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A Wartime Agricultural Connection
A black and white image of an old farm house.

A Wartime Agricultural Connection

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.

By Gillian Hayward and Kelli Stewart, on March 20, 2024
Community Read: A Conversation with Author Julia Kelly
A book titled "The Last Garden in England" propped up in a flower garden bed.

Community Read: A Conversation with Author Julia Kelly

Growing up in a small, rural town in the South, The Secret Garden (our 2024 Community Read selection for our youngest readers) sparked my imagination at an early age with the idea of gardens as cloaked in mystery and secrets, filled with hidden beauty (and stories) waiting to be revealed.

By Hannah Rutledge, on February 28, 2024
Learn Something New in Nature’s Classroom
Images of trees shot from the ground, looking up at the sky.

Learn Something New in Nature’s Classroom

At Longwood, we create many spaces to explore your passions, practice your creativity, and deepen your wellness through diverse learning opportunities that allow you to dive deeper into your relationship with nature—and wellness.

By Katie Testa, on January 31, 2024
A Part of Something Bigger: Meet Our 2023-24 Fellows
A group of five people posed in front of a green wall smiling at the camera.

A Part of Something Bigger: Meet Our 2023-24 Fellows

We’re thrilled to have recently welcomed the five outstanding individuals that make up our 2023–24 Fellows cohort.

By Katie Testa, on October 11, 2023
The Transformative Power of Design
A person in an emerald shirt sitting on a gray sofa creating a floral arrangement.

The Transformative Power of Design

As the president and chief executive officer of Black Girl Florists and the owner of One Soul Events (Atlanta, GA), and in the spirit of Black Girl Florists’ mission, we are thrilled about our upcoming collaboration with Longwood.

By Valerie Crisostomo, on August 30, 2023
A Trip to Italy: A Trip of a Lifetime
Four people at the top of an outdoor stone staircase walking away from the camera.

A Trip to Italy: A Trip of a Lifetime

Along with our Professional Horticulture Program classmates, we recently completed one of the most exciting parts of our two-year program—our opportunity to experience horticulture in another country through our study abroad trip.

By Faith Redcay, Ben Helde, and Elizabeth Ciskanik, on August 2, 2023
Change and Adaptation, Realized
A group of people standing inside an outdoor geometric sculpture in a garden bed.

Change and Adaptation, Realized

This year, as part of the Professional Horticulture Program, our nine students have been asked to design, create and maintain three garden designs based on the scheme of change and adaptation.

By Kyle Post, Allison Edmonds, and Kinga Obartuch, on July 19, 2023
Access to Nature: Inspiring the Next Generation
Two student holding out their hands in a nature setting.

Access to Nature: Inspiring the Next Generation

Longwood is not only a spectacular setting to immerse oneself in a beautiful outdoor environment, but it’s also one perfectly situated to engage young students with nature.

By Emily Gerber, on June 28, 2023
Fellows in Horticulture
Two monarch butterflies on pink flowers underneather a blue sky.

Fellows in Horticulture

As advocates for green spaces with the ability to inspire an appreciation for nature in others, alumni of the Longwood Fellows Program often go on to lead nonprofit institutions with meaningful missions rooted in plants, conservation, research, and education.

By Jourdan Cole, on June 14, 2023
The Singular Art of Kusamono
Two hands, one holding a wood dow and the other the base of a plant.

The Singular Art of Kusamono

With its name composed of two Japanese characters that mean “grass” and “thing”, the literal translation of kusamono—a Japanese botanical art of small, potted grasses traditionally displayed next to bonsai as seasonal accent plants—may suggest that this Japanese botanical art is unassuming or falls secondary to its bonsai counterpart.

By Katie Mobley, on June 7, 2023
Leading Around the World
A sunset image over a river with small boats and geese wading.

Leading Around the World

Our Fellows reflect on lessons learned and memories made during their field placements in London, Singapore, Niagara Falls, Cleveland, and Edinburgh.

By Amanda Hannah, Danny Cox, Ana Mena, Ryan Gott, Rae Vassar, and Rama Lopez-Rivera, on June 2, 2023
A Day in the Life of an International Intern
a person in a tan jacket working with leaves of a potted plant

A Day in the Life of an International Intern

Leaving home for the first time to travel to a different part of the world, to come to Longwood as part of the International Internship & Training Program, was a hard choice for me, but the right choice for my career, and a way in which I could experience a culture of kindness and inclusion.

By Siphesihle Sibiya, on March 22, 2023
A Trip to Italy, Inspired by Longwood Reimagined
a group of people standing behind a table of poinsettias smiling at the camera

A Trip to Italy, Inspired by Longwood Reimagined

We are proud to represent our Professional Horticulture Program classmates in leading the planning and preparation for the class of 2023 trip to Italy, taking place in late May.

By Faith Redcay, Ben Helde, and Elizabeth Ciskanik, on March 9, 2023
Resilience, Roots, and Relevancy
pink flowers in front with a blurry background

Resilience, Roots, and Relevancy

At Longwood, our growing knowledge of horticulture is constantly expanded on by our staff, students, and fellow horticulturists—and as this year’s Today’s Horticulture Symposium hosted by the Professional Horticulture Alumni Association showed, horticulture is a practice of resilience, of roots, and of relevancy.

By Jourdan Cole, on March 6, 2023
Community Read: A Conversation with Author Bryant Terry
a close up image of okra growing in a garden

Community Read: A Conversation with Author Bryant Terry

Over the ten years of Community Read, our program goals haven’t changed; we want to inspire generations to read, think, and engage with authors and their writing … plus, the more than 200 events in the community that explore the books each year help keep the conversation going.

By Brittany Long, on March 1, 2023
Sharing Our Underground Railroad Connection
a cemetary with bright green grass, blue skies, and two large trees

Sharing Our Underground Railroad Connection

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.

By David Sleasman and Jennifer Fazekas, on February 22, 2023
Change and Adaptation, Designed
a person outdoor on a green grass trail overlooking a meadow

Change and Adaptation, Designed

This year, as part of the Professional Horticulture Program, our nine students have been asked to design, create, and maintain three garden designs based on the theme of change and adaptation.

By Kyle Post, Allison Edmonds, and Kinga Obartuch, on February 15, 2023
From Rust to Regeneration in the Steel City
a view of Pittsburgh and the Phipps Botanical Gardens

From Rust to Regeneration in the Steel City

At Phipps, the Fellows had the opportunity to learn about the principles of regenerative thinking during a workshop led by Phipps Chief Executive Officer Richard V. Piacentini and Senior Director of Communications Joe Reed.

By Danny Cox and Ryan Gott, on January 18, 2023
Careers Cultivated Here
Interns in green shirts plant bulbs in a garden bed

Careers Cultivated Here

Find out how some of our previous interns got their start in public horticulture and where their careers have gone since—and how their time at Longwood helped them get there.

By Jourdan Cole, on January 4, 2023
Shining a (Christmas) Light on Continuing Education
amarylis plant with red christmas balls around them

Shining a (Christmas) Light on Continuing Education

We are excited to be highlighting a facet of Mr. du Pont’s vision: practical education, in the form of spectacular fresh-cut floral arrangements and intricate botanical art, all proudly displayed in our Conservatory for the duration of A Longwood Christmas.

By Timothy Gould, on December 7, 2022