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Picking up my tour of Paxson Hill Farm — from the Philadelphia Area Fling in September — where I left off yesterday, let’s alimony exploring! After emerging from the hobbit house hideaway, I followed the path uphill through flipside weeping-tree arch. The romance! Am I right?
Ahead lay a swamp garden, marked by a quirky cordyline at the gateposts. A narrow boardwalk promises to alimony your feet dry.
The marshy ground is obscured by lush foliage, but a weeping tree beckons in the distance.
Jim Charlier led the way withal the zigzagging boardwalk.
You reach dry land under the willow and find yourself on an island with semi-spooky totems.
Are they friendly?
A swinging log underpass provides your escape, and of undertow you can have a little fun wavy on it if you want.
Laughing as you exit the wavy bridge, you spot — hello! — a hippo lounging in a low spot.
At the rear of the garden, you find a large, grassy amphitheater. I wonder what kinds of performances they stage here?
On stage, a sculptural musician silently plays.
Fall verisimilitude was starting to kick in in late September.
Found-object verisimilitude is unchangingly there.
A formal garden stretches withal one side of Paxson Hill, with turning views, framed doorways, and lots of sculpture. There’s a wildlife swimming just beyond, but I was running short on time and had to skip it this time. If you’re curious, you can see it in my post from a visit in 2021.
An Egyptian goddess, new since my last visit, marked the final focal point withal the axis. Now let’s turn virtually and walk through the formal garden in reverse.
I soon found Layanee DeMerchant striking a mauve pose in a moon gate. She matches the gravel overdue her!
A bosque enclosed by a hedge and lined with sculptural works offers a wistful place to sit.
An Adam and Eve (she’s just out of view) are entwined in a metal spindle between garden rooms.
A pair of sphinxes marks the archway to flipside garden room. You never know what you will find at Paxson Hill.
Off to the side, an utopian sculpture on the lawn stands out versus burgundy foliage.
And an oversized pair of urns, each an explosion of rainbow-hued phormium, marks the archway to the Temple Garden.
Satyr faces varnish the urns.
The main crossroads of Paxson Hill’s garden is a circular lawn with paths radiating out on all sides. In the part-way stands a kinetic sculpture, Naked Alien.
I had time for a quick peek at the Katsura Garden, where I found a hunger-inducing sculpture of colorful macarons…
…and a giant chess board, x-rated mid-game. A king stands in the corner, watching the scene.
I venerate Paxson Hill Farm’s creativity, fearlessness, and sense of adventure. It’s wonderful to see such a creative designer as owner Bruce Gangawer let loose wideness 30 acres to create a one-of-a-kind garden and unshut it to the public to enjoy.
Up next: The unsurpassed Chanticleer Garden, Part 1. (It may be a little while surpassing I can edit all my photos of Chanticleer, since I’m working nonflexible on my new typesetting right now. But stayed tuned for them!) For a squint when at Paxson Hill Farm, Part 1, including the swimming garden and hobbit house hideaway, click here.
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