Claire Passantino

Summer 2022 Garden Events

For updates about Ormiston news and events, visit  www.ormistonmansion.org.

Here are some upcoming events at #OrmistonMansion:

Sunday June 5,   The Queen’s Big Jubilee Lunch, 2:30pm on the Ormiston lawn.  Queen Elizabeth has been queen for 70 years, which makes her the longest reigning monarch in British history!  People are celebrating around the world.  Read the official invite. Besides the luncheon, there will  be kid activities on our side lawn including adding jewels to a paper crown, “Pin the Purse on the Queen”, taking pictures with a lifesize cutout of the Queen, viewing coins from Commonwealth countries, and helping yourself to a cupcake with a British toothpick flag!

Tuesday June 7   9am-noon  Join Phlly Park Volunteers who will be gardening on the Ormiston grounds.  Find out how you can be a volunteer gardener, or if you would like to try your hand with gardening.   No experience needed, but experienced gardeners are valuable resources!

June 18 – July 16 – Aug 13   10:30-12:30pm   Kids PopUp Workshops led by naturalist Leslie Gale, from Bartram’s Garden.  Take a walk on the Boxer Trail, then do a related craft.   Bring a picnic lunch and eat it on the lawn.  Fun for all ages!

July 30   10am-noon  Save the date!  The Guild of Philadelphia Handweavers will visit Ormiston Mansion and engage children and their parents in a weaving activity.    Details to follow.

Group Visits to Ormiston

Do you have a group  you would like to bring to Ormiston?   Children or adults.

Contact Claire Passantino to make arrangements for a group visit to Ormiston. Plan a program that will meet the needs and interests of your group.   215-771-0046        

May 21: CHS Fashion Show "Vernal Harmony"

On Saturday May 21 it was 95 degrees, but students from Central High School were not deterred. They held their yearly fashion show at Ormiston to model “wearable structures” constructed in their art class. Twenty students took part, and over fifty guests were seated on the front lawn. Later, guests were invited to a refreshment table on the side lawn, featuring rhododentron bouquets in teapots, a lemonade punchbowl, cucumber sandwiches, and a variety of sweets on tiered trays. A good time was had by all.


Video Block
Double-click here to add a video by URL or embed code. Learn more

May 7: Mothers Day

The weather on May 7 was dismal with cold rain and puddles galore. The task was to plant a flowering plant for mom, and then make a little card to go with the plant. (Mother’s Day was May 8, so we could not postpone the event!) Attendance was light but 12 kids came for the activity. We planted the plants inside the garden room, then ran to the back door and made our cards inside the Scottish kitchen. The kids were going to plant the remaining flower in the garden, but it had to wait for another day. Drip drop.

April 22: Earth Day

Four 3rd-grade classes visited from The Philadelphia School, about 60 kids in all.   We split into two smaller groups.  Each group took a nature walk down the Boxer Trail, led by their teacher.  Then we made potting soil in the wheelbarrow by digging compost and combining it with peat moss.  We put potting soil in little plastic cups and planted  sunflower seeds to take home.   It’s always a fun and educational day when TPS students and teachers visit Ormiston.