Journal of Adolph G. Rosengarten, Jr. - May
May 1st
1936
- Let the furnace go out today.
1937
- Wm. Pomante mowed lawn today.
1975
- Sailed to England on Q.E.2. for John Bell's wedding to Janice Needham at Helmsley on May 10th: then 2 days in Lake District & 2 in Ayrshire.
1976
- First good rain in six weeks: 2" during 16 hours.
1978
- Frost. After 2 weeks repairing stream walls, junction box & dam breast. Mandes began building spring house.
1986
- 40 M.A.L. of G.C.A. for lunch at Chanticleer followed by tour.
May 2nd
1936
- Pansies & English Dasies (which J.N.R. procured at the Pansy Farm yesterday) planted today. Also Parsley & Radishes sown in veg. First asparagus from Chanticleer.
1939
- Work started on new sewer system. Field drains & syphon tank to be installed instead of cess pool on leaching well.
1953
- JNR & AGR Jr. attended Albert Neilson's weeding to Julie Hopkins on Staten Island & then to Weinig's at Dobbs Ferry. On May 4th we returned to Beacon to see "Stony Kill" Cousin Delancey Verplanck & get some family chairs.
1955
- Andorra Nurseries second trip. Mostly Brooke Road area including a big holly, three white pines at Harrison corner. rhododendrons at Chanticleer screen.
1962
- F.D. Moore planted vinca, Mahonia beale etc. parking court, dog wood above garden & two yews either side of library door. Yews died 1968.
1976
- Horticulture Society of St. Davids to Radnor Church visitation tour.
May 3rd
1934
- Let the furnace go out.
1936
- Two weeks drought ended with first thunder storm of the year. Thewind blew off cherry & apple blossoms.
1957
- Very cold. Possible that frost may have killed apple blossoms.
1965
- Farrow & Sons (George Roberts architect) began rebuilding lavatory & flower room windows making them smaller: porch ceiling removed & replaced w/ plaster, now shaped like reversed tray & 18" higher.
1980
- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. flew from Kennedy to London for 3 nights, then to Paris & joined tour on barge "Janine" from Lyon to Dejou. Returned Paris 13.
1985
- Rumer Godden (Mrs. Haynes Dixon) here. Gave talk at library.
May 4th
1935
- Dynamited rocks between drive & swamp. Some fun.
1936
- Tulips just coming out. Daffodils & Mertensia about over.
1937
-Turned off the furnace today.
.
1957
- Delphinium, Fox glove & Columbine planted to fill in hardy border.
.
1972
- Mandes & Co. began installing new junction box from stream to pond.
1973
- Mandes & Co. w/ Victor's back hoe made terrace by west porch at Chanticleer.
1982
- A.G.R. Jr. returned from Knoxville, Tenn. after 5 days with Teen Hayworth.
May 5th
1934
- Two ivy plants, right & left of kitchen yard put in. 80° at 5:30 PM DST.
1936
- A.G.R. took his winter vacation. Cleaned up.
1938
- Furnace let out today.
1940
- Daffodils & Mertensia in full bloom.
1949
- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. to Concord, NH to stay at S.P.S. with the Jacksons. Daffodils over but Mertensia in full bloom. When we returned on the 8th dogwood almost out.
1969
- Joseph Mandes & Co. began building new entrance: designed by Geoge B. Roberts, Avondale stone usd on pillars & connecting walls: but field stone on wing & new retaining wall along Brooke Road.
1973
- Returned after 2 days at Williamsburg & Charlottesville w/ the Burkes.
May 6th
1934
- Very hot. Chanticleer had its own asparagus at lunch today.
1936
- Lawn given a complete mowing by A.G.R. Jr.
1939
- AGR. Jr's blister on left heel sufficiently healed to permit a little light work inthe garden.
1940
- W. Fasy completed painting outside today.
1947
- Misc. perennials from Wayside arrived & planted today. White pansies already in & blues to follow on 8th May. 1947.
1953
- Three rhododendron on Chanticleer line planted: Under white pines on line w/ Luther's house.
1978
- Tour of "Estate" by 30 members of Friends of Campus of Haverford College.
May 7th
1940
- G. Frank Geary, tennis pro, left after one week. Patsy mowed the lawn.
1963
- Garden Club of America's 50th Anniversary: 25 out-of-town member, plus local members & husbands came for cocktails here & dinner at Chanticleer. 37 in all.
1965
- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. to Morristown, NJ for Penny's party.
1981
- John C. Murphy (ex. Major) came from Chicago for two days.
1982
- Temple group of 16 toured Chanticleer.
May 8th
1936
- 92 Deg. at 4 PM. Worked peat moss into vinca. Limed & watered flower beds.
1945
- A.G.R. Jr. and J.N.R. celebrated V-E Day respectively at Weimar, Germany and 199 E. Evergreen Ave. Chestnut Hill.
1965
- Edward Trotter Goodman & Carolyn Value Cutler married at Morristown.
May 9th
1953
- Chanticleer opened to Penna. Horticulture Ass'n & visited by 596 peole. Many of whom came down to look at [and admire] the garden of Minder House.
May 10th
1936
- First asparagus from garden at Chanticleer tonight.
1939
- Work on sewer system and drains completed.
1947
- Very cold today. A hard white frost.
1955
- Mahonia on court replaced with three white Azalea so that edge now uniform: also seven Taxus brevifolia on top of brick wall. Magnolia grandiflora between S. window of living room. Upper Bank nurseries.
1972
- 2 Ilex verticulata Brooke Road to replace damaged spruce at Chanticleer Salix Purpurea Nana parking area & dwarf box completed.
May 11th
1934
- Dust storm from middle west, aused by drought there. Yellow clouds all day.
1966
- 228° at 6:30 AM with hard killing frost.
May 12th
1935
- A few radishes, from our garden, consumed at dinner.
1978
- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. returned from Washingon where during 2 1/2 days we saw Smithsonian Hist., National Air & Space Center, Dumbarton Oaks, National Arboretum & National Gallery.
1981
- 4" of rain at 7:30 AM during preceeding 24 hrs. End of drought?
May 13th
1957
- Deodar Cedar planted in angle Austrian pines & hemlocks to replace the spiral hollies bought from Nealton last fall & which died.
1980
- Paris, Hotel La Trémoille until 18th to Amsterdam & to London on May 22st, joined Merck Tour on May 25th .
1983
- Emily Penrose Rosengarten Jackson died.
May 14th
1935
- Sam Lee finished painting outside of house & garage.
1948
- Priscillia Page [Young] and Carl Weinig married at the Wayne Presbyterian Church, followed by a very small reception here.
1966
- A reception in honor of Ruth Reynolds, president elect of the Memorial Library. The professional staff & the commisioners of Radnor Township held from 4 to 6 PM over fifty attended.
May 15th
1934
- Election Day. Shannon defeated - Schnader for Governer & Reed for Senator. Republican nominees.
1936
- Thomas sharply cut back the red oak west of porch which has apparently suffered badly from transplanting.
1975
- We flew home from Prestwick: see May 1st.
1981
- Women's group (16) Wayne Presbyterian Church tour.
May 16th
1934
- New Moon, seen with no money in my pocket.
1939
- Wine cellar, which had been unplastered, enlarged, & rebuilt & repainted during the past six weeks, restocked with the wine & spirits which had been stored in various parts of the house.
1983
- A.G.R. Jr. departed 7:00 PM for Italy. Joined Winterthar guild tour at Villa Lante. Then Assissi, Gubbio, Florence, Venice, Verona & Stesa. See May 30th.
May 17th
1936
- Tulips about over. Iris just coming out.
1947
- Ten roses from Bobbink & Atkins planted in cutting garden. Ilex pedunculosa planted between S. windows of living room. Tulips at top.
1965
- Gaston & Mireille Vanaertenryck entered our employ: boarded in Wayne on 27:V, Fourniers left.
May 18th
1934
- Drive completed. Electric & phone wires laid under ground - birthday present from AGR.
1954
- A.G.R. Jr. & JNR on Queen Elizabeth, cabin class, arrived at New York.
1962
- Farrow & Mandes began new cess pool. To Bedford weekend w/ Weinings.
1975
- A.G.R. Jr. bacame a Ph. D. at Univ. of Penna. Commencement.
1982
- Devon Hunt Garden Club - 18 Strong - made the tour.
May 19th
1934
- Troop on Bivouac at Capt. Wood's today & tomorrow. No better than usual.
1936
- Clear, warm evenings; coffee on the porch.
1962
- Record heat wave.
1970
- While we were away. Mandes built continuation wall to garage, reset curbing on N. side of drive & installed two catch basins. Also lowered sun dial in new rose garden.
May 20th
1934
- Bivouac. No work done on place. 92° = hot.
1969
- Christina Penrose Rosengarten died at 11:20 PM.
1970
-A.G.R. Jr. & JNR arrived S.S. France at N.Y. Departed 11th April. Istanbul on 12/13 April: France 14-27th April: Yugoslavia to 2nd May: Verona 3rd May England 4th to 15th.
1971
- A.G.R. Jr. & J.N.R. flew from JFK to London: returned 16th June.
1975
- Mandes completed two dams for stream control in floods.
1979
- Chanticleer & Minder House visited by 250-300 members Pa. Horticultural Society.
1982
- Visit of Volunteer at Tyler Arboretum: about 30.
May 21st
1934
- Very hot - 95°
1937
- Winter rugs taken up. Brandy on porch for the first time, but cool.
May 22nd
1934
- Michael Pomante came today & worked in garden.
1954
- Bickers for third time this spring. Sprayed for "inch or canker" worm. Which has been devasting this year, esp. to ash, oaks & walnuts near stream.
1955
- Whether the cycle, the autumn banding, or civic ass'n spraying from airlpane or all three - canker worm not nearly as bad this year.
1968
- Marion Sims Rosengarten died at the age of 85.
1977
- Graduation excercises Bryn Mawr Hosp. Nursing School. Buffet lunch at Chanticleer for 25 directors, etc.
1988
- Garden party at Chanticleer for A.G.R. Jr. 83rd Birthday, 80 attend but a terrible thunder storm forced all in doors.
May 23rd
1934
- A.R. Jr. 29 years old today. Dinner at Chanticleer.
1935
- A.R. Jr. 30 years old. Large family dinner at Chanticleer.
1938
- AR Jr. 33 years old. Dinner at Chanticleer.
1955
- A.G.R. Jr. 50 years old. Small family dinner at Chanticller. The drought which began about first of May broken by thunderstorm at 5:00 P.M.
1959
- A.G.R. Jr.'s 54th birthday at Chanticleer: w/ Water West defeated at golf.
1985
- Teen, Edward and Opie's dinner at Chanticleer for A.G.R. Jr. on his eightieth birthday. Thirty-three, all family, present.
May 24th
1966
- Seventy members of the Garden Club of Philadelphia met here for luncheon.
1975
- Orton Porter Jackson Jr. and Patricia Ann Taylor married in Wilton, Connecticut.
1978
- Twelve constituent clubs, members of the G. C. of A., visited Chanticleer. About 90 members for lunch & tour of both places. Vile weather.
May 25th
1935
- Perriwinkle, present from Duchess, planted on bank below new garden.
1938
- Sycamores, having bad anthracnose, sprayed this day. Either the pests are getting wose or the Bartlett tree people more avaricious.
1946
- Lloyd A. Potteiger finished outside painting of house & garage, the trim on upper part of the latter now green. Both of us dissatisfied.
1959
- New tool shed, with outside & inside compartments, put up. Grading to be done.
1980
- Merck meeting in London followed by tour in France & New Castle until May 28th.
May 26th
1934
- Nine cases of wine bought at Berry Bros in Aug. 1933 on our honeymoon arrived today after much difficulty with bureauracies and laid down.
1958
- Bickers completed cleaning up gamage from March storm. Balance deffered for winter work.
1966
- Settled today for 2.3 acres on Brooke Road: bought from C.C. Harrison.
May 27th
1965
- Raoul & Yvonne Fournier retired & returned to France.
1972
- Mandes completed junction box for diverting stream to the pond, demolishing Teddy Stuarts's old dam etc, etc
1981
- Scott Horticultural Foundation, 95 strong, toured this A.M. followed by wine & cheese at Chanticleer.
May 28th
1955
- Peas from garden at dinner tonight. Earliest in local memory.
1961
- Five Borgerhoffs (and Aunt Lily) came down from Princeton for lunch.
1965
- All work began on May 3rd completed. We are happy with it.
May 29th
1935
- Dance for Penny & Sam.
1954
- Planting at front drive, by new wall, done over. Pachasandria tried, Ivy at base of sychamore replaced.
1968
- 3.5" of rainfall in the last 48 hours.
1976
- David Le-Roy Lears came for the weekend.
May 30th
1934
- Hot coffee and brandy on the porch for the first time this year.
1954
- Hardy border at low point after tulips have faded out etc. Iris good.
1958
- A.G.R. Jr. to Concord N.H. for 35th Anniversary at St. Paul's School.
1974
- Roy Jones (with George) repainted bath & tea house, iron gates, & some outside walls, etc at Chanticleer - after two weeks work.
1983
- A.G.R. Jr. returned home from Italy, see May 16th.
1984
- During the last five days 5" of rain.
May 31st
1935
- End of a very cold and very dry month. Temp. defeciency about 90°.
1936
- A very, very dry month: Excess temp. 94 deg.; rainfall 1.67 in. Richard Maker, James O'Brien's cousin, came to work for first time. He proved a complete failure.
1938
- Defeciency for month 43°: rainfall 2.86 in.
1940
- Deafeciency for month 16°; since Jan 1st 425°. Rainfall for month 4.89 in.
1952
- End of two excessively rainy months. Excess since Jan 1st 1952 8.32 in.
1953
- "5 months of '53 wettest ever". 28.60 in. fell normal 16.75 in. Longest span w/o rain 6 days, 22 to 27 Feb.
1959
- Dryest May since records began in 1897. Rainfall 0.80".
1961
- 42° at 6:45 AM record low for this day. This May the coldest since 1917.
1966
- Rainfall in month 2.95" (normal 3.41): defeciency for year 1.83".
1967
- Second coldest month on record (after May 1917): about 3" of rain.
1978
- Excess rainfall to date: 6.5".
1983
- Rainfall for month 7+", Excess for year 11.81"
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