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![A freshly fallen snow with a paved path leading toward a large house in the distance.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2024-02/747429_Peirce%20-%20du%20Pont%20House_Hummel_%20Scott%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?itok=a8wYeP1U)
Snow, Salt, and Sustainability
While the use of rock salt, or sodium chloride, has served as a widespread, traditional method of combating snow and ice, in recent years a more advanced and efficient approach has gained popularity with the use of brine.
![A black and white image of a small staircase surrounded by plants inside the Pierce du Pont house at Longwood Gardens.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2024-02/2881_Main%20House%20Conservatory.jpg?h=1b788b3a&itok=OrbxDEiz)
The Peirce-du Pont House Conservatory: A Story, A Legacy
From carefully chosen plants to meaningful flags to symbolic wedding gifts of Pierre and Alice du Pont, the Peirce-du Pont Conservatory captures, in one place, the heart of the Longwood Gardens story—and, following its current refresh, that story not only continues, but thoughtfully evolves.
![Images of trees shot from the ground, looking up at the sky.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2024-01/658151_Forest%20Canopy_Davis_%20Harold%20_Hank_%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?itok=gvq4m3d7)
Learn Something New in Nature’s Classroom
At Longwood, we create many spaces to explore your passions, practice your creativity, and deepen your wellness through diverse learning opportunities that allow you to dive deeper into your relationship with nature—and wellness.
![A person seated at an organ playing the keys.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2024-01/269643_Open%20Organ%20Console%20Day%20_Zwiebel_%20Fred%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?h=6afacda6&itok=wkwkqoaA)
Growing—and Teaching—through Music
Each of our upcoming organ performances is a testament to the power of music, and we are thrilled to be soon showcasing the talents of organists Nicole Keller, Bryan Anderson, and Alcée Chriss.
![Pink, green, and white leaves of a houseplant.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2024-01/188510_Garden%20Highlights_Ward_%20Candie%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?itok=6vHrlTYf)
Winter is for Houseplants
Follow along as I share some fantastic houseplants to add to your home, as well as ways to keep your existing houseplants thriving and beautiful this season.
![An outdoor concert overlooking a meadow with people sitting in chairs looking at the stage.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2024-01/743609_Wine%20_%20Jazz%20FOR%20BLOG%20_Randall_%20Colvin.jpg?itok=fSgjOcDX)
Garden of Music
No garden in American can equal such a performing arts legacy—and with Garden of Music I share the stories of Longwood’s performing arts legacy, in which over the years I have been—and continue to be—happily immersed.
![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.
![Four round pastries displayed on a wooden board.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-11/735661_Chef%20Will%20Retro%20Christmas%20Recipes_Gross_%20Carol.jpg?h=4379832d&itok=MibAAWxY)
A Delicious Blast from the Past: Retro Holiday Recipes
Just like our A Longwood Christmas display it’s the small details (and the deliciously big impact!) that make these retro recipes shine. What’s more, they’re perfect for your holiday table.
![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.
![A brown and white hummingbird in air approaching a pink flower.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-10/478737_Meadow%20Garden_Davis_%20Harold%20_Hank_%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?itok=n1O_moqE)
Diverse Habitats, Diverse Wildlife
At Longwood Gardens, we manage our natural areas to both promote native species diversity across the landscape and to help our guests create memorable and inspiring experiences discovering the dynamic beauty of our native habitats.
![A scene at Longwood Gardens with a love temple in the foreground and a construction site in the background.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-10/732989_Longwood%20Reimagined%20Project_Berg_%20Amy%20Simon%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?h=9897bb3f&itok=ek09Dg78)
Longwood Reimagined: New Moments, New Excitement
As our most ambitious expansion, reimagination, and preservation of our Conservatory and surrounding landscape in a century continues to take shape, we’re so pleased to share with you the latest moments and milestones along the way.
![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 group of five people posed in front of a green wall smiling at the camera.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-10/680133_Fellows%20First%20Day_Alejandro_%20Carlos.jpg?itok=EO_JiHiQ)
A Part of Something Bigger: Meet Our 2023-24 Fellows
We’re thrilled to have recently welcomed the five outstanding individuals that make up our 2023–24 Fellows cohort.
![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
![A person in a safety vest approaching a large fallen tree.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-09/690823_FOR%20BLOG%20-%20August%202023%20fallen%20white%20oak_Chinese%20Scholar-tree%20response%20_Altenburger_%20Tyler.jpg?itok=3dB-vlBC)
From Fallen Trees, An Uplifting Effort
It’s a question that’s been posed for years: if a tree falls in a forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
![Several planted succlents in gray stone pots.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-09/691302_Planted%20by%20Longwood_Gross_%20Carol.jpg?itok=pX3ecwaW)
A Tiny Garden: Planted by Longwood
The beautiful terrariums, containers, centerpieces, cloches, and more living works of art, available for purchase in The Shop, are created by our talented Planted by Longwood team.