Philly Galleries Set The Scene For Picture-Perfect Gardens

Art Often Comes With A Side Of Floral Beauty In Philadelphiarn

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rnThroughout the Philadelphia region, art spills out of galleries and into the great outdoors. Many of the region’s galleries and museums sit amid colorful gardens, quiet woodlands or serene meadows that accentuate the art found on the walls. Here’s a look at some of the Philadelphia region galleries that celebrate beauty inside and out:rnrnWhen there isn’t a festival, concert or film series in the 27-acre Sculpture Park at the Abington Art Center, visitors can claim a quiet bench under the Katasura trees to contemplate the 24 environmentally themed semi-permanent and temporary sculptures by artists such as Ursula von Rydingsvard, Knox Cummin, Christopher Manzione, Alison Stigora and Jay Walker. Indoors, guests can take in as many as six exhibitions a year featuring works by regional and national artists. 515 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown, (215) 887-4882, abingtonartcenter.orgrnThe Barnes Foundation’s Merion location continues the extensive arboretum and horticultural programs established by Dr. Barnes’ wife, Laura, 75 years ago. Open to the public, the gardens surrounding the Montgomery County mansion showcase trees that bloom with 3,000 species, along with other fragrant plants and flowers. The Barnes Foundation on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway also preserves the horticultural legacy of Laura Barnes. Outside the building that shows off the famed collection of Renoirs, Matisses, Monets and Cézannes sits four acres of landscaped lawns, trees, a public park, a fountain, contemplative walkways and ample seating. The cafe courtyard invites patrons to dine alfresco, while an internal garden encourages visitors to imagine they are strolling directly into the landscapes they’re admiring on the walls. Landscape designer Laurie Olin’s past work includes Philadelphia’s Rodin Museum and Penn Museum gardens. 300 N. Latch’s Lane, Merion, (215) 278-7200; 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 278-7200, barnesfoundation.orgrnIt takes just one glimpse of the Virginia bluebells, Cardinal flowers and holly and bayberry bushes that border the Brandywine River Museum of Art—originally a 19th-century gristmill—to understand why the landscape has been the muse for many local artists. The museum is internationally known for its unparalleled collection of works by three generations of Wyeths and its fine collection of American illustration, still life and landscape painting. Outside, visitors can join guided walks through the wildflower and native plant gardens, which were dedicated by Lady Bird Johnson, and during the annual plant sale on Mother’s Day weekend, they can take home seeds cultivated right on the grounds, as well as lovely in-bloom plants. 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, (610) 388-2700, brandywinemuseum.orgrnThe James A. Michener Art Museum is home to the Edgar N. Putman Event Pavilion, a 2,700-square-foot indoor-outdoor space designed by architecture firm Kieran Timberlake. The pavilion allows multiple museum programs—from jazz nights to lectures—to function simultaneously within an elegant, all-glass structure that extends into the Patricia Pfundt Sculpture Garden. The museum’s eight galleries accommodate special exhibitions and a 2,800-piece permanent collection, including many Pennsylvania impressionist paintings that capture the essence of the county’s rolling terrain. 138 S. Pine Street, (215) 340-9800, Doylestown, michenerartmuseum.orgrnAfter viewing the impressive collection of international art and artifacts inside the Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania, visitors can relax in two magnificent gardens. The Warden Garden features a classically designed koi pool, expansive lawns and mosaics created by Louis Comfort Tiffany, while the Stoner Courtyard, built on the philosophy that places for nature are necessary in our built-up world, includes sculptural pieces by A.S. Calder, a cobblestone walkway and a beautiful marble fountain. Inside the museum, guests marvel at objects including the 15-ton Egyptian sphinx, ancient Sumerian clay tablets, Maya sculpture and Egyptian mummies. 3260 South Street, (215) 898-4000, penn.museumrnThe Philadelphia Museum of Art’s collections, which include more than 227,000 pieces, are considered among the world’s best. And as the unofficial gateway to Fairmount Park, the Art Museum entices visitors to explore the natural art just beyond its walls. A bi-level sculpture garden, with its gentle combination of hardscaped terraces, lawns, flora and water features, showcases a collection of permanent and rotating sculptures that overlook Fairmount Park, the Schuylkill River, the four-acre Azalea Garden and the grand neo-classical Water Works building. Current works on display include large-scale pieces by Claes Oldenburg and Ellsworth Kelly. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, philamuseum.orgrnJules Mastbaum, the movie-theater magnate and philanthropist who envisioned the Rodin Museum, had an eye for elegance. He hired French architects Paul Cret and Jacques Gréber to create the jewel box of a museum with intimate settings perfect for taking in the extensive Rodin collection, the largest outside Paris. Today, people enjoy the front garden’s reflecting pool and the tapestry of Japanese Ilex, shrubs and colorful flowers—some dating back to the 1920s—as much as they do The Thinker and Eternal Springtime. 2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, rodinmuseum.orgrnAfter a recent fire, the Second Bank of the United States will reopen its doors to the public in May 2016. It contains a first-rate collection of historic portraits within a Parthenon-like structure. Founding Fathers, early leaders, explorers and others are immortalized in about 200 classic portraits, many painted by Charles Willson Peale. Visitors can ponder the significance of the subjects’ accomplishments in several gardens located just steps away. Accented by native plants and trees, Signers’ Garden commemorates the early citizens who declared independence. The 18th-Century Garden replicates the formal English gardens of the day, with geometrically patterned raised flowerbeds, walking paths, a pergola and a fruit orchard. The Rose Garden and Magnolia Garden are secluded, colorful and fragrant refuges. Second Bank, 420 Chestnut Street; Signers’, 5th & Chestnut Streets; 18th-Century, Walnut Street between 3rd & 4th Streets; Rose and Magnolia, Locust Street between 4th & 5th Streets; (215) 965-2305, nps.gov/indernWith textiles, paintings, prints, furniture and ceramics dating from 1640 to 1860, Winterthur is a favorite for fans of Americana. Nature enthusiasts are drawn to the1,000-acre country estate for its 60-acre garden of woodlands, waterways and meadows abloom with hundreds of species, including eight acres of azaleas. Past the reflecting pool and Sycamore Hill, lilacs and princess trees stand beside deutzias and cherry red weigelas. If the kids get antsy, a short trip across the Troll Bridge leads to the Faerie Cottage in the Enchanted Woods. 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware, (800) 448-3883, winterthur.orgrnIn the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, the Woodmere Art Museum tells the story of Philadelphia’s art and artists, including N.C. Wyeth, Benjamin West, Violet Oakley, Edna Andrade and Daniel Garber, as well as new and emerging contemporary artists. The 19th-century stone Victorian mansion sits on six acres of sprawling manicured lawns that include a treasure trove of sculptures fashioned by Philadelphia-area artists. The Children’s Garden contains fanciful wooden creatures and a giant bird’s nest nestled within the flowerbeds. 9201 Germantown Avenue, (215) 247-0476, woodmereartmuseum.orgrnVISIT PHILADELPHIA® makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county area.rnrnOn Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.rnrn rnrnContact(s):rnDonna Schorr, (215) 599-0782