Andrew Bunting is vice president of horticulture at Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), where he promotes gardening for the greater good. PHS supports healthier neighborhoods through horticulture by cleaning and greening vacant lots, planting and maintaining street trees, partnering with community gardeners to share resources and conserve productive open space, and demonstrating ecologically sound gardening practices in public gardens throughout the greater Philadelphia area. Andrew’s extensive public gardening career includes time spent at Chicago Botanic Garden, Chanticleer, and 27 years at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College. His Fine Gardening articles have covered topics like autumn-flowering trees, shrubs for shade, and selecting trees for structure. In this episode, he discusses the evolution of his home garden, the lessons learned from the many gardens his hands have touched, and the potential for making our shared landscapes more sustainable and inclusive.

When Andrew bought his home in 1999, both the house and garden needed “everything”.

In the early days, the front of the house had a cottage garden feel, with big, colorful drifts of popular perennials like lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis, Zones 3-8).

Recently, Andrew updated his front beds to include a gravel garden filled with an interesting mix of grasses and perennials.

Around 10 years after buying the house, Andrew renovated the garage to create a summer house for relaxing and entertaining.

Today, the summer house ties in beautifully with the surrounding garden.

Tropical plants are one of Andrew’s passions, and he built this large patio near his back door so he would have a place to display them.

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society maintains a variety of gardens and green spaces that advance the health and well-being of the Greater Philadelphia region.

Philadelphia’s Navy Yard is home to over 2,000 trees, and PHS maintains thriving garden beds on the coast of the Delaware River waterfront.

Planting and maintaining street trees makes communities greener and more livable.

Research has shown that living in proximity to green spaces has a beneficial impact on mental health.

PHS supports community gardening initiatives by providing plants, tools, and education to local groups of gardeners.