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Indoor Plants for Every Home
zoomed in photograph of bright green and dark green plant leaves

Indoor Plants for Every Home

It doesn’t matter if you live in an apartment, cottage, or even a yurt … there’s an indoor plant that can easily match your lifestyle.

By Karl Gercens, on January 30, 2020
Orchid Extravaganza: “Big Lip” is Big News

Orchid Extravaganza: “Big Lip” is Big News

We’re excited to showcase a beautiful representation of the new and exciting Phalaenopsis “big lip” breeding lines, displayed for the first time here at Longwood.

By Greg Griffis and Lee Alyanakian, on January 24, 2020
Climate Change and Our Trees
sunlight peeking through the tree tops above a walkway in the forest

Climate Change and Our Trees

Trees are an exceptionally important part of Longwood Gardens’ heritage and our future … they are nothing less than the backbone of our Gardens. When considering our tree management efforts in the context of climate change modeling, we not only consider the future, but also the present.

By Shawn Kister and Katie Mobley, on January 13, 2020
Tremendous Tillandsia: How to Care for These Gems
close up of an air plant ornament

Tremendous Tillandsia: How to Care for These Gems

From textural Tillandsia xerographica perched above the waterfall in our Cascade Garden, to tiny Tillandsia tectorum and Tillandsia ionatha tucked into wire and cup ornaments in our Silver Garden, Tillandsia are definitely having a Christmas moment.

By Joyce Rondinella, on December 31, 2019
Farewell to a Beloved Beech
branch with bright orange and red leaves

Farewell to a Beloved Beech

Measuring about 90 feet in height, this particular copper beech is among those ordered in either 1928 or 1933 by Longwood founder Pierre S. du Pont, as well as one of Longwood’s champion trees.

By Katie Mobley, on December 3, 2019
Chrysanthemums: A Class of Their Own
close up of a light pink chrysanthemum with long petals

Chrysanthemums: A Class of Their Own

Cherished for their exquisite beauty, rich hues, and delightfully distinct variations, chrysanthemums are in a class—or rather 13 classes—all their own.

By Katie Mobley, on November 4, 2019
Character Development of a Bonsai
root system of an azalea bonsai tree

Character Development of a Bonsai

It’s been five months since we shared with you the initial steps in training one of our azalea standards into a bonsai … and the many challenges about the process. Despite its challenges, the azalea has made tremendous progress and I’m so excited to share that progress with you.

By Kevin Bielicki, on October 23, 2019
The Beauty and Bounty of Grasses
a close up image of a bead of grass

The Beauty and Bounty of Grasses

Right now, beautiful examples of corn, rice, and sorghum in our Vegetable Garden (nestled in our Idea Garden) and even our Waterlily Display demonstrate the breadth and bounty of the amazing grass family.

By Kristina Aguilar, on September 6, 2019
A Sea of Asters
a field of flowers

A Sea of Asters

While many cultivated plants in the Asteraceae are found throughout Longwood’s display gardens—from daisy-like gerbera and dahlias, summer favorites marigolds and zinnias, and fall’s spectacular asters and chrysanthemums—it’s in the Meadow Garden where you can truly appreciate the breadth of this plant family in a natural setting.

By Mary Jane Pahls, on August 9, 2019
The Luminous Lotus
three lotus flowers with pink petals

The Luminous Lotus

While many flowers are worthy of captivating our attention, few have inspired hearts and minds throughout the ages quite like the lotus … a beautiful, interesting plant that is not only extremely useful but also incredibly symbolic.

By Raymond Carter, on July 18, 2019
International Waterlily Competition Winners Now Blooming
purple Nymphea waterlilies floating in water with green leaves

International Waterlily Competition Winners Now Blooming

Waterlilies are so special to Longwood that they were designated a core plant collection in our first and subsequent plant collections policies … plants comprising core collections are the highest priority at Longwood and central to our mission.

By Kristina Aguilar, on July 10, 2019
Bent into Shape

Bent into Shape

Here at Longwood, we like to honor the Fourth of July with a flourish that bends the norm … a patriotic design in the turf of our Italian Water Garden, achieved by bending the grass just-so to achieve a desired aesthetic.

By Derek Miller, on July 3, 2019
Seeing Beauty to Save Our Global Garden
person standing in front of an arched entry way

Seeing Beauty to Save Our Global Garden

I had the absolute honor of sharing my thoughts on beauty and its role in protecting nature—our global garden—as a TEDxWilmington speaker.

By Paul B. Redman, on June 13, 2019
Seeds of Inspiration

Seeds of Inspiration

For the second-year Professional Horticulture students who have designed this year’s Student Exhibition Garden, inspiration comes in the form of seeds—their resiliency, their resulting dyes and textiles, their importance in food crops, and the symbolism of seeding and growing an interest in biological science.

By Katie Mobley and Lynn Schuessler, on May 29, 2019
Birth of a Bonsai
a person pruning a fully bloomed pink azalea bonsai

Birth of a Bonsai

The art of bonsai is rooted in patience and harmony … a practice that entails contemplation and lots of decision-making along the way. Those decisions must be made from both a horticultural standpoint and an aesthetic standpoint in order to achieve the true goal of bonsai: nurturing and training a tree in a container to appear as it would in nature.

By Kevin Bielicki, on May 23, 2019
A Tree with a Story to Tell
young sycamore plants in pots

A Tree with a Story to Tell

When it’s time to plant a tree at Longwood, I look to plant one with a story. … Our new sycamore originates from the incredibly massive tree just a few miles down the road at Brandywine Battlefield State Park in Chadds Ford.

By Scott Wade, on May 17, 2019
Waking the Giant
white hallway with pipes on the sides

Waking the Giant

Preparing the Main Fountain Garden for its annual awakening is a multi-faceted process of plumbing and electrical ingenuity that begins months before the fountains start to dance.

By Katie Mobley with Raymond Mackey, on May 7, 2019
Botanical Curiosities of Spring Flowers
close up image of a yellow winter aconite flower

Botanical Curiosities of Spring Flowers

The beauty and abundance of flowers—both in gardens and in nature—is the hallmark of the spring season. Although their beauty is obvious and appreciated by all, these highly anticipated floral displays are the result of complex, interacting factors.

By Peter Zale, Ph.D., on April 3, 2019
An Orchid Adventure of a Lifetime
Approximately two-hundred thousand orchids in the Exhibition Display Hall

An Orchid Adventure of a Lifetime

Ni hao! Earlier this month, we boarded three flights, flew for 24 hours, and arrived in Taipei, Taiwan on a two-week orchid adventure to attend the Taiwan International Orchid Show, explore new orchid breeding and cultural techniques, and see firsthand new and innovative orchid display trends in an area known most notably for its spectacular Phalaenopsis, among other beautiful orchids.

By Lee Alyanakian and Greg Griffis, on March 22, 2019
Our Green Clivia Needs a Name!

Our Green Clivia Needs a Name!

Marking a huge accomplishment in our plant breeding program, we are thrilled to announce the release of our first green-flowered clivia—a remarkable feat decades in the making! As our sixth Clivia miniata released from our breeding program, our newest clivia is certainly a sight to behold but, alas, currently without a name … and we need your help!

By Ashley Clayton, on March 1, 2019