Pennsylvania Horticultural Society - PHS Archives Digital Image Collection

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  • Original Format = Photographs
  • Subject = Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

About This Collection

This collection documents activities and projects undertaken by or in partnership with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society from its inception in 1827 to the 21st Century (apart from Philadelphia Flower Show documentation, which is in a separate collection). The bulk of the material is from originals dating from 1940 - 2010. Consisting of scanned documents and photographic images, born-digital images, and digitized video and audio clips, this collection documents Philadelphia-area horticultural activity including: WWII Victory Garden Harvest Shows; PHS’s work from 1970s forward on urban greening projects created in concert with community leaders and activists; major projects on public landscape revitalization; and vacant land stabilization. This collection traces the trajectory of PHS’s urban greening initiatives starting in the 1970s as its Philadelphia Green program, which, over time, helped Philadelphians create hundreds of community gardens, plant thousands of trees to beautify and cool the city’s streets, to revitalize Philadelphia’s neighborhood parks and to bring new life to iconic public landscapes. Additionally, the collection includes digital images of Meadowbrook Farm a 25-acre property in Abington, Pennsylvania, bequeathed to PHS in 2003 and material related to PHS’s first Pop Up Garden in 2011. The collection is supported in part through a 2020 NEH Cares Grant, National Endowment for the Humanities.
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City Gardens Contest. Mayoral Candidates, 1983
City Gardens Contest. Mayoral Candidates, 1983
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. City Gardens Contest, Garden of Eatin' (Philadelphia, Pa.), Philadelphia Green (Program), Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Egan, John J., Jr., Rizzo, Frank, 1891-, Gola, Tom, 1933-2014, Goode, W. Wilson, Leonard, Thomas A., Dougherty, Charles, Bateman, Anthony
All seven candidates running for mayor of Philadelphia in the 1983 election were invited to the PHS City Gardens Contest kickoff event – and all showed up. The event was held at the Garden of Eatin’, a community garden at South Twenty-fifth and Dickinson Streets. The candidates are, from left to right, John J. Egan Jr., Frank Rizzo, Thomas Gola, W. Wilson Goode, Thomas A. Leonard, Anthony Bateman and Charles Dougherty. Wilson Goode won the election. 
Greene Countrie Towne. Patricia Schreiber, [1987]
Greene Countrie Towne. Patricia Schreiber, [1987]
Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne, Schreiber, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Gardenmobile
PHS staff member Patricia Schreiber (holding balloons) gets ready to celebrate a dedication of a Green Countrie Towne.  
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze. Alta Felton, 1987
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze. Alta Felton, 1987
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Felton, Alta, Point Breeze (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne
This 1987 photograph depicts community gardener Alda Felton, as she stands in front of the 25th and Dickinson community garden that is a part of the Point Breeze Green Countrie Towne. 
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze. Alta Felton, 1988
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze. Alta Felton, 1988
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Felton, Alta, Point Breeze (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne
1988 photograph of community gardener Alta Felton in the garden at 25th and Dickinson Streets in South Philadelphia. It’s one of the many vegetable gardens in the Point Breeze Green Countrie Towne. 
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze. Invitation to the Dedication, 1983
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze. Invitation to the Dedication, 1983
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne, Point Breeze (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Invitation to the Point Breeze Greene Countrie Towne Dedication in 1983. 
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze. Mamie Nichols. Dedication, 1983
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze. Mamie Nichols. Dedication, 1983
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne, Point Breeze (Philadelphia, Pa.), Bonham, J. Blaine, Nichols, Mamie, -2009
Charismatic long-time neighborhood activist Mamie Nichols spoke at the Point Breeze neighborhood Greene Countrie Towne celebration with Blaine Bonham, Jr., Philadelphia Green director, looking on. Point Breeze was dedicated as a PHS Greene Countrie Towne in 1983. The largest of any of the eight neighborhoods to be declared a Greene Countrie Towne, Point Breeze planted gardens, street trees, and container blocks on more than 70 sites. Neighborhoods that committed to organizing garden groups and working with Philadelphia Green on extensive greening projects were dedicated as Greene Countrie Townes with festive celebrations.
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze Postcard [Recto], 1983
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze Postcard [Recto], 1983
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne, Point Breeze (Philadelphia, Pa.), Postcards
Postcard marking date of Point Breeze Greene Countrie Towne public opening, Saturday July 30, 1983. "Poster by Sherry Rich. Barratt Junior High School"
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze Postcard [Verso], 1983
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze Postcard [Verso], 1983
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne, Point Breeze (Philadelphia, Pa.), Postcards
Postcard marking date of Point Breeze Greene Countrie Towne public opening, Saturday July 30, 1983. "Poster by Sherry Rich. Barratt Junior High School"
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze Vegetable Garden, 1983
Greene Countrie Towne. Point Breeze Vegetable Garden, 1983
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne, Point Breeze (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Shown here is one of many vegetable gardens grown in 1983 in the Point Breeze neighborhood in South Philadelphia.  
Greene Countrie Towne. Strawberry Mansion, [1990]
Greene Countrie Towne. Strawberry Mansion, [1990]
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Strawberry Mansion (Philadelphia, Pa.), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne
In this photograph from the early 1990s, a group works in their garden in Strawberry Mansion, one of the PHS “Greene Countrie Towne” neighborhoods. To qualify for Greene Countrie Towne status, residents of this 200-square-block North Philadelphia neighborhood completed 170 greening projects, installing gardens, street trees, and containers filled with flowers. 
Greene Countrie Towne. Susquehanna Celebration, 1990
Greene Countrie Towne. Susquehanna Celebration, 1990
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Susquehanna (Philadelphia, Pa.), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne
An exuberant crowd participates in a Susquehanna Greene Countrie Town celebration in 1990. 
Greene Countrie Towne. West Shore Celebration, 1985
Greene Countrie Towne. West Shore Celebration, 1985
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne, West Shore (Philadelphia, Pa.), Goode, W. Wilson, Rouse, James W., Enterprise Foundation, Basinski, Alexandra, -2008
PHS’s Greene Countrie Towne program remade communities with gardens, trees and education in the 1980s. In this 1985 photograph, Mayor Wilson Goode announces the dedication of the West Shore Greene Countrie Towne. Behind him (red bandana)  is James W. Rouse, chairman of the Enterprise Foundation, who is standing next to PHS staff member Alexandra Basinski.
Greene Countrie Towne. West Shore Dedication, 1985
Greene Countrie Towne. West Shore Dedication, 1985
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne, West Shore (Philadelphia, Pa.), Goode, W. Wilson, Rouse, James W., Enterprise Foundation, Bonham, J. Blaine
Mayor Wilson Goode is part of the 1985 celebration to dedicate the West Shore Green Countrie Towne.   Behind him stands James W. Rouse, chairman of the Enterprise Foundation, who is standing next to PHS Philadelphia Green director Blaine Bonham. 
Philadelphia Green. Blaine Bonham, 1977
Philadelphia Green. Blaine Bonham, 1977
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Bonham, J. Blaine, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Gardenmobile
A young gardener received plants from PHS director of community gardening programs Blaine Bonham. By 1977 PHS had sponsored more than 120 community gardens throughout Philadelphia. Garden workshops and frequent visits from the staff in the Gardenmobile kept the gardens growing.  Over time, Bonham and his dedicated staff built Philadelphia Green to be the largest urban greening program in the country. Photo appeared in  1977 yearbook page 11
Philadelphia Green. Blaine Bonham and Patricia Schrieber, [1979]
Philadelphia Green. Blaine Bonham and Patricia Schrieber, [1979]
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Bonham, J. Blaine, Schreiber, Patricia
Blaine Bonham, Philadelphia Green director and Patricia Schrieber, street trees coordinator, PG,  are standing in the Kitchen Garden at PHS headquarters (325 Walnut Street, Philadelphia), looking at what’s growing. 
Philadelphia Green. Community Garden, 1991
Philadelphia Green. Community Garden, 1991
Busy Bees Children's Garden (Philadelphia, Pa.), Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Armstrong, Hilda
A cross-generational gardening activity takes place in this 1991 community garden in Philadelphia. Hilda Armstrong and three young members of the Busy Bees inspect the peanut crop at 22nd and Dauphin Streets.
Philadelphia Green. Garden of Eatin', 1989
Philadelphia Green. Garden of Eatin', 1989
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Point Breeze (Philadelphia, Pa.), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Greene Countrie Towne, Garden of Eatin' (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Signs denoting Dickinson Street Garden of Eatin’ community vegetable garden, one of many of PHS’s greening projects in the Point Breeze neighborhood in 1989. 
Philadelphia Green. Garden of Gethsemane, 1987
Philadelphia Green. Garden of Gethsemane, 1987
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Garden of Gethsemane (Philadelphia, Pa.), McCabe, Sally, Haggerty, Grace
In this 1987 photograph, community gardener Grace Haggerty chats with PHS staff member Sally McCabe (redhead) in the Garden of Gethsemane at Pearl and Conestoga in West Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Green. Gardenmobile, 1975
Philadelphia Green. Gardenmobile, 1975
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Gardenmobile
In its inaugural 1975 season, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Gardenmobile brought seedlings, topsoil, education and more to neighborhoods across the city, including several in West Philadelphia. 
Philadelphia Green. Gardenmobile, 1986
Philadelphia Green. Gardenmobile, 1986
Philadelphia Green (Program), Urban gardening -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Community gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Narducci, Flossie, Boyer, Angeline, Ross, Susan, Jefferson, Denise, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Gardenmobile
Next to PHS’s second generation Garden Mobile are (l to r) PHS staff members Angeline Boyer, Susan Ross, Denise Jefferson and Flossie Narducci.