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Our Idea Garden, Reimagined
The Idea Garden at Longwood with spring plantings in the beds and the conervatory in the distance.

Our Idea Garden, Reimagined

Featuring five unique garden spaces—including the redesigned Ornamental Kitchen Garden—the Idea Garden echoes some of the classical elements of the Main Fountain Garden and blends the formal with the less formal, and notably the agrarian.

By Katie Mobley, on May 15, 2024
Cynorkis: A Jewel Box of Possibilities
The Cynorkis orchid with small pink flowers set in front of green foliage.

Cynorkis: A Jewel Box of Possibilities

Our first hybrid CynorkisCynorkis Longwood Pink Gem—is now on view for the first time in our Orchid House for the next week, and ready to delight.

By Greg Griffis, on May 1, 2024
Do You Want to Know a Secret?
The end of a stone bench with a carved head of an eagle in it.

Do You Want to Know a Secret?

Our beloved Whispering Bench is not only a lovely place to sit and take in the view; it’s a place of physics, history, and curiosity, where secrets have been told—and fun has been had—for generations.

By Gillian Hayward, on April 24, 2024
Seed Banking on the Future
Two dozen small sprouting seeds in a glass bowl.

Seed Banking on the Future

With our recent award of a competitive grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as part of the Wild Resource Conservation Program, we are thrilled to be able to grow our efforts in preserving more species of conservation concern through the expansion of our seed bank.

By Jessica Turner-Skoff, Ph.D. and Peter Zale, Ph.D., on April 10, 2024
Following Garden Pathways Around the Globe
A person kneeling down beside a garden bed smiling at the camera.

Following Garden Pathways Around the Globe

Much of our variety in plants, garden design, and horticultural expertise comes from our exchange of knowledge with other public gardens, horticultural organizations, and skilled professionals from all over the world.

By Kirsty Wilson and Katie Testa, on April 3, 2024
Uncle Pierre’s Iron Snakes
Two black iron snakes laying in a garden.

Uncle Pierre’s Iron Snakes

Since the days of the Peirce family, a pair of wrought-iron snakes have occupied various locations on the grounds, alternately delighting and startling unsuspecting visitors.

By Kelli Stewart, on March 27, 2024
A Wartime Agricultural Connection
A black and white image of an old farm house.

A Wartime Agricultural Connection

Our 2024 Community Read book, The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly, isn’t just a remarkable selection that exemplifies the meaning we can all find in gardens—it also has a fascinating historic agricultural connection to Longwood Gardens.

By Gillian Hayward and Kelli Stewart, on March 20, 2024
A Thing of Reimagined Beauty: Community and Sustainability
A persons hands getting ready to pick up a plank of wood.

A Thing of Reimagined Beauty: Community and Sustainability

Among those helping make Longwood Reimagined an upcoming reality is The Challenge Program, a local nonprofit that provides vocational training for Delaware’s youth to empower them with confidence, skills, and purpose—and the makers of custom furnishings that will grace the new buildings opening with Longwood Reimagined.

By Katie Mobley, on March 13, 2024
Preserving History: A Move for the Cox House
An old white house being moved on a large trailer with wheels.

Preserving History: A Move for the Cox House

Located on Longwood property just south of the entrance to our Gardens, the Cox House sits alongside Route 1 and, in response to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s initiative to widen the road, Longwood made the decision to relocate the Cox House away from the road to ensure its ongoing preservation.

By Jourdan Cole, on March 6, 2024
Community Read: A Conversation with Author Julia Kelly
A book titled "The Last Garden in England" propped up in a flower garden bed.

Community Read: A Conversation with Author Julia Kelly

Growing up in a small, rural town in the South, The Secret Garden (our 2024 Community Read selection for our youngest readers) sparked my imagination at an early age with the idea of gardens as cloaked in mystery and secrets, filled with hidden beauty (and stories) waiting to be revealed.

By Hannah Rutledge, on February 28, 2024
Snow, Salt, and Sustainability
A freshly fallen snow with a paved path leading toward a large house in the distance.

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.

By Katie Testa and Mike Raign, on February 21, 2024
The Peirce-du Pont House Conservatory: A Story, A Legacy
A black and white image of a small staircase surrounded by plants inside the Pierce du Pont house at Longwood Gardens.

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.

By Kristina Wilson, on February 14, 2024
Learn Something New in Nature’s Classroom
Images of trees shot from the ground, looking up at the sky.

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.

By Katie Testa, on January 31, 2024
Growing—and Teaching—through Music
A person seated at an organ playing the keys.

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.

By Kalee Emery, on January 25, 2024
Winter is for Houseplants
Pink, green, and white leaves of a houseplant.

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.

By Avery Haislip, on January 17, 2024
Garden of Music
An outdoor concert overlooking a meadow with people sitting in chairs looking at the stage.

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.

By Colvin Randall, on January 10, 2024
Botanical Beauty, Down to a Fine Art
A person in an art studio hunched over painting flowers on a large-scale white board.

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.

By Katie Testa, on January 3, 2024
A Christmas of Community
A large ballroom filled with decorated Christmas trees.

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.

By Katie Testa, on December 20, 2023
Beautiful Art, Beautiful Impact
Five blown glass pieces resting on a table part of A Longwood Christmas.

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).

By Katie Mobley, on December 13, 2023