Gardening has been the best common denominator in my life; as I always say, it’s not just the plants but the people you meet. Over several decades in the horticultural world, I have been influenced by far too many people to list them all here, or even remember them all. I am most grateful for the support of my family—to my parents, David G. and Bobbie Jean Culp; and their parents, the Rev. L. T. and Katherine Culp and John and Irene Thorpe, who invited me into their gardens at a very young age; to my sisters, Linda Lee Oliver and Sherri Lee Culp, for their love and support through the years and during this project; and to Michael Alderfer, without whom the garden at Brandywine Cottage would be a very different, and much lonelier, place.
When I decided to pursue horticulture as a career and return to school, I met three very important people in my plant life: Stephanie Cohen, my herbaceous plants instructor; Gail Neiman, co-worker at Waterloo Gardens; and Joanne Walkovic, co-founder of the Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group, the organization that gave me a home in horticulture and whose members continue to provide me encouragement and knowledge. Joanna Reed both taught me a way to garden and introduced me to some of the dearest people in my life. Elsie DuPont has shared her enthusiasm and love of plants and garden design, and has been a wonderful companion on many plant collecting trips. Alastair Gunn has both shared my passions and encouraged me to take up new ones. Bill Thomas has been a great friend and supporter over many years; both the gardens and the gardeners at his current venue, Chanticleer, continue to inspire me. The gardens of the late Christopher Lloyd at Great Dixter, now evolving so beautifully under the care of Fergus Garrett and his staff, are another source of inspiration.
Thanks to Jane Pepper, Chela Kleiber, Marilyn Romanesco and the staff of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, who have done so much good for the green world for so many years. Claire Sawyers and the staff of the Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College are an example of what higher education truly should be. Elizabeth Strangman, Gisela Schmiemann, Günter Jürgl, John Massey and Kevin Belcher of Ashwood Nurseries, Will McLewin of Phedar Nursery, Robin and Sue White of Blackthorn Nursery, and Thierry Delabroye educated me in the ways and wiles of the world of hellebores. John Grimshaw, Alan Street, Hitch Lyman, Louise Peters, and many others, helped turn me into a full-blown galanthophile.
Tom Fischer of Timber Press encouraged me to write this book, and made it possible for me to work with what I call my “dream team”—co-author Adam Levine and photographer Rob Cardillo, whose craftsmanship I admire and whose friendship I cherish. These two became as dedicated to the book as I was, and for that I will be eternally grateful. I would also like to thank Ellen Wheat, Eve Goodman, and Mike Dempsey for their thoughtful editorial contributions to the book.
Linda Oliver, Tom Borkowski, Queenie Northrup, and Carol McConomy read and commented on early drafts of the text, and Gail Furman typed my notes for this book. Thanks to Sue Leary, The Chanticleer Foundation, and the Blue Café in Downingtown, for providing us work space during the course of the book’s creation.
Thanks also to Pierre Bennerup, Marc Laviana, and Kathy Bonomi, of Sunny Border Nurseries; Tony Avent; Michael Bowell; John Bryer; Alma Nelson Cassel; Steve Castorani and North Creek Nurseries; Charles Cresson; Marie Ducharme; Nancy and Bill Frederick; Heidi and Rich Hesselein; Dan Hinkley; Nancy and Bob Holman; Sally and Dick Lighty; John Londsdale; Marian and Jeremy Martin; Leah, Adrian, and Sebastian Martinez; David Mattern; Diane Mattis; John McIntyre; Deborah Miles; Dixie Northrop; Lauren Springer Ogden; Robin Parer; Graham Rice; the Russell family of Russell Gardens; Betty Sparks; Martha Stewart; Marco Polo Stufano and the staff of Wave Hill; Mary Ann Thomas; Dave Thompson and the Continuing Education staff at Longwood Gardens; and members of the Winterthur Garden and Landscape Society.
Finally, my thanks to gardeners everywhere: you make our world a kinder, gentler place.