Journal of Adolph G. Rosengarten, Jr. - April
April 1st
1934
- Easter. A lovely spring day though C.P.R. collected enough snow on Church Road by Wrights for a snowball to throw at A.G.R. Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Leddie & Nick Firtea
1938
- Many daffodils out. Also forsythia, Maples red & lawn green. A very early spring.
1939
- Patsy planted 25 rose plants in rose cutting bed. They were obtained from Conard-Pyle Co.
1950
- But three daffodils (S. of stream) out. AGR JR. in the swamp.
1956
- A.G.R. Jr.'s gave dinner at St. Regis Hotel in N.Y. for families and friends of Nick and Margaret before thir wedding the next day.
1967
- Ledlie Borgerhoff & a friend came for the weekend. The circus in town.
1969
- Ivy Mohr returned to complete the new pond, but only worked off & on.
1974
- Arie Peter Krayo returned to work as a gardener.
1978
- Three Cercis canadensis (Red Bud), a present from Howard, planted area S. of stream & W. of Vista.
April 2nd
1934
- Warm: Spring seems to be here at last.
1937
- First crocus by brick walk bloomed today.
1939
- Some daffodils out and atmost all crocus by brick walk out.
1951
- Upper Bank Nurseries, Inc. here this week. Four big hemlocks on Brooke Road, rhododendron etc. put in the filled ground. Some hollies & hemlocks in stream 100 yds. W. of house. Also cherry laurel planted last fall replaced. Elaeagnus moved etc. Feb. receipted bill.
1953
- Pansies planted in hardy border today.
1956
- Nicholas Newlin married to Margaret Rudd at Church of the Incarnation, N.Y. His brother in law, A.G.R. Jr. the best man.
April 3rd
1938
- Raked, graded, & rolled lower lawn east of drive.
1952
- Upper Bank Nurseries completed following: a.) Vista; on left a white pine & on right two Jap. upright yew & one plum or false yew & three rhododendron. b.) N.W. of house among screening planting; two Nandina domestice & 3 Aronia. c.) planting E. of drive & S. of stream; two yews & one plum yew, a hemlock, misc. rhododendron & azaleas. d.) On Brooke Road a swamp magnolia & a Franklinia.
1964
- 28 rose plants from California planted in two beds (new to roses) in lower garden.
1965
- Rabbit Party for Anne Sims: 10 old, 24 young.
1969
- Roses in new garden planted: Hybrid in one bed & Floribunda in the other, seperated by dogwood: Old rose garden reseeded & waiting statue.
1975
- Today & tomorrow heavy winds uprooted several trees.
April 4th
1934
- Spruce tree, N.W. of house moved from A.G.R.'s
1939
- Pansy's from Hildemere Gardens came today & were planted in hardy border.
1973
- Sewer & drains at Minder House pumped out & cleaned by Campbell & Grey Bros. Should last at least 10 years.
1977
- Four espaliered (2 apple, 2 pear) planted along wall from breakfast room Chanticleer.
April 5th
1936
- Damp, cold, & cloudy.
1937
- Rain in afternoon bringing out the crocuses & making grass green.
1938
-John P. Hallahan started tearing down porch preparatory to building new one.
1939
- More pansies from Mrs. Kyle's (former tenant) sale.
1946
- J.N.R. cut upper part of lawn by hand today. Luther Walton completed it with power mower. Very early spring.
1964
- Borgerhoffs (5), Kidawas (2), & R's (2) for lunch.
1970
- Luther & Jim Devlin replanted roses in lower garden.
1975
- At 7:30 AM 22°.
1986
- Virginia Smith Denison married A.G.R. Jr. at The Redeemer in Bryn Mawr.
April 6th
1934
- Janet & I went to dine at Philadelphia Club, on One Hundredth Anniversary of its founding.
1935
- Cleaned up Jan's garden & hoed main flower beds.
1937
- Signs of spring: first daffodil in bloom, red in maples, & grass becoming green.
1940
- Signs of spring: first daffodil in bloom, red in maples, & grass becoming green.
1947
- Easter and very warm. Corn flower, cleome & mignonette seeds sown today.
1950
- Albrecht Nurseries planted 3 osmanthus, 3 vibernum, 200 yds N.W. of house & 3 Elaeagnus under Chinese Elm below cutting garden. .
1959
- 350 Ajuga in bed on court below kitchen. 4 spruce from 3 acres to Harrison line. Holly & 2 laurel from stream to line E. of water wheel replaced by Styrax Japonica now to be seen S. of bridge.
1970
- Pansies planted in morning: 2"-3" of snow in afternoon.
1977
- Bongiovanni began repairing & replastering wall green garden at Chanticleer.
1982
- 3"-4" of snow followed by 20° temp & high winds for two days. Worse since 1975.
April 7th
1934
- Started filling in ditches on Brooke Road with tile & loose stone.
1935
- Annual trip to Pansy Farm; plants placed on stream. But most important of all - Penny and Sam got engaged.
1938
- Ann & Bill Ashton, J.N.R. & A.G.R. Jr. left in a down pour of rain for Williamsburg, Va. returning via "Sky Line Drive" Monday the 11th.
1951
- Four Floribunda Roses from Wyant, plus six which Luther had grown from cuttings were planted in cutting garden. Four more plants came about 10 days later.
1953
- Lane Borgerfoff aged 3-1/2yrs. arrived today & stayed till the 11th when we had a family party.
1956
- Christine Penrose Goodman married Reese Patterson M.D. Reception at Chanticleer. Rain all day, turning to a heavy wet snow about 9:00 PM.
1958
- Seven white rhodendron in angle above stream on old Stuart line.
1969
- Mandes put in C. Willing tiles as edging of flower beds & Pansies put in edge.
1975
- Weldon Nurseries planted American Hawthorn at Chanticleer fore court.
April 8th
1935
- A.R. Jr. took holiday but too hard rain to do much. Turned compost.
1952
- Pansies planted in hardy border.
1953
- Columbine transplanted from cold frame to hardy border.
1957
- A.G.R. Jr. arrived Idlewild 6:00 AM from Paris. J.N.R. had been at Princeton for Nini's birthday.
1960
- Lane & Beth Borgerhoff came down from Princeton for the weekend. We visited the zoo on Sat. & birthday party for Nini on Sunday April 10th.
1964
- 2-1/4in. of rain fell in past 3 days: total for year to date slightly above normal.
1969
- Bickers began replanting removed shrubs at entrance Brooke Road to make way for new enerance: Lack berry to "Native" avenue & Ohio buckeye below garden etc.
April 9th
1935
- Rain continued, so went to town.
1938
- Three hemlocks on Stuart line by new garden added to existing row.
1950
- Easter clear & cold. In PM we cleaned up wood S. of house.
1951
- Pansies planted in hardy border, over weekend a bale of peet moss was dug in.
1960
- 4 apple trees (all early fruiting) planted on lowest row: replacements.
1963
- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. returned on R. Elizabeth: left Athens 31 March & Paris 4 April.
April 10th
1934
- Rhodendrons & pink dogwood planted in bed on S.E. corner of land.
1935
- Cloudy, but stayed home and dug shrubs around maple tree & electric lite pole.
1950
- Pansies planted in hardy border.
1954
- Upper Bank Nurseries planted two breoifolia yews at steps from drive replacing old yews which were moved to "vista" misc. planting at front gate, osmanthus etc. see receipted bill.
1963
- Due to cold & high winds & lack of snow, winter damage, esp to Ilix, very extensive.
1964
- Winter damage minimal: plenty of snow, but no high wind during the winter.
1965
- Five Borgerhoffs and two Kidawas for lunch: belated birthday for Nini.
April 11th
1935
- Replaced white pine near garage & cleared up swamp.
1954
- Daffodils at stream at their hieghth, i.e. 1/4 over, half out full, & 1/4 coming in.
1960
- Work continues on new garden designed by Charles Willing & executed by Henry Farrow Sons.
1964
- Pansies planted in hardy border.
1970
- After night in motel at JFK airport, AGR Jr. & JNR with the Wests flew to London: Thence to Istanbul, Greece, Yogoslavia, England. Returned on S.S. France arriving in New York May 20th '70.
1977
- Mandes began relaying flag stones & repointing etc. Finished new curb of Green Garden Chanticleer on April 20th.
1988
- A.G.R. Jr. & V.S.R. to Hot Springs, Va. with R. & G. Harrison.
April 12th
1935
- James O'Brien planted hemlocks at gate.
1936
- Easter. Rain in the afternoon. Worked on vegetable garden; dug in humus, lime, & fertilizer.
1946
- Pansies planted in hardy border today.
1953
- Another rainy Sunday. A very wet spring.
1959
- Heavy wet snow in PM.
1965
- Work begun by Hendran on 16th March completed with Luther graded, raked & seeded area.
1969
- Winter kill on broad leaf evergreens very sever this year.
1982
- A.G.R. Jr. flew to London from N.Y. with Terry & Agnes Burke.
April 13th
1934
- Frost.
1935
- Scotch pine by stream planted today.
1940
- Last night 2"-3" of snow fell. At 6:30 AM temp. was 22°, the lowest for this day in the history of the weather bureau.
1941
- Arthur Newlin died early this Easter morning at the age of sixty-six years.
1946
- Sorgum tree moved to wood S. of hardy border. Four Leucothoe and four "Shadblow" obtained by Mary Sims planted in lower wood on west side of drive.
1947
- Mr. & Mrs. E.T. Williams, Mr. & Mrs. Gibson, & Mr. & Mrs. Read for lunch.
1950
- Albrecht Nurseries here today. Hemlock around kitchen porch, which had grown too big replaced with upright yews, some repandens and Aunt Doe's holly "Green Island". Also put in two Malus sargentii & repandens yew in the cutting garden. An English oak 100 yds. W. of house and a hemlock in the swamp.
1967
- Bickers completed planting: 3 yellow wood, 2 river birch & 3 canoe birch. N. of pond: 3 canoe birch in white pines: Native green ash to avenue above orchard.
1986
- V.S.R. & A.G.R. Jr. returned from week in Bermuda.
April 14th
1934
- Ditches completed & almost filled. Banks of new stream cleaned up for Iris, Honey suckle, & shumack on S.W. Cor. of place cleaned up by James O'Bien since March 15th.
1935
- Nini confirmed at Old St. Peters. Seeds planted in "vegetable garden."
1947
- Daffodils out. Luther & Rush Walton working on patching the lawn & doing over the swamp.
1949
- Quite warm: AGR Jr. in the swamp of the new place for the next three days.
1950
- 24° at 6:00 AM - coldest for the day on record.
1954
- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. left on "Queen Mary", cabin class, for Europe. In Rome 24th April, 1st May, in Paris to 7th, a weekend w/ Bells at Thirsk, two days in London.
1962
- Evergreen, Ostrich, Birch, & Christmas ferns in clumps under Tulip N. of Water Wheel.
April 15th
1934
- J & I went to Lansdowne and bought 3 doz. pansies, 1 doz. English Dasies and 1 doz. Forget-me-nots at The Pansy Farm. Continued cleaning up stream.
1938
- Row of small box planted on S. edge of new garden.
1940
- Martin completed moving of the following planting: 2 W. pines E. of garage moved out. A pine & forsythia to garage on E. removed & replaced with two rhododendron & 1 dogwood. A tiny plum tree planted W. of drive. Yew by garden door moved to W. end of border. Wygelia put apple & arbutus bush planted at W. end of border in place of Deutzia.
1946
- Albrecht planted Arbor Vitae hedge running out from house to East end of hardy border, replacing hemlocks which had gotten too big. Mary Sims is designing & having made a new gate which will lead to drying yard: it will be nearer border than old one.
1961
- Harold Fry, who had been sick since 15 Sept. while Marion remained as cook etc. after over eight years here, left today.
1976
- Weldon Nurseries completed planting this day. Various & sundry.
April 16th
1935
- Cold. Several snow flurries during the day.
1953
- Viburnum carlcephalum, present from Aunt Doe, planted above hardy border.
1956
- Bickers planted following material from Andora: 2 Cornus Kousa, Brooke Road, 1 Viburnum rhytidophyllum lower left vista: 5 white pines & 22 spruce for screening on new "Three Acres".
1961
- Daffodils almost at their height.
1976
- Mandes Co. completed rebuilding the burning pit & constructing of wall on S. bank of stream. North of the drive.
1977
- Weldon Nurseries: dwarf juniper drive Chanticleer, 2 flowering quince & a swamp magnolia & art room wall area Chanticleer & sodded filled area above rose bed Minder House, etc., etc.
April 17th
1934
- Iris planted in bed south of new stream.
1937
- Crocuses by brick walk at their best, if gaudy.
1937
- Edward Trotter Goodman born today.
1938
- Easter. Very early spring - Daffodils & Mertensia at their height.
1939
- A.G.R. Jr. left Lankenau Hospital, left heal beginning to heal.
1956
- (see April 16th) & from bicks, 5 Black Alder, 5 Ilex Glabra, 5 Elderberry, all Brooke Road. a/c loses from Hazel.
1957
- Misc. planting above hardy border Brooke Road by Cedar trees etc. today.
1960
- During week just ended J.W. Bickers planted five hemlocks & five American holly Brooke Road area east of drive on bank of stream from H's.
1976
- At noon, 92° breaking eighty year record for the day.
April 18th
1934
- Brian & Barbara Gooch, Benacre Hall, Suffolk, came to dinner.
1944
- Philip Pepe engaged by J.N.R., arrived with his minions to give the place its first much needed spring cleaning. Lawn raked, fertilized and reseeded in spots, picking borders and rose bed dug and seeded for duration, great accumulation of leaves and twigs were removed from the stream and drain in the lower part of the place.
1949
- To Hildermere Gardens at Wawa for delphinium plants & a lenten rose.
1955
- Andorra Nurseries here today for misc. planting. esp. along Brooke Road, the drive and at Chanticleer to replace damage from Hazel '54.
1956
- (See April 17th) and from Danber's, 1 Ilex opaca (male) & 1 Ilex Perry's below cutting garden.
1961
- Margerita & Abbot Preston, butler & cook, came today.
1969
- Columbine, fox glove, canterbury bells etc. from cold frame to flower beds.
1982
- Chanticleer visited by group from Smithsonian Inst. of Wash. D.C.
April 19th
1935
- Lovely warm day. Jan & A.R. Jr. planted sixteen ferns in & around Laurel bed.
1940
- Pansies from Hildermere Gardens planted.
1943
- A.G.R. Jr. reported 13th C. & G.S. School Inf. Corps Class at Ft. Leavenworth Ka. J.N.R. to 1804 Pine St. meanwhile.
1952
- First asparagus at Chanticleer.
1961
- Continued planting by Bickers of 60 laurel which arrived from N.C. a few days ago.
April 20th
1934
- Warm spring day. The cold winter has killed the ivy leaves & appears to have killed the privet.
1963
- 3 viburnum Juddi planted above hardy border & 1 of same near water wheel.
1988
- A.G.R. Jr. & V.S.R. returned from Va. A.G.R. Jr. right shoulder dislocated.
April 21st
1934
- Two ivy plants put in right & left of south door.
1935
- Signs of Spring: Forsythia in full bloom; buds on flowering cherries quite red; Lilac buds green & full; grass in new garden visible & plums in blossom.
1940
- Signs of Spring: Some daffodils out - maples buds red. Believed to be the latest spring on record.
1951
- Daffodils & mertensia at their height.
1983
- Mandes & Co. began work on new walls, two sets of steps, grading & rebuilding area W. of Minder House on slope. Basic plan by Wm/ Frederick but w/ modifications by A.G.R. Jr. Work continued sporadically to mid July.
April 22nd
1934
- Yew bush right of South door planted today.
1940
- Harry & Daisy Wilder [wild goose] departed at our behest.
1946
- Adolph G. Rosengarten died at the age of seventy-six.
1951
- A.G.R. Jr. in swamp this weekend. Two ditches are now completed & hope they are enough.
1960
-All work in new garden, save seeding, done today. We love it. It was designed by Charles Willing with masonry by Mandes.
1974
- Merck & Co. Inc. dinner in New York for AGR Jr. on his retirement as a director.
April 23rd
1935
- Furnace went out by accident and allowed to remain so for the summer.
1938
- Lawn mowed for first time this year.
1940
- Charles & Margaret Pascali entered our employ at $140 per month.
1949
- The daffodils almost over; the mertensia in full bloom; cherries at their height and the apple blossoms & dogwood will be out soon. An early spring.
1952
- R. Stockton Rush stayed here over George Thayer's funeral.
1962
- 20 shore jumper planted below library window & at steps down to new garden.
April 24th
1934
- R.H. Johnson & Co., Wayne, started to do over drive & square circle by house.
1938
- First asparagus at Chanticleer.
1940
- W. Fasy started today to paint outside of house & garage.
1956
- Rehmeyer completed 110 amp. lead in wires from transformer & new panel board w/ switch for emergency generator.
1957
- Earl Swearer began painting outside of house & garage. Completed 5 May '57.
1958
- First asparagus at Chanticleer.
1966
- A good rain during the last 48 hours: 2".
April 25th
1934
- A great many tent catipillars this year, especially in Chobe cherries. Eradicated with torch.
1936
- Area above Jan's garden grubbed & leveled. Snow the next day.
1937
- Daffodils & Mertensia at there neight today.
1940
- A.G.R. Jr. took spring vacation. Put ditch in S. bank of made stream.
1956
- White frost at 7:00 AM.
1968
- 2 Cryptomeria Japonica Nana & 3 Chamaecyparis obtusa Nana planted very new Kneedler Garden.One flower bed for annuals remains to be dug.
1982
- A.G.R. Jr. returned on Q. Elizabeth 2 from S. Hampton tp Philadelphia.
1986
- A.G.R. Jr. & V.S.R returned from KY where we stayed with Uma Haggin.
April 26th
1936
- Violas planted in pots on wall by drive.
1956
- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. sailed on S.S. Liberte. Paris May 2nd to 28th at San Regis Hotel, save for few days in Loire Valley with the Wests, then to England.
1988
- A.G.R. Jr. to B.M. Hospital for operation to pin right shoulder.
April 27th
1935
- Mowed the lawn for first time this year.
1938
- John P. Hallahan finished the porch. We are very pleased with it.
1960
- A.G.R. & J.N.R. to England, Hollnd, & France on Queen Elizabeth. We returned home with Zodiac (Ford) Station Wagon on June 28th.
.
1962
- Misc. hardy plants in new flower bed a/c/ Mrs. Finbeller's plan: completed May 2nd.
.
1962
- Extension of terrace & rough wall stream N. of drive completed today.
April 28th
1934
- Frost, not I hope killing.
1952
- Sixth consecutive day of ain during which over 4" fell. As a result the daffodils which were at their height a few days before beaten down.
1956
- One Norway Spruce planted: to replace Oriental Spruce cut down 23: XII: 56.
1960
- Planting in new garden done in following few days by J.W. Bickers: 3 Hicksii yews & green island holly S. end of new wall; two Ilex pedunculosa in velitas of new bed: Pernii Holly out & to vista.
1963
- Ledlie Borgerhoff spent the night: joined by the rest of the Borges & the Kidawas for lunch.
1966
- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. to Knoxville, Tenn. to stay w/ Pattersons for weekend.
April 29th
1934
- Jan has finished painting porch furniture & has now started on floor.
1935
- Apple blossoms are out. Rain starting at 10 AM, broke ten days of hot dry weather.
1939
- Patsy Antrilli gave lawn a complete mowing.
1953
- John C. Lee finished painting of outside of house and garage.
1958
- Six 6' white pine on hill side. Six 3' on Harrison Line & 1 Norway Spruce on Brooke Road planted by Andorra.
1964
- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. sailed on Q. Mary, visited France, Sicily, Italy & England, returned on Q. Elizabeth on June 17.
1965
- Mandes & Co. completed low wall enclosing and enlarging the terrace according to design of George B. Roberts architect.
1968
- Two climbing coton easter planted either side library door to terrace.
1974
- Rush Dalton left our employ.
1978
- Starr here partially completed spring planting of trees & shrubs.
April 30th
1935
- Cold & wet till 15th, on which day there was 80° defeciency. Thereafter hot and dry - defeciency end of month 11 degrees & 1.50 in. of rain since Jan 1st.
1936
- Defeciency since April 1st 59 deg. Precipitation for month 2.25 in. Excess since Jan. 1st 3.00 in.
1937
- Defeciency since 3/1/37 25°; excess since 1/1/37 246°: rainfall for month 4.38 in.
1938
- Excess for month 94° - since 1/1/38 389°; rainfall 1.92" - defeciency since 1/1/38 4.45"
1939
- Defeciency of temp. for month 48°; rainfall for April 6.02 in. - Excess since 1/1/39 7.86 in.
1940
- Defeciency for month 115°, since Jan 1st 412°; rainfall for month 6.06in.
1944
- Jan at Chanticleer for weekend as today in Mr. and Mrs. Rosengartens 43rd wedding anniversary. After many late snows, and weeks of incessiant rain and cold spring seems finally to have arrived.
1963
- About a half-inch of rain helped in the serious drought of the last few months.
1964
- Rainfall for the month 65% above normal. See entry, however, from July 8th '64.
1966
- Good rains late this month reduced defeciency since Jan 1st to 1-1/4".
1978
- Today & on May 2nd Tour of "Estate" for Mr. Benner's class in Ornamental Horticulture at Del. Valley College of Science & Agriculture.
1981
- Radnor Day sponsored by Memorial Library. 40 on tour w/ wine at Chanticleer.
1983
- Excess rainfall since Jan 1st. 8".
Closed for the Season
Opening March 26
Opening Day is March 26, 2025,
and the garden will be open Wednesday to Sunday, through November 9, 2025.
2025 Season Pass
Purchase a 2025 Season Pass, good through November 9, 2025. Buy your pass now.
News & Events
Workshops at Chanticleer
Chanticleer hosts many workshops at the garden. View the list here.
Chanticleer Emails
Stay current - Sign up
Chanticleer In the News
High praise from 6ABC, WNEP, and The New York Times.
Chanticleer is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for the public and is an equal opportunity employer.
Social Media
Friends
