Community, collaboration, and connection are at the heart of what we do in the Gardens … and extends beyond our garden gates. One example lies in Longwood’s collaboration with The Creamery of Kennett Square, through which we connect with new learners and those in our community with fun, engaging events, including our monthly Plantology on Tap series. While our Plantology on Tap offerings are fantastic ways to spend the evening, they also serve a greater purpose—all profit generated by Plantology on Tap goes to free, public family programming designed to serve our diverse communities and in partnership with our fantastic community partners. Our most recent family program was held just a few weeks ago and incredible moments of connection were had by all. We thought we’d share just a few with you.
Our monthly Plantology on Tap offerings brings plant lovers and curious minds together for an evening of learning, flavor, and community connection—pairing engaging horticultural talks with The Creamery of Kennett Square’s relaxed, social atmosphere. Each month features a different expert speaker who dives into a fascinating plant-based topic. From botanical cocktails and the beauty of hydrangeas to edible invasive plants and even the surprising story of chocolate, Plantology on Tap explores the many ways plants shape our gardens and our daily lives. The talks are designed to be accessible and entertaining, making it easy for both seasoned gardeners and newcomers to discover something new. To complement each presentation, The Creamery crafts a themed drink and small bite inspired by the evening’s topic.
Every Plantology on Tap ticket purchased supports the local community. Proceeds from the series fund quarterly family programs that engage local families in fun, educational activities designed and facilitated by Longwood’s Engagement and Learning staff and hosted at The Creamery. Through Plantology on Tap, guests not only grow their knowledge, they help cultivate meaningful learning opportunities right in their own community—which is exceptionally meaningful to both Longwood and The Creamery of Kennett Square.
K-12 Educator Lynn Trouba carefully guides a young participant through adding dried flowers to his propagation jar. These moments of hands-on learning are part of what make these events so special. Photo by Laurie Carrozzino.
To plan and hold these quarterly family programs, Longwood’s School & Youth team collaborates with local community organizations to coordinate families and students to join us at The Creamery for a fun-filled morning or afternoon where participants complete a plant or nature-inspired activity, from spring seed starting, to succulent sand art, to fall floral design.
It takes a team to make these events a success! The Longwood School & Youth team works with community collaborators to make these events accessible. Here, Family Learning Manager Emily Gerber, and K-12 Educator Jo Anne Entrekin work alongside Spanish Interpreter Lucero Benites. Photo by Laurie Carrozzino.
“The Creamery is proud to partner with Longwood Gardens to bring engaging educational experiences to communities that might not otherwise have access,” shares Hospitality Director of Square Roots Collective Michael DePaolo. “It's gratifying to see attendance grow over the years, and we hope that momentum continues as we inspire more local kids through hands-on horticulture.”
Since the very first community event of its kind in 2022, we have hosted 14 of these free family programs, welcoming more than 60 participants per event. It is such a joy to welcome returning families who express their excitement for these events as well as new, friendly faces who may be joining us for the first time.
We enjoyed many moments of beauty and creativity during our February family program. Photo by Laurie Carrozzino.
With our most recent family event held just last month, for the first time we had the opportunity to extend the invitation to double the number of participants. About 120 people joined us to create dried flower decorated jars to be used for plant propagation. And, of course, everyone went home with their own pothos cutting to get them started.
To make these learning opportunities accessible, we make sure to have a Spanish translator at every event to help facilitate the fun. Furthermore, we hope that every person who spends time with us feels inspired to spend more time with nature … and therefore send each participant home with a Longwood ticket so they can enjoy the Gardens.
These events allow families to discover the joy of connecting with plants while connecting with each other—something that truly exemplifies Longwood’s mission of bringing joy and inspiration to everyone through the beauty of nature, conservation, and learning.
These meaningful moments of connection would not be possible without our amazing community partners. We’ve had the pleasure of working with Kennett Area Community Service, Mighty Writers, The PA Migrant Education Program, The Garage, and LCH Health and Community Services, each organization sharing these programs with their communities and coordinating families and students to join us.
It is always such a joy to see families use their creativity, engage with the activity, and spend quality time with each other. Photo by Laurie Carrozzino.
Program Director at Mighty Writers El Futuro Kennett Yakquelin Garduño expresses the positive impacts she sees coming out of these events: “Longwood Gardens has created an incredible space for Spanish-speaking families to participate in the arts within their community,” she shares “The staff at Longwood are incredibly kind and helpful, and they always have a Spanish interpreter available to make participants feel at ease. Not to mention, their activities are entertaining and educational, and they become keepsakes at home. As a partner, I am grateful to have a free resource to share with families, who are always eager to participate. These events have also allowed many families to explore the Gardens for the first time.”
All ages came together for our February family program. Photo by Laurie Carrozzino.
“Events like these are about so much more than just a fun outing,” shares Kennett Area Community Service Participant Advocate Administrator Nancy Tapia. “They create a space where families feel genuinely welcomed and included. For many of the families we serve, opportunities for special experiences can be rare, which makes moments like this even more meaningful. Watching families relax, connect with one another, and simply enjoy time together is incredibly powerful. It’s a beautiful example of community in action, and we’re deeply grateful to see this partnership continue to grow.”
Each February program participant ended up with a decorated jar that is uniquely theirs. Photo by Laurie Carrozzino.
It is truly a joy to host these events. From working with The Creamery team to working with each community organization, it is a unique and rewarding experience to feel so connected to all those who make Longwood and its surrounding area such a vibrant community. We are grateful that our community partners and the families who join us share this feeling, and we are honored to be a part of it.
Each of our February family program participants created dried flower decorated jars to be used for plant propagation with a pothos cutting to get them started. Photo by Laurie Carrozzino.
We invite you to join us for our upcoming Plantology on Tap events, during which we’ll delve into growing perfect peonies to crafting botanically inspired cocktails … but most of all, we’ll continue to proudly support our local community and continue to make beautiful—and meaningful—memories.
