Seasons Garden Center

Shed those winter blues with the healing and inspirational power of gardens.
By Dava Guerin

For centuries, gardens have not only been great sources of beauty, but also used to heal, motivate and inspire. While their original purpose might have been eroded by modern medical advancements, their inspirational powers have seen resurgence of late. From the Japanese Zen gardens and the Les Jardins des Tuileries in Paris, to the Healing Gardens of St. Mary’s Hospital—gardens have become destinations within themselves. And people have taken notice.

Dan Piestor, owner of Seasons Garden Center in Washington Crossing, Pa., believes that being surrounded by a lush and colorful garden can be literally life-changing. “When I find myself in a stressful time, or when I seem like I am surrounded by problems, I walk through my garden, or even the gardens of one of the estates we maintain. Being in touch with nature and beautiful surroundings seems to help me to see things clearly,” Piestor said. He added that Spring is the ideal time to plan a theme for the garden, and prepare the space for optimal results. “That’s why they rely on us take care of raking the winter debris, re-seeding the bad areas, and checking to see what shrubs might need pruning or transplanting. The key is that they know we are both friends and trusted professionals, which goes a long way toward making their outdoor spaces functional and eye-catching.”

Piestor added that even though many of his clients leave the heavy lifting to him and his staff, the urge to get their hands dirty and participate in the process is inevitable. “Since we know that people can’t wait to get their hands in the soil, especially after the terrible winter we’ve had here in Bucks County, we still want them to have some basic knowledge of what to do and not do in their gardens,” he said. “But, ultimately, they rely on us for design, installation and maintenance. Depending on their needs, we tailor their landscaping to reflect their vision, and many people are surprised to learn that we also do weddings, family parties, and a wide range of special events.”

Creativity and Sustainability

The garden is one of the most illustrative examples of nature doing what it does best. The cycle of life ebbs and flows with the seasons, and each time nature renews itself with bursts of blooms in the Spring, hues of reds and gold in the fall and majestic barks in winter. Season’s master gardener Kelly Thompson, who specializes in sustainable, re-useable outdoor spaces, believes that recycling planting material from one season to another doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty or creativity. “The container garden provides a wonderful opportunity to re-use planting material and repurpose it throughout the seasons,” Thompson said. “For example, we often fill our containers with perennials such as Sedum or Coreopsis which bloom all summer, or use dwarf Alberta Spruce in the winter pots, then in the spring add pansies to the design.”

Thompson, who is conducting a container garden seminar benefitting St. Mary’s Healing Garden, at Seasons Garden Center on Friday, May 7, along with David Van Sciver from the NJ chapter of the Floral Arts Guild, said that even the smallest of spaces can be ideal for container gardens.

“Imagination and creativity come into play when designing a container garden,” she said. “The key is to use the right pot with appropriate drainage, choose the proper soil mixture, know the type of light it will receive, and of course choose the best planting materials.”

For tickets to the seminar, which includes a gift bag and lunch, or for additional Spring gardening tips, visit www.seasonsgardencenter.com. Also, beginning April 1, Seasons will become a drop-off point for Philabundance, and people are encouraged to bring fresh fruit and produce benefit the region’s hungry and homeless.

Seasons Garden Center is located at 1069 River Road in Washington Crossing. For more information, visit www.seasonsgardencenter.com or call (215) 493-4226.

Dava Guerin is Bucks & Montgomery Living Magazine’s People Editor.