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![a blue flower with green stems](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-04/579879_Blue%20Flowers%20_Gercens_%20Karl.jpg?itok=NGMsJBeH)
A Sea of Blue to See
Late March and early April is a time when people are ready to get out of the house and explore the outdoors after all the snow has melted and tiny springtime treasures begin to emerge. At Longwood Gardens we're just bursting at the seams with beautiful flowers 365 days of the year!
![large plant with green palm like leaves and yellow cones in the center](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-04/12486_Encephalartos-woodii_Gercens-Karl.jpeg?itok=QSKRn2op)
The King of Our Conservatory
When guests first walk into our Conservatory, they are overwhelmed by the huge variety of plants that are growing under glass. You can see plants that grow in all different regions of the world, from the tropics to the Mediterranean and even the desert.
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All in the Family ... Poinsettias and Their “Cousins”
Christmas is a time for bringing families together under one roof, and that's just what we've done here at Longwood Gardens... with plant families, that is! I invite you to get to know the familiar poinsettia a little better while appreciating their cousins as well.
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Making a Better Camellia: Breeding at Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens established hardiness trials and a breeding program in the early 1960’s to evaluate and develop camellias that can tolerate colder winters. These efforts have lead to the release of two of the hardiest Camellias ‘Longwood Centennial’ and ‘Longwood Valentine’. As Camellia breeding and hardiness evaluation continue at Longwood Gardens, the selection of commercially available hardy camellias will increase.
![two people working on the 1000 bloom mum](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-03/atwork.jpg?itok=Fni0Gzif)
Mum's the Word: Longwood Grows Mammoth Mum
The Thousand Bloom Chrysanthemum (known in Japan as Ozukuri) refers to a technique, originating in China and expanding to Japan several hundred years ago, for growing an extremely large Chrysanthemum, with a goal of producing the maximum number of flowers possible on a single plant.
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Seven Stunning Salvia in the Conservatory
This time of year everyone is talking about the stunning chrysanthemums in the Conservatory--but I would like to point out the beauty of a different, incredible, autumn-blooming plant! The genus Salvia represents the largest group of plants in the Lamiaceae family.
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Fuchsias Galore!
It's my favorite time of year in the Conservatory with the arrival of more than 60 Fuschsia baskets, each measuring more than three feet in width!
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Peirce’s Woods Sentinel Oak
It is very sad to lose a tree, especially one as old as the Sentinel Oak. That is why it was such a joyous occasion today, as we planted a new Sentinel Oak!
![trees and flowers in bloom in Peirce's Woods with pink, white and purple colors](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-04/33664_Peirces-Woods_Albee-Larry.jpeg?itok=cH7vnOzb)
Peirce's Woods in Bloom
I love this time of year in Peirce's Woods. Even though it means the time for extreme humidity and lugging heavy hoses is just around the corner. The beauty of the woods in bloom makes me forget all that.
![A bed of bright orange, yellow, purple, red, and pink tulips](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2022-03/20748_Garden%20Highlights_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer.jpg?h=b227b81e&itok=FZ1AO8Ri)
The Idea Garden Spring Bulb Display
Recently Longwood staff has developed a new bulb display in the Idea Garden. This display plays two major roles; as a strong educational component both for our guests and staff, and is a strong display in itself. The display primarily features tulips and Narcissus (daffodils), displaying division types of each, grown in a trial garden setting where we can observe varieties new to Longwood.
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Growing Clivia From Seed
In late winter and spring, your Clivia may be displaying some beautiful fruit. Clivia with yellow flowers will produce yellow fruit, while Clivia with orange flowers will produce red fruit. The fruit is actually a berry that contains seeds inside. If your Clivia did not produce fruit this year, it may not have been pollinated. Pollination is a simple act that is accomplished by taking ripe pollen that sheds easily from the anthers onto your finger or a Q-tip, and placing it on the stigma.
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Waterlily Season Has Begun!
The start of another waterlily season brings with it great anticipation as we began this week to uncover the pools. But is this ritual of uncovering the pools really the start of another season? No! Several activities have already started to take place behind-the-scenes in preparation for the opening of the display.