Celebration of the Roses

Come in, free of charge, for a special “Celebration of the Roses”

Saturday, May 25, 2019 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Free

Wyck’s circa-1820 Rose Garden is a living treasure featuring 50+ heritage roses. Call them heritage, heirloom, antique or old, these types of roses have stronger fragrances and often brighter colors than modern roses, and they bloom only a short while. If you’ve never been to Wyck before, this is the time to come! Enjoy a lush, glorious sensory experience!

The May 25 open house celebration will feature free tours of Wyck Historic House (11am-1pm), children’s activities, and light refreshments, such as rose tea, will also be offered throughout the day. Guests are encouraged to bring art supplies or a camera to capture the beauty of the garden. Wyck will offer heritage rose cuttings and herbs for sale – see bottom of web page for details.

Additional, free programming:

11:00 am – 3:00pm @ Rose Garden: Learn about Bees! presented by the Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild.

11:15am-noon @ Rose Garden: English Concertina music for children, including traditional songs & musical games, plus, for all, roses songs of all varieties! Provided by Lynn Mather.

11:30 – 12:00 @ Ed Shed: SWEET CAKES: Seasonal Cakes and a Pie, with Gregory Funk, chef and culinary historian. Join Gregory in conversation as he shares his adventures into Wyck’s historic recipes. Taste Wistar-Haines baked goods that have been perfected for the modern kitchen.

12 Noon – 1pm @ Rose Garden: Enjoy choir music from Settlement Music School students!

1:00pm @ Ed Shed: Wyck’s Boxwood Parterre Restoration , by Martha Keen, Horticulturist : Wyck has embarked on a campaign to restore our boxwood parterres in Fall 2019. The hedges had to be removed several years ago due to general decline and loss (which fortunately has been determined not to be caused by boxwood blight). The Boxwood Parterre Restoration will return the rose garden back to its intended design and structure. We aim to preserve the texture, aroma and form that only boxwood can provide an early American garden, but to achieve this effect with the latest field-tested cultivars. The research that Martha has done with historians, rosarians and boxwood consultants has put Wyck on track to complete the restoration this fall. Martha will explain the research, planning, and future implementation of this important project.

1:oopm-1:45pm @ Rose Garden: English Concertina music for children, including traditional songs & musical games, plus, for all, roses songs of all varieties! Provided by Lynn Mather.

2pm – 3pm @ Rose Garden: Enjoy guitar music from Settlement Music School students!

11:00 – 3:00pm Design Your Own Jewelry (fee) Y’vonne Page-Magnus offers an extensive ensemble of services such as a hands-on way to design a special piece of jewelry and have it made on-site. As well as a popular repair and restringing service, people can have pearls restrung and vintage jewelry repaired (pricing starts at $10).