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A Short History of Tiny Trees
medium sized witch hazel bonsai tree with bright yellow buds

A Short History of Tiny Trees

The Japanese art of bonsai originated in China as the practice known as penjing. Early in Chinese history, trees and other plants were collected from the wild and grown in containers. The practice moved to Japan many centuries ago through social and economic interaction with China. Over the years, both countries developed various techniques that we continue to use in creating bonsai today. The Japanese word bonsai translates to "tree in a shallow pot." Though some plants in our collection date back to the early 1900s, bonsai were not part of our displays during the time of our founder, Pierre S. du Pont. In 1959, five years after Pierre’s death, renowned bonsai artist Yuji Yoshimura presented a class in our Continuing Education program. It was so well received that our staff members decided we should have some bonsai of our own.

By Mary Allinson, on June 9, 2015
Longwood Gardens Takes Philly Tech Week by Storm
Colored lights shine on leaves of a plant

Longwood Gardens Takes Philly Tech Week by Storm

TechniCulture, hosted by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, was held April 17 at the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Longwood Gardens was a great fit to present at this year’s TechniCulture, since innovation is a key part of our legacy and continues to be integral to our Gardens’ future.

By Abbey Palutis, on May 5, 2015
A Fresh Spring Mix

A Fresh Spring Mix

After a long winter, we’re finally seeing the spectacular colors of tulips throughout the Gardens. With color blocked borders of approximately 100,000 tulips every year, the display on the Flower Garden Walk is always an anticipated sight.

By April Bevans, on April 29, 2015
Bold and Beautiful: The Life of Echium Wildpretii
tall and red Echium wildpretii surrounded by a bed of purple flowers

Bold and Beautiful: The Life of Echium Wildpretii

The beauty of our spring display would not be complete without the towering, striking, and unusual plant, Echium wildpretii, ‘tower-of-jewels’. While this plant stands at nearly seven feet tall, its tiny, salmon-colored flowers are what make it truly magnificent. As each tassel of flowers blooms into graceful curves along the plant, the stamens stick out as if dancing from the tiny flowers, transforming this tower-of-jewels into a whimsical display of beauty.

By Yoko Arakawa with Frances Worley, on April 8, 2015
Braiding Sweetgrass: A Community Read
"Braiding Sweetgrass" softcover book propped up on bench on a garden path

Braiding Sweetgrass: A Community Read

"They know how to build soil, recycle water, create homes for endless other beings; they give us the very air we breathe, they know how to make berries out of light. We might do well to listen." —Robin Wall Kimmerer. Photo by Richard Donham.

By Lynn Schuessler, on March 25, 2015
A Chat with Benjamin Sheen: Winner of Our International Organ Competition
a person wearing a metal and holding flowers in front of the Longwood organ

A Chat with Benjamin Sheen: Winner of Our International Organ Competition

Since winning the Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition, Sheen has performed around the U.S., in the UK, Spain, and will tour Singapore, Australia, and Canada later this year. But one of his favorite concerts was his May 2014 return to Longwood, offering him the chance to play The Longwood Organ again. “I adore it,” Sheen said about the 10,010-pipe instrument. “It is like no other organ,” he said. Sheen readily admits that the Longwood Organ is still daunting to program and play, even after his hours playing it, but notes the organ is romantic and orchestral and well suited to the kind of music he enjoys playing.

By Patricia Evans, on March 20, 2015
The Lore of Our Trees
image of multiple trees lined up with sun rays peaking through

The Lore of Our Trees

Trees are some of the largest and longest-lived organisms on earth. Senior Gardener Pandora Young shares some of her favorite stories of tree lore and invites you to take another look at the relationships we all share with the living world around us.

By Pandora Young, on March 9, 2015
Flurries of Activity in our Meadow Garden
a snowy path in the early morning sun with a line of trees in the background

Flurries of Activity in our Meadow Garden

"So, what's going on in the Meadow these days?" I've heard this question a lot recently, and it's easy to see why. Looking out over its frigid expanse, I sometimes feel as if the entire garden is in suspended animation until warmer weather. But while the Meadow Garden has been icy, it's hardly been put on ice!

By Colin McCallum-Cook , on February 26, 2015
Something to See: The Rare V3
a row of white hanging orchids inside of a greenhouse

Something to See: The Rare V3

This year, we’ve brought a unique and rare Phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian ‘V3’ hybrid to Orchid Extravaganza, which we believe is being displayed for the first time in a US public garden. The ‘V3’ moth orchids featured on the center walk of our Orangery have unusually long flower spikes with as many as 18 open flowers on a single spike (with more buds yet to open)! Photo by Trilbey Smith.

By Jim Harbage & Lee Alyanakian , on February 20, 2015
The Great Kapok Tree: A Family Community Read
The Great Kapok Tree placed on a white bench

The Great Kapok Tree: A Family Community Read

A community of animals—among them a boa, a toucan, a sloth, and a jaguar—call the kapok tree their home. Each whispers to the man who comes to cut the tree down, filling his dreams with the kapok's life-giving secrets. The man wakes to the wonder of this tree in the Amazon rain forest, drops his axe, and walks away.

By Lynn Schuessler, on February 12, 2015
The Making of our Orchid Meadow
a pink orchid on a flower bed floating in water

The Making of our Orchid Meadow

Learn how our gardeners created this miniature indoor landscape, which was inspired by the colors, textures, and organic feel of Longwood’s new Meadow Garden. Photo by Duane Erdmann.

By Sam Hoadley, on February 6, 2015
Setting the Standard
yellow trained mums with green ferns behind

Setting the Standard

One definition of a "standard" is a norm by which similar things can be measured. In horticulture, however, a standard is a plant that is trained or grafted to have a single stem, and a crown of leaves and flowers. Combine the two meanings, and you have the degree of excellence achieved by Longwood in the beauty of its standard forms. Photo by Larry Albee.

By Jim Harbage, on January 26, 2015
Winter Birdwatching

Winter Birdwatching

Early winter is a special time of year for birds and bird watchers alike, as cold temperatures bring seasonal migrations to a fever pitch and instill a new sense of urgency in our resident species. Photo by Duane Erdmann.

By Colin McCallum-Cook, on January 13, 2015
A Rare Bird

A Rare Bird

If you’ve visited the Gardens recently, you know that Longwood has taken flight this season with a stunning bird-inspired holiday display. What you may not know is that this area of Pennsylvania has a rich history in the study of ornithology. Illustration of American sparrow hawk and field sparrow, drawn from nature by A. Wilson, engraved by A. Lawson. From American Ornithology.

By Nicola Steel-Bryan, on January 5, 2015
Camera Man

Camera Man

The enduring photographic legacy of Longwood gardener turned staff photographer Gottlieb Hampfler.

By Longwood Staff, on January 1, 2015
Make Your Own Edible Ornaments

Make Your Own Edible Ornaments

Learn how to make edible ornaments for your own backyard, then watch in wonder as birds and squirrels enjoy the treats throughout the winter. Photo by Steve Fellows.
By Abigail Palutis, on December 19, 2014
The Holiday Dish at 1906

The Holiday Dish at 1906

Even in winter the chefs at Longwood’s fine dining restaurant, 1906, bring fresh and seasonal flavors to our guests. The new menu just debuted, and Chef Will Brown and his team invite you to peek inside the kitchen to take a look at some irresistible selections. Follow the recipes we’ve provided and share some of 1906’s magic with your family this holiday. Photo by Erin McLaughlin.
By Erin McLaughlin, on December 18, 2014
Exploring the Global Garden: Vietnam
a green mountain with a city below

Exploring the Global Garden: Vietnam

A plant exploration team from Longwood recently spent three days climbing to the peak of Fan Si Pan Mountain, the highest peak in the Hoang Lien Mountain Range. One day soon you might find one of their delightful discoveries in our Gardens.

By Erin McLaughlin, on November 12, 2014
Mini Mum Magic

Mini Mum Magic

This fall, be sure to explore our Bonsai Display, where some of the best surprises of Chrysanthemum Festival come in small packages. Anemone Chrysanthemum x morifulium ‘Kotoi No Kaori’, photo by William Hill.

By Lincoln Proud, on November 7, 2014
A Culture of Chrysanthemums
A wide view of our chrysanthemum festival

A Culture of Chrysanthemums

This year, 230,000 chrysanthemum blooms fill our 4-acre Conservatory in forms of cascades, shields, spirals, pagodas and of course, our most impressive Thousand Bloom Mum yet, featuring 1,515 blooms.

By Erin McLaughlin, on October 29, 2014