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![A person in an emerald shirt sitting on a gray sofa creating a floral arrangement.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-08/680290_Black%20Girl%20Florists%20promotional%20blog.jpg?itok=uHqb2nji)
The Transformative Power of Design
As the president and chief executive officer of Black Girl Florists and the owner of One Soul Events (Atlanta, GA), and in the spirit of Black Girl Florists’ mission, we are thrilled about our upcoming collaboration with Longwood.
![Tall green grass with a single purple flower in the center of the image.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-08/658277_For%20Appalachian%20Jacob_s%20ladder%20blog%209.jpg?h=1dd5b30d&itok=KxHEWHd0)
Reaching for New Heights in Rare Species Conservation
Among our many conservation efforts is our recent work in propagating and restoring hundreds of one of the rarest plants in Pennsylvania, the Appalachian Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium vanbruntiae).
![A landscape at Longwood Gardens featuring tall trees and rhododenrons in bloom.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-07/652046_Photographer%20Larry%20Lederman%20_Miller_%20Jackie.jpg?itok=uzPY0gQO)
What Larry Taught Me: Photographing Longwood
I was asked to escort photographer Larry Lederman around the Gardens while he took photos for a book about the du Pont family gardens of the Brandywine Valley. At the time, I didn’t know that working with Larry would shape the next 14 months of my life and change how I view Longwood.
![Four people at the top of an outdoor stone staircase walking away from the camera.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-07/658071_Pro%20Hort%20Italy%20Trip%202023%20FOR%20BLOG%20.jpg?h=ed4092df&itok=rVOEQred)
A Trip to Italy: A Trip of a Lifetime
Along with our Professional Horticulture Program classmates, we recently completed one of the most exciting parts of our two-year program—our opportunity to experience horticulture in another country through our study abroad trip.
![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 vase of purple flowers on a table.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-07/646708_2023%20International%20Organ%20Competition%20-%20Centerpieces_Shoemaker_%20Dave.jpg?h=785567c1&itok=GORRJXce)
Following Nature’s Cues for Floral Design
Found in such spaces as the Visitor Center, by the Guest Services desk in the Main Conservatory, or in the conservatory of the Peirce-du Pont House, our arrangements take their cues from the seasons and are styled in natural ways to highlight their connections to the Gardens.
![A glass of beer on a picnic table in an outdoor beer garden.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-07/258746_Beer%20Garden_Davis_%20Harold%20_Hank_%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?h=ff718ca4&itok=vbs_udxk)
The Art and Science of Beer
We’re celebrating our newest brew with a special evening in our Beer Garden featuring Victory’s Senior Manager of Education and Training Max Finnance—who happens to be one of only 22 Master Cicerones in the world.
![Two student holding out their hands in a nature setting.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-06/641449_St.%20Christopher_s%20Foundation%20Nature%20Access%20Program_Laurie%20Carrozzino.jpg?itok=B9OX2hZJ)
Access to Nature: Inspiring the Next Generation
Longwood is not only a spectacular setting to immerse oneself in a beautiful outdoor environment, but it’s also one perfectly situated to engage young students with nature.
![A bulldozer moving a large pile of dirt.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-06/377388_Compost%20for%20Chimes_Davis_%20Harold%20_Hank_%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?h=1355dde2&itok=gdd00d6g)
The Secret in Our Soil
Whether compost is being used in our Gardens or in your garden, its benefits are numerous.
![Two monarch butterflies on pink flowers underneather a blue sky.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-05/372230_Trial%20Garden%20_Mathias_%20Becca%20_Commissioned%20as%20of%204_2022_.jpg?h=c4ec8586&itok=Bce3qcQi)
Fellows in Horticulture
As advocates for green spaces with the ability to inspire an appreciation for nature in others, alumni of the Longwood Fellows Program often go on to lead nonprofit institutions with meaningful missions rooted in plants, conservation, research, and education.
![Two hands, one holding a wood dow and the other the base of a plant.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-06/641199_Kusamono%20Workshop_Gross_%20Carol.jpg?itok=yuC9Hyae)
The Singular Art of Kusamono
With its name composed of two Japanese characters that mean “grass” and “thing”, the literal translation of kusamono—a Japanese botanical art of small, potted grasses traditionally displayed next to bonsai as seasonal accent plants—may suggest that this Japanese botanical art is unassuming or falls secondary to its bonsai counterpart.
![A sunset image over a river with small boats and geese wading.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-05/641005_NOT%20AT%20LONGWOOD%20-%20Fellow%20Amanda%20Hannah%20field%20placement%20for%20blog%20_Amanda%20Hannah%20.jpg?h=c6626577&itok=YpXD9mzV)
Leading Around the World
Our Fellows reflect on lessons learned and memories made during their field placements in London, Singapore, Niagara Falls, Cleveland, and Edinburgh.
![A close up of an organ console and keys.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-05/418901_Organ%20Competition%20Event%20_Giarrocco_%20Kelly.jpg?itok=I6wdZfDO)
A Unique Opportunity
As the head judge for the upcoming 2023 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition, I'm very much looking forward to being at Longwood Gardens—it is such a beautiful, iconic location and the competition will be a gathering of some brilliant musicians.
![a bonsai tree in a square pot](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-05/639649_Bonsai%20Forms_Gross_%20Carol.jpg?itok=5NwdBEv3)
The Beauty of Bonsai Styles
The way in which a tree grows is often determined by their environment, and as a bonsai artist, I look to honor that environment, and the way in which that tree would grow in nature, when determining how to shape and style a bonsai.
![two bees on organce flowers](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-05/174245_Garden%20Highlights_Ward_%20Candie%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_%20%281%29.jpg?itok=I6Z62a1V)
How to Create an Ecologically Friendly Home Landscape
While we often think of the landscapes around our homes as self-contained, they’re actually part of a broader landscape mosaic —and each home landscape can make a profound impact on that mosaic and the variety of wildlife (and people!) that rely on it.
![trees being planted in a construction site](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-05/634835_Cladrastis%20kentukea%20_Yellowwood_Davis_%20Harold%20_Hank_%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?h=f2dfcfbd&itok=pyQQbE70)
A Major Reimagined Moment
We recently marked a major horticultural moment in our Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience project—28 major moments, to be exact.
![a forest floor with many black pots of small trees lined up in a row](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-02/620088_Wood%20Chip%20Reforestation%20Study%20Installation_Johnson_%20Lea.jpg?itok=-YG3CXlJ)
Stewardship Science: Testing Techniques to Benefit Biodiversity
The practice of land stewardship constantly raises new questions—how best to approach a new problem; what methods work best—that can be answered using the tools of ecological science.
![a statue of a foo dog in front of topiary trees](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-04/629506_Foo%20Dog%20Installation_Barnes_%20Holden%20_Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?itok=zz5ZwGPa)
Restoring Longwood’s Guardian Lions
The removal, restoration, and reinstallation of these finely detailed—and heavy—sculptures required a delicate, almost surgical approach and in the process, we delved into their history and purpose at Longwood.
![a close up shot of a musical instrument with keys and strings](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_masonry_sm/public/2023-04/461443_Dreamers_%20Circus_Hill_%20William%20_Bill_%20_Longwood%20Volunteer%20Photographer_.jpg?itok=Tkvg__qD)
A Beautiful Relationship, A Groundbreaking Performance
The upcoming May 12 Curtis Symphony Orchestra performance held here in our Gardens—marks the first time the full Curtis Symphony Orchestra will perform at Longwood, and the only time guests can experience the orchestra in the region before they embark on their Curtis On Tour West Coast engagements.