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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
Engaging Experiences in a Spirited Space
three people planting a a plant in a painted terra cotta pot

Engaging Experiences in a Spirited Space

Through our Longwood @ The Creamery collaboration, not only are we able to connect with new learners and those in our community through fun, lighthearted events—but we’re also able to make an impact and offer public programming designed to serve the needs of our wonderful community.

By Matt Thomas, on November 9, 2022
A Floral Design Journey
floral arrangement in a brown vase with small bamboo rods and yellow and orange flowers hanging at the top of the rods

A Floral Design Journey

Floral desing became a journey that meandered through time and brought me to unexpected and wonderful places, including my time at Longwood working toward my Certificate of Merit in Floral Design.

By Cres Motzi AIFD, on September 28, 2022
Alice du Pont's Support of Pennsylvania's Unique History
oil painting of two people sitting in a garden with a gold placque that reads Longwood PA 1936

Alice du Pont's Support of Pennsylvania's Unique History

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.

By Gillian Hayward, on August 31, 2022
Here to Change the World
group of six people standing and facing the camera among a desert garden

Here to Change the World

With fascinating backgrounds and diverse expertise in aquatic plant care to landscape architecture to outreach and education, we’re thrilled to welcome our newest Fellows to our Gardens … and we can’t wait to see how they better the field of public horticulture.

By Katie Mobley, on August 24, 2022
Fellows in the Field
dozens of round yellow cacti on the ground

Fellows in the Field

Our Fellows reflect on their time spent at their individual field placement sites across the country, their lessons learned, and memories made along the way.

By Zach Borngraver, Noemí Hernández Castro, Nick Lazio, Usman Ibrahim, and Katie Serock , on July 6, 2022
Another Branch of the Longwood Story
sepia tone image of an old stone house

Another Branch of the Longwood Story

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

By David Sleasman, on June 1, 2022
Trees as Connectors
image of a tree looking up at the sky next to the trunk

Trees as Connectors

The Songs of Trees is this year’s Community Read selection for Haskell’s poetic take on how human history, ecology, and well-being are intertwined with the lives of trees.

By Alison Miner, on April 27, 2022
Building Community in Our Community Read
Canopy Career Chronicles book cover propped on a stone wall with plants in the background

Building Community in Our Community Read

Each year dozens of organizations across our region join together to present programs around the topics covered in our Community Read books.

By Abbey Gau, on March 23, 2022
Community Read: A Conversation with Author David George Haskell
trees turning a green, yellow, and red shade

Community Read: A Conversation with Author David George Haskell

The Songs of Trees recounts Haskell’s travels around the world to visit the same 12 trees repeatedly, carefully observing and listening to what they might teach us about ourselves.
By Gillian Hayward, on March 9, 2022
Guided by Student Curiosity
two school aged children examine a flower bed in summer

Guided by Student Curiosity

We are excitedly getting ready to welcome back young learners into our Gardens with our spring educator-guided school group programs.
By Emily Gerber, on March 2, 2022
Five Strangers, One Incredible Experience
a group of smiling Fellows pose for a selfie in front of the US capital building

Five Strangers, One Incredible Experience

Living and working with five mid-career professionals—as our Fellows cohort does—is challenging, rewarding, fun, supportive, frustrating, at times lonely, inspiring, and sometimes hard to put into words.

By Zach Borngraver and Katie Serock, on February 16, 2022
Celebrating 50 Years of Changing Lives
a group of people smiling and walking next to a glass greenhouse

Celebrating 50 Years of Changing Lives

Combining extensive hands-on gardening experience with classroom work, the two-year, tuition-free Professional Gardener Training Program fulfilled founder Pierre S. du Pont’s wish for a practical school of horticulture and floriculture at Longwood.

By Crystal Huff, on November 10, 2021
Growing Community: Art and Gardens
a group of people walking toward the entrance of the Google Works building

Growing Community: Art and Gardens

As part of the Fellows Program, our cohort has had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture of organizations throughout the region.

By Usman Ibrahim and Nick Lazio, on October 20, 2021
The Stories We Tell: A Visit to Shofuso
a traditional tea house with green shurbs and hedges surrounding it

The Stories We Tell: A Visit to Shofuso

As the docent intern at Longwood, I focus on how we interpret and share such details, so I am constantly thinking about the stories we tell in our garden, as well as the design choices, gardening techniques, and plant selections we employ to tell them.

By Esther Leaming, on September 29, 2021
Learning Together, Near and Far
two adults viewing the main fountain garden through a camera screen at dusk

Learning Together, Near and Far

It’s been nearly 18 months since we last welcomed students into the Gardens as part of our in-person Continuing Education programming … but all of that changes this October.

By Matthew Thomas, on August 25, 2021