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Plan Your Visit

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Autumn's Colors – September 8 through November 18, 2012

Reconnect with nature amid the glowing reds, golds, and oranges of fall. As autumn’s chill sets in, escape to our warm conservatory where horticultural feats abound as thousands of colorful chrysanthemums are grown to form shields, arches, spirals and more.

Hundreds of acres of  glowing reds, brilliant golds and bright oranges of nature’s foliage will envelop you. A Garden Railway featuring G-gauge trains set amid natural, in-scale landscapes will charm you.

During the Chrysanthemum Festival, October 27–November 18, see the largest chrysanthemum in North America, the Thousand Bloom Mum, with more than 1,000 blooms. Find out more about Longwood's largest-ever thousand bloom chrysanthemum. See a video about the making of Longwood's 2009 thousand bloom chrysanthemum on Youtube. Tens of thousands of colorful, blooming chrysanthemums flourish in the palatial Conservatory.

Horticultural highlights this season:
Please note that actual bloom times may vary depending on weather. The list of flowering highlights is subject to change.

General Indoor Highlights

  • Asters
  • Cannas
  • Chrysanthemums
  • Coleus
  • Hamelias
  • Lollipop-plant (Pachystachys lutea)
  • Mexican Sage (Salvia)
  • Ornamental Peppers
  • Otacanthus (Otacanthus coeruleus)
  • Spurflower (Plectranthus)

General Outdoor Highlights

  • Berried Shrubs
  • Bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis)
  • Butterfly-bush (Buddleja)
  • Chrysanthemums
  • Day-flowering and Night-flowering Waterlilies (Nymphaea)
  • Fall crocus
  • Fall foliage
  • Franklinia (Franklinia alatamaha)
  • Fruit trees
  • Gourds (Cucurbita)
  • Ivy Geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum)
  • Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
  • Ornamental Grasses
  • Roses
  • Sages (Salvia)
  • Vegetables
  • Water-platters (Victoria)
  • Wildflowers

Displays & Upcoming Events

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Spring Blooms

Now through May 20

Watch as spring color emerges to paint the landscape in vibrant hues. Breathe in the fresh spring air and relish the beauty of the Gardens, where every day something new is coming up.

Find out more of what's in bloom

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Wine & Jazz

Saturday, June 2

Featuring Grammy Award winner Dianne Reeves! Savor fine wines and sample fresh, local fare as you enjoy the sights and sounds of live jazz in our Gardens

Find out more

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Light: Installations by Bruce Munro

Opening June 9

Experience Longwood Gardens in a whole new light through the evocative and imaginative art of Bruce Munro, British lighting artist.

Find out more

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Mother's Day Weekend

May 12 & 13

Treat mom to a day of beauty, fine food and entertainment at Longwood Gardens. In addition to acres of fragrant and colorful spring blossoms, Longwood offers mom a host of delights.

Find out more