Citizen of the Week

As a founding member of Plant Ambler, landscape designer Donna Swansen initially began the project as a way to honor Louise Bush-Brown. Swansen and five of her friends, then fellow students at Temple University's Ambler campus, wanted to honor the memory of the dynamic Bush Brown.

Bush-Brown had organized Philadelphia's Neighborhood Gardens Association to sponsor horticultural beautification programs in low-income neighborhoods and at public housing projects. By the time it became part of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Philadelphia Green Program, more than 850 blocks had been planted.

Said Swansen, "We heard that Temple was going to put a plaque in the ground wasn't enough. The six of us decided that we would each maintain a planter in Ambler (PA) for a season. People liked the idea. Before we knew it we had more people who wanted to get involved. Many businesses got behind us.

"Now in our 28th year, Plant Ambler has 55 to 60 people maintaining planters," said Swansen. In addition to planting flowers, Plant Ambler has also participated in anti-litter and urban beautification projects. For the first 15 years, Swansen was president of Plant Ambler, followed by Denise Richards and now, Hilary Heckman.

"I was part of the group that had the vision that started Plant Ambler, but if it hadn't been for Denise Richards and Hilary Heckman who picked up and carried the ball, it wouldn't be what it is today," said Swansen.

Maintaining flower beds and planters may seem like a small thing, but beautifying Ambler can have a very positive impact on the area overall. The typical home gardener may not appreciate the challenge of growing flowers along a busy road like Butler Avenue in Ambler. The hot, dry air created by thousands of cars a day is far from the ideal environment for plants.

Donna Swansen started gardening at an early age, but wasn't successful at first.

"I had my first garden when I was 5. I planted a vegetable garden under a tree, which leafed out and it got heavily shaded and I had no vegetables at all. At 7, I tried again. I planted next to the house in the sun but next to a drain pipe and 18 packets of seeds floated away," she remembered.

I'm grateful to my fifth grade teacher, Miss Cook. Our teacher said we had to work in a Victory garden to get an 'A.' After school, we would trot across the street from school to her back yard and work in her garden," she said.

Swansen went into merchandising and was a buyer after completing school. She and her husband, Sam Swansen, a Blue Bell attorney, came to the Philadelphia area from Green Bay, WI, more than 30 years ago. They live in Whitpain and have three children and seven grandchildren.

She had an interest in landscaping and gardening and enrolled in the Landscape Design program at Temple University.

"It took me 10 years to get through because I took a class at a time. I was involved with the Rising Sun theater and I had three kids to drive around.

In 1987, Swansen was chairwoman of the Temple University display at the Philadelphia Flower Show.

Donna Swansen Design is now in its 29th year. Swansen specializes in wildflower gardens, hummingbird gardens and butterfly gardens. She notes, "I'm really into fragrance and flowers."

Plant Ambler is far from the only organization Swansen has founded, saying, "I've started six different organizations in my life." Among those is the Association of Professional Landscape Designers which now has 800 members.

Looking back at how Plant Ambler began, Donna Swansen says, "I personally, am very gratified that people are willing to carry on with the project. I have always been a champion of this little town, although I technically don't live in it. I feel like its quality of life affects all of us around it."

For information about volunteer opportunities with Plant Ambler please call 215-643-4929.