Bonsai was not generally known in the western world outside of Asia until the early twentieth century, but the Longwood Gardens Library recently acquired a nearly 300-year-old rare book that perhaps challenges that notion, offers an interesting connection to one of our bonsai collection’s four original trees, and adds to the intrigue of this amazing art form.

If you’ve ever paused between the Orangery and Exhibition Hall in our Main Conservatory, you may have noticed two impressive bronze plaques. These

When you hear the word "archive," it's easy to think of shelves full of letters, files, and other records that hold the story of an organization. But did you know that objects are also a vital part of that recorded history—and on display in some of our new Longwood Reimagined spaces?

Follow along as we take you behind the scenes of Longwood’s archives, including a typical day for the archives team and some collection highlights.

Ten years ago, we opened the gates to an expanded garden—and one that’s markedly different from every other garden at Longwood.

To commemorate Juneteenth, and in collaboration with Kennett Square nonprofit Voices Underground and the Chester County History Center, we are proud to soon present Frederick Douglass Jazz Works—a discussion and jazz performance comprised of vocalist and composer Ruth Naomi Floyd.

Our beloved Whispering Bench is not only a lovely place to sit and take in the view; it’s a place of physics, history, and curiosity, where secrets have been told—and fun has been had—for generations.

Since the days of the Peirce family, a pair of wrought-iron snakes have occupied various locations on the grounds, alternately delighting and startling unsuspecting visitors.

Our 2024 Community Read book, The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly, isn’t just a remarkable selection that exemplifies the meaning we can all find in gardens—it also has a fascinating historic agricultural connection to Longwood Gardens.

Located on Longwood property just south of the entrance to our Gardens, the Cox House sits alongside Route 1 and, in response to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s initiative to widen the road, Longwood made the decision to relocate the Cox House away from the road to ensure its ongoing preservation.

From carefully chosen plants to meaningful flags to symbolic wedding gifts of Pierre and Alice du Pont, the Peirce-du Pont Conservatory captures, in one place, the heart of the Longwood Gardens story—and, following its current refresh, that story not only continues, but thoughtfully evolves.

No garden in American can equal such a performing arts legacy—and with Garden of Music I share the stories of Longwood’s performing arts legacy, in which over the years I have been—and continue to be—happily immersed.

Originally intended to be used as a farm truck on a private farm in Port Deposit, Maryland, this 1969 International Loadstar 1800 stake body dump truck sat unused for 20 years on the farm before it made its way to our Gardens—and into our hearts.

Follow along as we take a look at some notable A Longwood Christmas indoor and Conservatory displays throughout the decades, from new features to display milestones … and leading up to this year’s spectacular display.

It’s a question that’s been posed for years: if a tree falls in a forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

The removal, restoration, and reinstallation of these finely detailed—and heavy—sculptures required a delicate, almost surgical approach and in the process, we delved into their history and purpose at Longwood.

As we continue to immerse ourselves in the history of the cemetery and its place in southern Chester County past and present, we develop a deeper understanding of the mid-19th century context in which the cemetery and meeting house were founded, so that we can better share those stories.

Alice du Pont played a very important role in the 1926 acquisition of one of the Philadelphia Museum of Art's well-known period rooms—which made quite a stir upon its opening—and can still be viewed today.

Very close to Route 1, just south of the entrance to Longwood Gardens, stands a 19^th century farmhouse that silently bears witness to an illustrious history ultimately connected to today’s Longwood Gardens.

Longwood has made continual efforts to strategically build a beautiful and diverse collection of rhododendrons—and the dozens of newly donated plants soon making their way to Longwood represents a new milestone in our rhododendron collection.