Introducing "Lessons with Larry" - Meet Larry
Hi! I’m Larry Wettig, Estate Manager from Conestoga House & Gardens - here to introduce myself to all of you Plant enthusiasts in the South-Central area of Pennsylvania.
Within my blog posts, I will be providing Horticultural and Gardening facts and information that I hope will be of interest to you. It is my goal that this information will be seen as helpful to everyone who enjoys having plants around their homes. I do not have a degree in Horticulture, however, I do have a vast amount of experience working with plants, and a surprising amount of knowledge that I have gained from 51 years doing container gardening here at Conestoga House.
I came into this line of work, I believe, by accident. I graduated from high school and then served in the Navy for 4 years and started work at Alcoa on Fruitville Pike. I was laid off during the 1970 recession and was starting to look for work when I came across an ad for a Shipping & Receiving clerk at a local store.
I was looking for day work, as my job at Alcoa was swing shift (meaning one week-day shift, one week 2nd shift and one week 3rd shift, constantly revolving) and I had gotten to a point that I did not know how to function.
I inquired about the job, was told it would not start for two weeks, and was asked if I would mind working at the store owner’s home in the meantime. That sounded strange and I asked “Do you have enough work to keep me busy for 2 weeks?”. I was assured that I would have plenty to do. It turns out that the owner, Peggy Steinman, had a 20 acre estate with a lot of grass and one greenhouse with plants in it. I did mow for two solid weeks and did not get everything done.
At the end of those two weeks, I asked if she was ready for me to start the store position. She informed me that the person who I was to replace changed his mind and would be staying, so I asked “Is that it? Are you not needing me?”. I was told that she needed me to stay at her home. I felt that maybe I was duped into the job, so I said to myself that I would work for the summer and look for employment elsewhere. 51 years later, I’m still here.
Along the way I developed a love for plants and a keen interest for their history and use. It is far more complicated than I thought at the beginning.
I started in 1971 and since that time the Gardens have been embellished and expanded to their present state. We grow over 5,000 plants in 5 greenhouses that are used in the Gardens during the touring season and for display. This includes a large number of tropical and subtropical plants, topiary animals and bonsai, trough gardens and a large number of bedding plants. This also includes a Rose Garden and Herb display with edible cultivars in containers. There are also large tree and shrub cultivars throughout the terraced grounds.
We are often compared to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square. They are a world class arboretum with world class conservatories. We are better classed as a container garden. We are much more intimate and demonstrate on a small or large scale how to decorate your personal garden areas around the home you live in. Whether you live in a single home, a duplex, an apartment or have a large yard, a porch, balcony or deck - you can still enjoy the plant world.
In addition to gardening, I am also a history buff on this property and know a fair amount of insider information about the house, landscape and details surrounding the people who have lived here in the past.
Using my expertise on these subjects, this blog will be open to all who may have questions regarding plants, the history of the property, and the people who have lived at Conestoga House & Gardens. Please submit your questions to conestoga@ecklindevelopment.com.
If you have any questions while touring the Gardens, I am happy to answer those as well. I will try to keep things brief as I have the tendency to share too much. I am 25% Irish and have the gift of gab.
Thank you for reading this much!
Until next time,
Larry