Inside a colorful Merion Station garden | Inquirer Lower Merion
Plus, the restaurant openings you might’ve missed.
Hi, Lower Merion! 👋
Summer may be winding down, but this Merion Station couple’s garden is still abuzz. We take a look inside their colorful oasis. Also this week, the school district is making plans to replace an embattled board member as it also grapples with a lawsuit brought against it by parents, plus a local resident explores communal living in her new book.
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When Boots Levinson and Laura White purchased their three-story Tudor in Merion Station in 2021, it lacked curb appeal. Now, five years later, it buzzes with pollinators and plenty of swaying blooms.
Where once there was just a crab apple tree in the backyard and a simple flower bed in the front yard, there’s now a riot of colors thanks to hibiscuses, hydrangeas, creeping Jenny, and lavender.
The couple has also added a kitchen garden, replete with Swiss chard, honeynut squash, and strawberries.
While it’s a lot of work, it’s also “like having four extra rooms,” they said.
Take a peek inside their garden haven.
💡 Community News
Penn Valley resident Samantha Paige Rosen recently released a book that explores the different ways Americans are choosing to live, including communally. It was inspired in part by her own decision to move into her parents’ Bala Cynwyd home at the age of 29.
Ardmore resident and pedestrian safety activist Jane Murray, who runs the @Janewalksardmore Instagram account, is part of a growing trend of people eschewing cars in favor of their feet or public transit. Considering ditching your vehicle? Inquirer contributor Inga Saffron gives tips on where to start.
Speaking of public transportation, the SEPTA bus stop at the Lancaster and Greenfield Avenues intersection has been relocated to the west side, with a full sidewalk closure planned for next month.
Montgomery County has approved a new policy about so-called mail ballot curing, meaning residents who return election mail ballots with something missing or that are damaged will automatically be sent a replacement, along with instructions to properly fill it out.
Trash and recycling pickup will operate on an altered schedule for Labor Day.
Tomorrow is the last day to register for Tour de Montco, a 40-mile cycling journey through the county that’ll be led by Commissioner Neil Makhija.
🏫 Schools Briefing
Tuesday is the first day of school.
In case you missed it, seven families are suing the school district over its technology policy, claiming it violates their constitutional right to choose what content their children are exposed to online.
Harriton High School has suspended its varsity football program for the season, partly due to low participation.
The district has outlined its plan to replace Jennifer Rivera on the school board of directors, should her resignation — made last week after she was charged with embezzling from her employer — be accepted at a special Sept. 14 meeting. Interested applicants have until Wednesday to put their names forward.
As measles cases continue to climb in the state, several local elementary schools fell under the 95% measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination rate among kindergarteners in 2025, a figure needed to reach so-called herd immunity. For those schools, rates ranged between 76.9% and 94.7%. Here’s a look at local vaccination levels.
🍽️ On our Plate
It was a busy summer for restaurant openings throughout the region, including Lower Merion, which welcomed a popular cafe and a Japanese barbecue joint. Here’s a look back at the new spots you might have missed.
🎳 Things to Do
🎸 Damn the Torpedoes: Catch a tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. ⏰ Friday, Sept. 4, 8 p.m. 💵 $26.91-$61.07 📍 Ardmore Music Hall
🎶 Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts: The penultimate show for the 2026 season features David Wilcox and Lucy Kaplansky. ⏰ Sunday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m. 💵 $25.88, free for kids 12 and under 📍 Bryn Mawr Gazebo
🏡 On the Market
This contemporary five-bedroom Bala Cynwyd home has lots of outdoor living space thanks to a wraparound deck out back. It’s accessed through a family room with vaulted ceilings and a wall of windows. Opposite the windows, the family room is also anchored by a large concrete fireplace. Upstairs, the primary suite has a spacious bathroom and a walk-in closet, while a finished walk-out basement provides additional living space.
See more photos of the home here.
Price: $899,900 | Size: 4,218 SF | Acreage: 0.28
🗞️ What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:
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