Autumn’s Colors

October 2–November 15, 2026
Explore the Season

Member Reservations Needed
through November 1

Please note, Member reservations are required to visit Fridays–Sundays after 3:00 pm. Members can make free reservations at the Member Portal.

Make Member Reservations
Small yellow sunflowers on tall thin stems against a bright blue sky.

Gardens

Native Sunflowers in Bloom

The Meadow Garden boasts several species of native sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) that bloom in abundance during late summer and fall. The name Helianthus comes from the Greek words helios, meaning “sun,” and anthos, meaning “flower.”

See more of what’s in bloom

Weekends Full of Wonder

Daytime fountains dance against a backdrop of changing fall foliage.

Main Fountain Garden

Fountain Performances

Our Main Fountain Garden dazzles with playful daytime shows and exhilarating Illuminated Fountain Performances. Now through November 1, 2026.

View Daytime Fountain Performance schedule
View Illuminated Fountain Performance schedule

Ready for Spooky Season?

A horticulturist squats to work on specialty mums in training, amid a greenhouse of chrysanthemum forms in training.

October 24, 2026, 1:00–3:00 pm

Meet Us at the Mums

Free with Gardens Admission. Advance registration required. Join members of Longwood’s Science team stationed throughout the historic conservatories as we share our techniques, research, and horticultural mastery behind our iconic Chrysanthemum Festival.

Learn more & register

Upcoming Classes

Browse more classes
A dining table set with food with an illuminated fountain show in the background

Distinctive Dining at 1906

Delight in garden-inspired dining where seasonal flavors, elegant ambiance, and culinary artistry create an unforgettable experience. Nestled beneath the iconic Main Conservatory and overlooking the dazzling Main Fountain Garden, 1906 redefines what it means to dine in style. Advance reservations recommended. Walk-ins welcome at the Bar and Lounge.

Make your reservation

From Our Blog

View more blog posts
A Spooky Season Lover’s Guide to the Gardens
A pale, ribbed white pumpkin rests on dark soil, partially framed and framed by deep purple and green foliage in an outdoor garden bed.

A Spooky Season Lover’s Guide to the Gardens

By Katie Testa, on September 30, 2026
Growing a More Resilient Future
A sunlit gravel pathway curving through a dense wooded park, flanked by lush green ferns and mature trees casting dappled shadows.

Growing a More Resilient Future

By Paul Stratman, on September 23, 2026
Leading Through Fire in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters
A tranquil lake reflects a dramatic sunset through dark, heavy storm clouds hovering over a distant, densely forested shoreline, with a large rounded boulder resting in the water near the rocky foreground.

Leading Through Fire in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters

By Erik Stefferud with Jessica Turner-Skoff , on September 9, 2026
Fall-Sown Hardy Spring Flowers: Prepare Now for Next Year
A close-up shot of round, vibrant purple Allium 'Purple Sensation' flowers blooming in the Annual Corridor in May 2026, set against a dark green hedge and a blurred stone pathway.

Fall-Sown Hardy Spring Flowers: Prepare Now for Next Year

By Patrick Greenwald, on September 2, 2026
Planting Memories That Last a Lifetime
A pair of cupped hands holding a single, small, light-colored seed, shown from a top-down perspective during a children's activity.

Planting Memories That Last a Lifetime

By Melissa Kent, on August 19, 2026
Dining chairs and long table covered with dark green tablecloth, with individual place settings decorated with yellow calla lilies and a large overhead floral display of green palm leaves, ferns, and a variety of yellow flowers.

Host an Event

Private Events at Longwood

Your most extraordinary occasions deserve an extraordinary setting. Welcome your guests to a world apart in the living, breathing beauty of Longwood Gardens.

Learn more
Three children dressed in pink and black take in the sights of an indoor garden filled with mums of a wide variety of forms and colors.

October 16–November 15, 2026

Chrysanthemum Festival

Chrysanthemum Festival comes alive in an extraordinary spectacle of color and imagination in our historic conservatories, including some supersized surprises.

Find out more