Rebecca Boylan ([email protected]) with any questions or for more travel ideas as Philadelphia is America’s garden capital.