About

Our Story begins here 

Gradually…over the course of a couple or so years… a romance blossomed…
…within a place… and in this place a hidden gem was discovered – a garden.  A garden that, over time, had become overgrown and seemingly neglected – groomed & cared for only when special visitors were invited into her midst. 

The hidden garden was seen only from a distance and once a year in May during a Garden Party fundraiser. Few people paid attention and most did not know the landscape was part of the House’s History at all!! It took a couple years to realize there were flower beds – with incredible potential – hidden in a jumble of weeds edged with old wooden boards and white flowering Impatiens planted each May. Little by little – with 2 or 3 garden volunteers who showed up once in a while – weeding ensued  – plants were moved around – meetings began to organize the  garden’s care – and Laureen was hired as head gardener to tend the Colonial Revival Garden! 

Archival notes were introduced as part of the story of the House Museum. Written by Letitia Wright, the woman who initiated the design of the Colonial Revival Garden of 1913. As the garden became healthy and alluring, the annual Garden Party began to migrate from the lawn into the garden and folks visiting the Museum also began to visit the garden!

Surrounding the property, a woodland strip and a chain-link fence offered the potential of views into the garden and landscape from the adjacent city park. The woodland was overgrown with vines and weeds and little by little these were removed. When the arborist began to leave the wood chips, they were spread beneath the tree canopy. Specialists were consulted while native and historically appropriate ground cover and perennials were planted into the healthy soil. The landscape came to life and was loved.

For 10 years Laureen Griffin, owner of Garden InSites, was caretaker of Stenton Historic House Museum’s landscape and head gardener of the Colonial Revival Garden.

Today

Founded in 2016, Garden InSites is devoted to the creation of healthy and well designed landscapes. Our designs incorporate landscaping elements such as water features, patios, fences, and fire pits. The gardens are seamlessly integrated into each landscape creating outdoor living spaces, front yard neighborhood appeal, intimate garden spaces, natural habitats, beautiful vegetable gardens, and more. Gardens can be colorful greetings along driveways and front doorways or vibrant woodland spaces. They can exist anywhere a garden will live. 

Garden InSites is fully insured and our employees are covered by workers compensation. Our employees are passionate gardeners and horticulturists committed to maintaining our clients’ gardens. Our contractors are dedicated crafts people who care about their work. To ensure our clients’ gardens are at their best we apply design and horticulture principles and tend to the gardens regularly so they continue to thrive.