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A Goodbye, A Beginning
a Copper Beech tree on a rainy day with dark clouds in the sky

A Goodbye, A Beginning

Here at Longwood, our trees are like family. They’re the reason Longwood exists—the backbone of our Gardens.

By Katie Mobley, on February 2, 2022
Music to Our Ears
sound equipment nestled between flowers with a view of stage and rows of seats

Music to Our Ears

Starting this month, live music returns to the splendor of our Conservatory—and we are honored to bring to you a fantastic lineup of artists.

By Tom Warner, on January 26, 2022
Unraveling a History Mystery
a black and white photo of a stone walkway with plants growing along the walls and roof

Unraveling a History Mystery

In August 2021, the Longwood Gardens Library received a sizable donation of archival material from the Kennett Library, documenting the lives and stories of the people of Kennett Square— foremost among them the famous author and diplomat Bayard Taylor.

By William Niner, on January 19, 2022
Using Sound Technology to Make Sound Decisions
a person crouched and tying equipment onto a tree that is in a cemetery

Using Sound Technology to Make Sound Decisions

In the last year, we have started to use a PiCUS Sonic Tomograph, a device that uses sound wave technology to advance tree care and the accuracy of tree risk assessments by allowing arborists to get a look at the inside of the tree when assessing its structural integrity.

By Tyler Altenburger, on January 12, 2022
Longwood’s Weeping Beeches: Their Origins and Significance
a Weeping Beech with a bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds in the background

Longwood’s Weeping Beeches: Their Origins and Significance

Longwood is the proud home of two specimens on view that represent a strikingly impressive form of Fagus sylvatica, and whose beautifully undulating lines are perhaps best appreciated during the winter months after their leaves have fallen.

By Kristina Aguilar, on January 5, 2022
Longwood Reimagined: Beauty in the Making
a heavy construction area with a start of a new building in the middle and surrounded by dirt mounds and trucks

Longwood Reimagined: Beauty in the Making

As our Gardens continue to take shape and as our cultural landscape evolves, we are delighted to share with you a few of the many facets of this incredibly detailed project.

By Katie Mobley, on December 22, 2021
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