When society brides wanted elegant floral arrangements for their weddings, they called J. Liddon Pennock Jr.
For most of his life, Pennock operated his family’s 100-year-old flower shop in Philadelphia. He studied at the agricultural college of Cornell University but was called home before graduation; it was during the Depression, and all hands were needed to save the family business.
So Pennock turned himself into the florist the rich and well-connected always called. He created bouquets for society weddings and floral centerpieces for debutante coming out parties. He decorated the White House for the Tricia Nixon Cox wedding and filled the executive mansion with plants and flowers each Christmas from 1971 to 1973.
Pennock sold the flower shop in 1970, and built a retail nursery and garden shop on a 25-acre estate called Meadowbrook Farm. The 12 public gardens offer visitors to Meadowbrook a horticultural tour of perennials, annuals, trees and shrubs worthy of a spotlight appearance on Home and Garden Television.
Pennock died on July 24. Cause of death was not released. He was 90.
I visited Meadowbrook Farms about 20 yrs ago when myself and another young mom escaped the kitchen long enuf to scamper up to the Phil. Flower Show from Memphis. Mr. Pennock was very gracious to us. We ran into him in the shop on the grounds. I will always remember that visit and meeting him.
Liddon and Alice Pennock were like parents to me. If I have any style, it is because of them, not my birth parents. I think the stork dropped me down the wrong chimney.