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![A person in an art studio hunched over painting flowers on a large-scale white board.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-12/696003_Painting%20Christmas%20Visitor%20Center%20Panels_Gross_%20Carol.jpg?itok=1BVl7svX)
Botanical Beauty, Down to a Fine Art
With this year’s A Longwood Christmas season, we have had so much fun not only celebrating all things retro—but also sharing the immense creativity and talents of the many, many makers behind this spectacular display.
![A large ballroom filled with decorated Christmas trees.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-12/744063_Community%20Christmas%20Trees_Gross_%20Carol.jpg?h=a05a72fa&itok=TSjSem-k)
A Christmas of Community
This year’s A Longwood Christmas display is bursting with festive trees, throwback toys, a vintage Christmas street scene, and much more … including seven trees in our Ballroom dressed in beautiful ornaments crafted by children from seven local youth-serving organizations.
![Five blown glass pieces resting on a table part of A Longwood Christmas.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-12/736512_A%20Longwood%20Christmas%202023_Mathias_%20Becca%20_Commissioned%20as%20of%204_2022_.jpg?h=190d3686&itok=tYLxMSby)
Beautiful Art, Beautiful Impact
A party wouldn’t be complete without fabulous glassware—and in the Music Room we’re proudly showcasing fantastic glass trees, candy dishes, and more crafted by two local nonprofit organizations—GoggleWorks Center for the Arts (Reading, PA) and Burning Branch Studio (Kirkwood, PA).
![A birdhouse made from lego blocks hanging on an outdoor evergreen tree.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-11/737663_Wildlife%20Tree_Berg_%20Amy%20Simon%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?h=f78b8398&itok=R_lPFQdh)
A Very Handmade Holiday
From living wreaths, to floral chandeliers, to creative ornaments, we’ve had so much fun rolling up our sleeves and hand-creating for the season.
![A vintage red pick up truck holding several evergreen trees in the bed.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-11/736667_A%20Very%20Retro%20Christmas%20Courtesy%20of%20Longwood%20Gardens%20_Laurie%20Carrozzino.jpg?itok=bFbTXzkt)
A Restoration for the Ages
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.
![The conservatory at Longwood Garden with planted poinsettias around the garden beds.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-10/29424_Longwood%20Gardens%20Christmas_twk_SizedForBlog.jpg?itok=kyumDrim)
Longwood Christmas Past
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.
![The arms of a person working with chrysanthemum blooms.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-10/726759_Chrysanthemum%20_%20morifolium%20_Susono-no-Hikari_Hare_%20Joe%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?itok=9Fc73f7s)
A Triumphant Return
This year’s Thousand Bloom of Chrysanthemum × morifolium ‘Susono-no-Hikari’ started its journey as a vegetative cutting 18 months ago—and today is not only a sight to behold, but a culminating example of the unchanging beauty and art of people and plants working together.
![A lawn with dozens of luminaries on the ground.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-09/528066_Luminaria_Hummel_%20Scott%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?h=b299bd9b&itok=211pinZo)
Story and Beauty: Sashiko and Luminaria
On October 5, 6, and 7, we are thrilled to share a Luminaria Nights display inspired by the artform of sashiko—a traditional hand-stitching practice developed in Japan
![Large handmade paper flowers in yellow and white hanging in a gift shop.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-07/652180_Handmade%20Garden%20Shop%20Designs_Gross_%20Carol.jpg?itok=mpdDRrXx)
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.
![A group of people standing inside an outdoor geometric sculpture in a garden bed.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-07/649451_Break%20What%20Needs%20Fixing%20FOR%20SEG%20BLOG%20.jpg?itok=yffZzknx)
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.
![a close up image of pink and white hydrangea blooms](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-03/578445_Conservatory_Hare_%20Sue%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?h=8cb97c7f&itok=r0lOp10_)
Classic Spring Beauties with a Twist
Through April, classic spring plants such as hydrangeas, azaleas, and fuchsias bloom indoors in new and exciting varieties.
![two large trees lit with purple and pink christmas lights with blurry lights on the right side](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-12/613654_Christmas_Mathias_%20Becca%20_Commissioned%20as%20of%204_2022_%20%281%29.jpg?h=cb301722&itok=bq7d2RaW)
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.
![a close up image of succulents forming a tree](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-11/613556_Succulent%20Christmas%20Tree_Gross_%20Carol.jpg?h=3594daf0&itok=qygLayv9)
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.
![amarylis plant with red christmas balls around them](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-12/615412_Christmas_Gross_%20Carol.jpg?itok=mHa5P6vM)
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.
![a red and gold ornament hanging on a christmas tree](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-11/613072_Christmas%20Changeover_DeGuiseppi_%20Carol%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?itok=EjJjweaT)
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.
![a person with pliers near a floral bouquet of red and gold flowers and leaves](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-11/611705_Drexel%20Fashion%20Students-%20Floral%20Dress%20Designs_Mathias_%20Becca%20_Commissioned%20as%20of%204_2022_.jpg?itok=N1Yt9_We)
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.
![vegetable garden filled with corn, squash, and other plants at sunset](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-09/602862_Three%20Sisters%20Plot_Correia_%20Alex%20_PG%20Student_.jpg?h=d09aeaf0&itok=SvU9Ygln)
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.
![nighttime field of small orb lights](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-06/593139_Bruce%20Munro%20Light%20Test_Davis_%20Harold%20_Hank_%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_%20%281%29.jpg?h=2568f1ad&itok=ro1Bm_l1)
Shedding Light on Light
![indoor conservatory with large palm leaves and pink flowers lining the path](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-06/588608_Indoor%20display_Gercens_%20Karl.jpg?h=84effa4e&itok=VwrPdVUM)
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.
![fireplace hearth with a large cascading wreath filled with ornaments, bows, and fabrics](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/blog_post_images/550897_christmas_mathias_-becca-_longwood-volunteer-photographer_image.jpg?h=4204a3f0&itok=2qKxSWUk)
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.