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Apiary Studio

@apiary_studio

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Landscape Architecture, Design/Build, Experimental Horticulture + Bricolage in Philadelphia PA
Shots of WIP + candids; Portfolio on web :)

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Baby’s first boardwalk—
Before undergoing any design discussions it was pretty much agreed upon by all parties that a nondescript stormwater basin in the middle of the project site was begging for a boardwalk. What nobody knew was that heavy rains of the season would ensure it was full much of the time. Props to our amazing team who designed and built it all in house—errr—in water. We’re excited to see the boardwalk get used by kids and families :)

Photography: @jaimephoto79
Campus master plan: @salt_design_studio by @apiary_studio

Point of view: you are four years old!

We are excited to begin sharing some photos from a recently completed natural play compound for big kids, little kids, and adults. Shown here is the preschool playground. More soon- by @apiary_studio

Some detail shots of Nicholson Church Lane Community Garden in Germantown Philadelphia, completed spring 2026 for @ngtrust
📷: @jaimephoto79 by @apiary_studio

Here are some introductory photos of a big winter 2025-2026 project we completed for Nicholson Church Lane Community Garden established in 1987 and preserved since 1991 by the Neighborhood Gardens Trust.

This 1/3 acre site packs a lot of punch with over 30 food producing member plots, an orchard border, pollinator berms, and group amenities like a tool shed, composting zone and gathering areas. The primary goal of this project was to make accessible pathways and level terraces across the sloping ground, which required a lot of trust from our stakeholders because we had to make some bold moves across the interior that upended their plots for several months. What you’re seeing in the before photo is that the berms WERE the paths—there was previously no level walking ground, central staircases, or safe way to traverse across or down the site without being at risk of tripping or rolling. Imagine how hard it was to keep the grass mowed too.

Our team managed to gently reshape the hill without disposing of any soil, and by repurposing much of the masonry waste we unearthed into retaining walls and edges. We added massive bin blocks for cheek walls. Here’s some images of what the earthwork entailed. We’ll post detail shots of some of the carpentry and structures next.

Photos by @jaimephoto79 and Apiary Studio by @apiary_studio

The crickets were unpaid actors || one year anniversary of planting by @apiary_studio

Heroic planting in progress at an engineered stormwater basin and spillway. S/o to Teddy and our summer seasonal team of Jaoquin, Oisin and Lucio for putting up with the heat, steam, mud, and rain across no inch of level ground 😅 by @apiary_studio

No better feeling than working in our own neighborhood for our own neighbors. Nicholson Church Lane Community Garden is a long established Germantown growing hub, who in partnership with Neighborhood Gardens Trust are investing in some long term accessibility and functionality upgrades. Much love and respect to our team for sticking it out on this job through one of the most taxing winters for landscapers in recent memory. by @apiary_studio

One origin of the word garden–hortus conclusus, Latin for ‘enclosed plantings’–is the inspiration for Apiary Studio’s cheeky celebration of American gardens, HORTUS(IN)CONCLUSUS.

What makes a garden? What is its purpose? How does it help or hinder our interactions with our neighbors? Joy permeates the scene, answering these questions with playful energy.

Highlighting nostalgia, kitsch, and yard art, HORTUS(IN)CONCLUSUS features a mix of cut flowers, edibles, zany topiary, foundation shrubs, and groundcover that reference a wide range of cultural faves from Lite-Brites to retro park wells. A cast of concrete urban wildlife decoys pop up across the exhibit, and the chairs along the garden edges invite you to take a seat and stay a while.

ROOTED: Origins of American Gardening
CLOSING TODAY 🎟️ via our link in bio.

#ROOTED2026 #ThePhiladelphiaFlowerShow by @apiary_studio

Our cast of concrete urban wildlife decoys was made by Philadelphia sculptor Maya Björnson. Thank you Maya for getting the vision and bringing them to life! We can wait to see which of our 2026 projects these end up in. by @apiary_studio

HORTUS INCONCLUSUS is a cheeky celebration of some elements that make a garden read as distinctly American. Please rest your legs by having a seat on our benches and chairs—they’re not just for show. Be a neighbor and try introducing yourself to someone next to you—you can do it! Have a laugh—and ask yourself what you might add to the list? We’ll share more on how and why we arrived at this purposefully uncanny design in the coming days.

Many thanks and shouts outs are in order to our incredible coworkers and collaborators. Productions like this are a huge undertaking requiring so much coordination and teamwork. First and foremost we thank @phsgardening for putting on an event that brings 250k crazy plant people together every winter for almost two centuries, and supporting public horticulture, community greening, tree planting, jobs training and soooo much more year round. by @apiary_studio

He’s only playing !!!!

One more teaser before the 197th PHS Philadelphia Flower celebrating American gardening. Our exhibition tilted HORTUS INCONCLUSUS aims to make you smile :) by @apiary_studio

HORTUS INCONCLUSUS

Apiary Studio is excited to be returning as landscape exhibitors at the 2026 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show. Our garden plays with one origin of the word garden—hortus conclusus—Latin for ‘enclosed plantings.’ Are borders such as fences, walls or hedges intended to keep something out, or keep something in?

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More on this and the uncanny contents of our space as we begin construction this week. The show runs from March 1-8, and is now in its 197th year. Started in 1829, the @phsgardening Flower Show is both the nation’s largest and the world’s longest-running horticultural event, and a beloved annual tradition for plant people of all ages. We hope to see you there! by @apiary_studio