Bartrams Garden

I used my bike for a different purpose than normal today, that is, as a mode of transportation rather than method for recreation. Seeing the cherry trees in blossom on my Easter ride reminded me that there's a Japanese Tea House and Garden in Fairmount Park that I'd never visited. No Rail State nearby; too far to walk; and too expensive a cab ride, bike was the best means to get to the Tea House. Unfortunately, they weren't giving public tours, only private ones with reservations today. I wish that obstacle had been clear on their webpage. So I took a few pictures from outside the fence and walked around the horticultural center than abuts the Tea House.

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Since I didn't take the tour, I also had time to ride south to Bartram's Garden, once home to America's preeminent botanist, John Bartram. I arrive at 2:45 PM, a little too late for the garden tour, and signed up for the 3:30 PM house tour. In the meantime I walked around the botanical gardens. The back (really the front) of the property leads down to the Schuykill River, which is lined with industrial complexes. The garden's historical significance saved it from a similar fate. I was the only attendee on the house tour, which lasted about forty-five minutes. A quick twenty-minute ride by to my apartment left me enough time to shower and make it to 5:15 PM mass.

Japanese Tea House

John Bartram's House (finished 1770)

Bartram's Garden. Leading down to the Schuylkill River.