Brandywine Cottage in Downingtown is a four-season blooming habitat and sanctuary with more than 3,000 different plants in its two-acre garden, writes J.F. Pirro for Main Line Today.

The cottage is owned by owned by David Culp, a Quaker and naturalist who puts the land’s stewardship, celebration, and preservation above everything else.

“I’m embracing Mother Nature, taking cues from her and catching her spirit,” he said.

Built around 1970, the cottage got its name from being nestled on the Brandywine River and was saved by Culp from an encroaching subdivision. He already had a connection to the area through his Pennsylvania German roots in Reading.

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His paternal family can be traced to two farming brothers who arrived in Pennsylvania with William Penn.

In the symmetrically shaped vegetable garden, Culp has planted 250 varieties of snowdrops, along with tulips, galanthus, roses, hepaticas, and many others.

Culp is also preparing to publish a new book next year that focuses on blurring the line between outside and inside planting. His first book – The Layered Garden: Design Lessons for Year-Round Beauty from Brandywine Cottage – is currently in its fifth printing.

Read more about Brandywine Cottage in Main Line Today here.

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