Spend an Autumn Afternoon in Ned Wolf Park

The following is a press release from the Friends of Ned Wolf Park

The Friends of Ned Wolf Park are sponsoring a party in the community park they’ve work hard to beautify for the past six years. 

Come spend an “Autumn Afternoon in Ned Wolf Park,” on Saturday, October 19, 2013 from 1 pm to 4 pm [Rain date: Sunday, Oct. 20].  The garden tenders who also sponsor the beloved Spring Plant Sale want to gather and enjoy the park with the folks who use it, who express their gratitude as they walk by it, who volunteer to keep it going, and who seek to further develop this special oasis in our midst.   Even folks who drive by but have never stopped their cars or those completely unfamiliar with this City of Philadelphia pocket park are heartily encouraged to join in the festivities.

The Friends group is celebrating many successes this year by hosting this free event with a family-friendly slate of activities:

• View a neighborhood Art Show – Members of Marcia Jones' Watermedia Art Class at Allens Lane Art Center will present garden-themed paintings in watercolor and acrylic.
• Listen to Live Music by local performers.
• Dance if the music moves you!
• Create sidewalk art – Children can help set the mood by coloring in or out of the lines of a celebratory design on the parks surrounding sidewalks.
• Buy spring-flowering bulbs for your garden – The Friends have selected a collection of unusual bulbs, some already in the park & others new for next spring, to offer to our neighbors.   Sold in decorative organza bags, these bulbs would make great gifts for planting this fall.
• Sip seasonal cider – Weaver’s Way will contribute some local apple ciders to tap into our cool-weather nostalgia:  hot cider if it’s a chilly day or chilly cider if it’s a hot day!
• Sample designer donuts – Trolley Car Diner makes amazing donuts right on Germantown Avenue and here’s your chance to try their classic plain donuts or two phenomenal fall flavors: Cinnamon Ginger with a caramel glaze or Caramel Apple with apple cake and a caramel drizzle.

What’s there to celebrate?  With bountiful rainfall this year, the gardens at Ned Wolf Park have been providing a steady display of floral and foliage finesse.  The Friends group is pleased to have again won First Place – Small Community Park in the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s City Garden Contest.    PHS has also awarded a regional Community Greening Award to the Friends of NWP for their accomplishments, including horticultural education in the form of plant lists & plant maps on the site as well as lectures and garden tours that showcase the sustainable plantings.   Phase I of a three stage capital improvement plan was completed in May 2013, replacing rotting creosoted timbers with bluestone and schist steps. And Phase II, the Terrace Wall Campaign, is well on its way with $3K raised of the $17K needed.  The decaying wood retaining wall will be rebuilt using local Wissahickon schist and capped with PA bluestone to provide community seating around the central paved terrace in the park.  It’s hoped this will encourage more group activities.  Come check out the funky new Trellis-o-meter which will grow shuttlecock flowers as the Friends group raises funds for the project.  Also worth celebrating: the free Tai Chi group which meets on Sunday mornings is growing.

 So on October 19th, come check out the toad lilies, hummingbird mint, mums, asters and pink grasses which are among the fall highlights in the gardens.  Meet your neighbors and enjoy an “Autumn Afternoon in Ned Wolf Park.”