As we prepare to celebrate Native Species Day on May 16, in this post we address one of the most frequently asked questions we receive in our Gardens: why do we have plants that fall within the invasive category here at Longwood?

From reducing steep slopes that are more vulnerable to erosion, to protecting our iconic trees, to thoughtfully rerouting its trails, the care we put into our evolving Meadow Garden is a fantastic example of adapting to changing conditions and stewarding a dynamic landscape, while creating meaningful, beautiful experiences for our guests.

More than a remarkable specimen, this bonsai is a witness, a teacher, a testament to the artists who have cared for it, and a spectacular model of the enduring art of slowing down

Among the many captivating elements of Garden Glow is Seeking Light: Bonsai Illuminated, an installation that invites you to experience bonsai as you never have before.

This Friday, February 13, Garden Glow makes its debut … and we can’t wait to welcome you.

Here, ahead of Reverse the Red Day—a global movement and International Union for the Conservation of Nature initiative that encourages biodiversity conservation on a global scale—we share the latest in conservation horticulture at Longwood and what’s ahead.

On January 24, we officially launch our new Science Strategy, a framework guiding our science going forward.

This rare horticultural gem first came to Longwood nearly 70 years ago, and we use that original plant to propagate a crop each year for A Longwood Christmas.

Our world-class chrysanthemum collection features primarily cultivars and hybrids developed in Japan and China … and a rare Japanese book recently acquired by the Longwood Library reflects the beauty and the long-standing importance of the chrysanthemum to Japanese culture.

Often referred to as “viewing stones," suiseki involves the appreciation of naturally occurring stones for their aesthetic qualities and their resemblance to natural landscapes, from mountains to waterfalls, animals to islands. We are honored to steward these pieces and share their artistry—and their story.

Longwood Gardens has joined the newly launched Illegal Plant Trade Coalition, a global alliance led by Botanic Gardens Conservation International, which unites gardens, scientists, conservation organizations, and enforcement agencies to reduce demand, support legal trade, and protect threatened plants.

This year, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of our most cherished displays—the Garden Railway.

This plant is none other than dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), the "living dinosaur" of the botanical world, which was discovered in China more than 80 years ago

We invite you to learn more as the leading voices in landscape architecture, ecology, and cultural heritage gather at Longwood, led by Designing Change curator Anita Berrizbeitia, who served as an advisor during the preservation process of Longwood’s Cascade Garden, designed by the famous Brazilian landscape architect and artist Roberto Burle Marx.

For the first time in its life, our East Plaza English Yew recently received a variety of neighbors—new four-season underplantings designed to accent the tree and add to its story.

Longwood has a remarkable number of places within the garden for you to escape the heat and put your life into chill-mode.

The Longwood Gardens Library was very fortunate to receive a recent gift reflective of our commitment to the conservation of native orchids: a rare 1931 two-volume set of Orchids of the North Eastern United States photographed from nature and published by American fine arts photographer Edwin Hale Lincoln.

When you think of summer flowers, it’s important to consider the differences between summer plants that thrive in hot summer climates versus those that prefer mild summer temperatures.

Located adjacent to our Student Exhibition Garden, our new-this-season bog garden mimics naturally occurring bogs in the eastern United States, where carnivorous plants, orchids, blueberries, and plants that like having “wet feet” can grow naturally.

Read along for how, now five years after first detecting boxwood blight in our Gardens, we inspect for and protect against this disease.