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Handmade and Heartfelt Decoratives in The Garden Shop
Large handmade paper flowers in yellow and white hanging in a gift shop.

Handmade and Heartfelt Decoratives in The Garden Shop

Staff and volunteers often put months of collection, foraging, work, and crafting into each handmade decorative you see in the Shop—and we’re so proud to share with you the story behind them.

By Katie Testa, on July 26, 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
Classic Spring Beauties with a Twist
a close up image of pink and white hydrangea blooms

Classic Spring Beauties with a Twist

Through April, classic spring plants such as hydrangeas, azaleas, and fuchsias bloom indoors in new and exciting varieties.

By Jourdan Cole, on April 5, 2023
The Art Behind the Lights
two large trees lit with purple and pink christmas lights with blurry lights on the right side

The Art Behind the Lights

Follow along as we share just a few of the many artistic elements—and the artists behind them—that light the way for this year’s fantastic outdoor display.

By Katie Mobley, on December 21, 2022
How to Create Your Own Living Succulent Tree
a close up image of succulents forming a tree

How to Create Your Own Living Succulent Tree

One of the many elements of botanical artistry on display during this year’s A Longwood Christmas greets you just as you enter the Conservatory—an 8-foot-tall, 4-foot-wide living tree swathed in 1,800 gorgeous hardy Sempervivum, or hens-and chicks.

By Kerry Zwack, on December 14, 2022
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
Ornamental Beauty
a red and gold ornament hanging on a christmas tree

Ornamental Beauty

Follow along as we track the process behind selecting Longwood ornaments for display, and where each spends most of its time alongside 66,999 of its closest friends.

By Kirsten Berlin, on November 30, 2022
Sculptural Botanical Splendor: A Collaboration with Drexel Westphal
a person with pliers near a floral bouquet of red and gold flowers and leaves

Sculptural Botanical Splendor: A Collaboration with Drexel Westphal

Longwood proposed that Westphal design students create two couture gown-like sculptures that would be completely designed and constructed out of botanicals, and displayed in the Music Room during this year’s A Longwood Christmas.

By Julia Kimball, on November 23, 2022
Telling Stories in Our Idea Garden
vegetable garden filled with corn, squash, and other plants at sunset

Telling Stories in Our Idea Garden

This summer, the Idea Garden is home to three special plots that showcase a guest favorite, as well as culturally significant crops that tell robust stories.

By Alex Correia, on September 14, 2022
Appreciating Asymmetry
indoor conservatory with large palm leaves and pink flowers lining the path

Appreciating Asymmetry

Through a bevy of tropical plants, palms, and Longwood favorites, we’ve planted our Conservatory in an asymmetrical design that encourages guests to slow down, look, and think a lot more about the nuances of the design.

By Karl Gercens and Michelle Neff, on June 8, 2022
A Place of Family
fireplace hearth with a large cascading wreath filled with ornaments, bows, and fabrics

A Place of Family

Even with all its grandeur, our Music Room scene still feels intimate, cozy, and welcoming … and that’s the exact sentiment we’ve set out to achieve in this spectacular fireside lodge setting.

By Jessica Whitehead, on December 15, 2021
The Beauty (and Possibilities) of Dried Flowers
a close up of a Christmas tree with dried flowers and green ornaments

The Beauty (and Possibilities) of Dried Flowers

Here at Longwood (and at home), arrangements made from dried flowers serve as spectacular options for the holiday (or any) season … and they help showcase and celebrate the beauty of plants long after their natural growing season.

By Michael Strengari, on December 8, 2021
The Art of Alpine
a pool of water with a fountain in the middle and icicles along the sides with large Christmas trees surrounding the water

The Art of Alpine

Our Exhibition Hall has been transformed into a true environment, meant to whisk you away to an entirely different world. How we created this world is a story in itself.

By Kevin Bielicki, on December 1, 2021
New Forms, New Displays, New Fun
a chrysanthemum bonsai on a wooden platform

New Forms, New Displays, New Fun

This imaginative display serves as the largest and oldest of its kind in North America, and it’s a spectacular time of year in which we stretch our horticultural limits to put on a colorful show for our guests.

By Jim Sutton, Display Designer and Kevin Bielicki with Katie Mobley, on October 27, 2021
The Artform of Sashiko in Luminary Form
softly glowing luminaries nestled in grass at dusk

The Artform of Sashiko in Luminary Form

On October 14, 15, and 16, we are honored to share a very special Luminaria Nights display inspired by the artform of sashiko—a traditional hand-stitching practice developed in Japan.

By Katie Mobley, on October 12, 2021
A Brilliant Return
bruce munro smiling for the camera with a light blue shirt and navy sweater around his shoulders

A Brilliant Return

Next summer, we have the immense honor of taking the interplay of nature and people a step (or ten) further, when artist Bruce Munro returns to Longwood for Light: Installations by Bruce Munro.
By Katie Mobley, on September 21, 2021
Floating Ideas on Our Floating Islands
water lily display in the pond with surrounding plants

Floating Ideas on Our Floating Islands

As the gardener responsible for the Waterlily Display, I can say firsthand just how much we delight in sharing the beauty and the display possibilities of our aquatics collection with our guests.

By Tim Jennings, on August 4, 2021
Follow Our Discovery Trail
tree with signage for the discovery trail

Follow Our Discovery Trail

Discover hidden secrets in the Main Fountain Garden, identify trees in Peirce’s Woods, search for wildlife in our Meadow Garden, and even take a meditative moment with garden-inspired yoga poses.

By Katie Mobley, on June 30, 2021
The Height of Care
landscape image of a garden bed with two foxglove plants that are half in bloom

The Height of Care

These late spring flowers have just recently made their debut along Flower Garden Walk, but we’ve been carefully planning and coaxing their arrival since last summer, using a growing technique rooted in precision and care.

By Katie Mobley, on April 29, 2021