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A Place of Family
fireplace hearth with a large cascading wreath filled with ornaments, bows, and fabrics

A Place of Family

Even with all its grandeur, our Music Room scene still feels intimate, cozy, and welcoming … and that’s the exact sentiment we’ve set out to achieve in this spectacular fireside lodge setting.

By Jessica Whitehead, on December 15, 2021
The Beauty (and Possibilities) of Dried Flowers
a close up of a Christmas tree with dried flowers and green ornaments

The Beauty (and Possibilities) of Dried Flowers

Here at Longwood (and at home), arrangements made from dried flowers serve as spectacular options for the holiday (or any) season … and they help showcase and celebrate the beauty of plants long after their natural growing season.

By Michael Strengari, on December 8, 2021
The Art of Alpine
a pool of water with a fountain in the middle and icicles along the sides with large Christmas trees surrounding the water

The Art of Alpine

Our Exhibition Hall has been transformed into a true environment, meant to whisk you away to an entirely different world. How we created this world is a story in itself.

By Kevin Bielicki, on December 1, 2021
Fire and Ice, Made Delicious
a glass of alcohol with a set of hands lighting a lemon peel on fire

Fire and Ice, Made Delicious

We’re thrilled to share with you some delicious fire and ice-inspired recipes perfect for your own home entertaining (one of which is even featured on our 1906 holiday menu).

By Executive Chef Will Brown, on November 24, 2021
Celebrating 50 Years of Changing Lives
a group of people smiling and walking next to a glass greenhouse

Celebrating 50 Years of Changing Lives

Combining extensive hands-on gardening experience with classroom work, the two-year, tuition-free Professional Gardener Training Program fulfilled founder Pierre S. du Pont’s wish for a practical school of horticulture and floriculture at Longwood.

By Crystal Huff, on November 10, 2021
Now is the Time for Fall Bulb Planting
a gloved hand presses a flower bulb into bare soil

Now is the Time for Fall Bulb Planting

Now is the time to plant those bulbs—just as the Longwood intern class did in late October—in preparation for next year’s spring display.

By Madison Thibodeau, on November 3, 2021
New Forms, New Displays, New Fun
a chrysanthemum bonsai on a wooden platform

New Forms, New Displays, New Fun

This imaginative display serves as the largest and oldest of its kind in North America, and it’s a spectacular time of year in which we stretch our horticultural limits to put on a colorful show for our guests.

By Jim Sutton, Display Designer and Kevin Bielicki with Katie Mobley, on October 27, 2021
Growing Community: Art and Gardens
a group of people walking toward the entrance of the Google Works building

Growing Community: Art and Gardens

As part of the Fellows Program, our cohort has had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture of organizations throughout the region.

By Usman Ibrahim and Nick Lazio, on October 20, 2021
The Artform of Sashiko in Luminary Form
softly glowing luminaries nestled in grass at dusk

The Artform of Sashiko in Luminary Form

On October 14, 15, and 16, we are honored to share a very special Luminaria Nights display inspired by the artform of sashiko—a traditional hand-stitching practice developed in Japan.

By Katie Mobley, on October 12, 2021
A Farmhouse, A Story
a stone farmhouse with red shutters and a large tree behind it

A Farmhouse, A Story

The Webb Farmhouse’s history spans a long time before Longwood Gardens existed, and the evolution of the land helps tell its story.

By Madison Thibodeau, on October 6, 2021
The Stories We Tell: A Visit to Shofuso
a traditional tea house with green shurbs and hedges surrounding it

The Stories We Tell: A Visit to Shofuso

As the docent intern at Longwood, I focus on how we interpret and share such details, so I am constantly thinking about the stories we tell in our garden, as well as the design choices, gardening techniques, and plant selections we employ to tell them.

By Esther Leaming, on September 29, 2021
A Brilliant Return
bruce munro smiling for the camera with a light blue shirt and navy sweater around his shoulders

A Brilliant Return

Next summer, we have the immense honor of taking the interplay of nature and people a step (or ten) further, when artist Bruce Munro returns to Longwood for Light: Installations by Bruce Munro.
By Katie Mobley, on September 21, 2021
Name of the Botanical Game
bed of in bloom purple Russian sage plants

Name of the Botanical Game

While I’ve often heard gardeners jokingly remark that botanists like to change names just to keep them guessing, botanical name changes happen often and represent advances in science and our understanding of the relationships in the plant world.

By Anthony S. Aiello, on September 15, 2021
Wine and Dine into Fall
a set table with a flower vase and a plate of food

Wine and Dine into Fall

We thought we’d challenge ourselves to pick just a few of our featured Wine & Jazz wines, share their stories, and pair them with some great recipes you can make from home to lead us all into fall on a delicious note.

By Executive Chef Will Brown, on September 1, 2021
Learning Together, Near and Far
two adults viewing the main fountain garden through a camera screen at dusk

Learning Together, Near and Far

It’s been nearly 18 months since we last welcomed students into the Gardens as part of our in-person Continuing Education programming … but all of that changes this October.

By Matthew Thomas, on August 25, 2021
New Potential for Our Azalea Bonsai
close up of a bonsai tree getting trimmed and wired

New Potential for Our Azalea Bonsai

It’s been more than two years since we embarked on the process of training an azalea standard into a bonsai. It’s now time to share what our old friend has been up to in the last year.

By Kevin Bielicki, on August 18, 2021
What’s in a Name: Indigenous Orchids of the Andes Mountains
close up image of a white and yellow Masdevallia chuspipatae orchid

What’s in a Name: Indigenous Orchids of the Andes Mountains

In my first few weeks here at Longwood, I found that my linguistics background would definitely come in handy … especially when I made an orchid discovery that would bring my past studies and my current plant records work full circle.

By Emily Conn, on August 11, 2021
Floating Ideas on Our Floating Islands
water lily display in the pond with surrounding plants

Floating Ideas on Our Floating Islands

As the gardener responsible for the Waterlily Display, I can say firsthand just how much we delight in sharing the beauty and the display possibilities of our aquatics collection with our guests.

By Tim Jennings, on August 4, 2021
Welcoming Our Fellows
Five member class of 2021 Longwood Fellows posing outside

Welcoming Our Fellows

Our Fellows Program brings talented professionals to Longwood to live and study alongside one another … all while learning more about themselves and the further contributions they can make.

By Katie Mobley, on July 28, 2021
Moving, By the Book
a row of books in various sizes and colors placed on a library shelf

Moving, By the Book

Whether we’re transplanting our plant collections or moving our precious, one-of-kind library and archives (right down to our oldest book, dated 1635), we must practice a high level of care along the way.

By Gillian Hayward, on July 21, 2021