“Walter’s Garden” surrounds the historic manor house built by John Penn in 1774 called The Solitude, which became part of the Philadelphia Zoo (America's first zoo) in 1874. 

We invite you to become a friend of the garden on Facebook.

In Honor of Walter

In trying to find the best way to honor Walter, we could think of no better place to look than one of his favorite places, the Philadelphia Zoo.  Needless to say, our good fortune was remarkable.  We quickly learned about the renovation of The Solitude; its garden in need of a sponsor.  And as we explored things further, the development staff at the Zoo embraced our vision and truly made us feel like family.  All told, we were hooked and plans for “Walter’s Garden” initiated. 

Today, with our master gardener at the helm -- and with a nod to the more informal approach originally desired by John Penn -- a new landscape design for The Solitude is quickly being realized.  “Walter’s Garden” now includes flowering and fruiting plants, as well as plants used in estate plantings of the 18th century.  Also, by incorporating native plants into the design, the garden provides zoo visitors with an important education on the use of indigenous plants in a modern garden, promoting local wildlife-friendly habitats. 

Our deep thanks go out to our many new friends at the Philadelphia Zoo including Jay Calvert (Chairman), Vikram Dewan (President & CEO), Sara Hertz (Vice President, Development), Clayton Platt (Director, Major Gifts & Gift Planning), as well as Robin Potter (Master Gardener).  Without this group, our tribute to Walter would not have been possible. 

Feel free to visit the zoo's website to learn more about the history and vision of The Solitude.