Autumn's Colors
September 6 through November 21, 2010
Explore the Idea Garden, showcasing vegetables ready for harvest, grasses, perennials, annuals and containers at their best (through frost). The Waterlily Display reaches its peak bloom in September and early October, with giant water-platters reaching up to six feet in diameter. Delight in summer annuals at their peak on the Flower Garden Walk, along with newly-planted chrysanthemums and salvias (through frost).
Longwood's landscapes are painted with autumn's finest colors in October and November, as golden honey-locusts, scarlet sweet-gums, ruby red oaks and more create a patchwork of color!
During the Chrysanthemum Festival, November 1–21, more than 20,000 colorful, blooming chrysanthemums flourish in the palatial Conservatory. Longwood’s experts have trained these fall favorites into unique forms including towering single-stemmed beauties and thousand-bloomers.
The show reaches its peak bloom during the first three weeks of November. Topairy forms, including butterflies, spirals and our largest thousand bloom chrysanthemum ever, with over 700 blooms, adorn the Conservatory. Find out more about Longwood's largest-ever thousand bloom chrysanthemum.
See a video about the making of Longwood's thousand bloom chrysanthemum on Youtube.
Please note that actual bloom times may vary depending on weather. The list of flowering highlights is subject to change.
Horticultural highlights this season:
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
Making Scents: The Art and Passion of Fragrance
through November 21, 2010
Longwood Gardens takes you inside the unmapped universe of scent with Making Scents: The Art and Passion of Fragrance, an interactive exhibition that explores the art, science and mystery of fragrance.
Find out more »
Summer Concert Series
This summer, experience the very best in performing arts at Longwood Gardens! Most performances are free with Gardens admission.
See the complete schedule »
Fireworks & Fountains
Last Show of the Season: September 5!
Get ready for an evening of oohs and ahhs, as Longwood presents spectacular Fireworks & Fountains shows guaranteed to make your summer memorable.
Find out more »
