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The Secret in Our Soil
A bulldozer moving a large pile of dirt.

The Secret in Our Soil

Whether compost is being used in our Gardens or in your garden, its benefits are numerous.

By Jourdan Cole, on June 21, 2023
Fellows in Horticulture
Two monarch butterflies on pink flowers underneather a blue sky.

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.

By Jourdan Cole, on June 14, 2023
The Singular Art of Kusamono
Two hands, one holding a wood dow and the other the base of a plant.

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.

By Katie Mobley, on June 7, 2023
Leading Around the World
A sunset image over a river with small boats and geese wading.

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.

By Amanda Hannah, Danny Cox, Ana Mena, Ryan Gott, Rae Vassar, and Rama Lopez-Rivera, on June 2, 2023
A Unique Opportunity
A close up of an organ console and keys.

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.

By Simon Johnson, on May 24, 2023
The Beauty of Bonsai Styles
a bonsai tree in a square pot

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.

By Kevin Bielicki, on May 17, 2023
How to Create an Ecologically Friendly Home Landscape
two bees on organce flowers

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.

By Pandora Young and Lea Johnson with Katie Mobley, on May 10, 2023
A Major Reimagined Moment
trees being planted in a construction site

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.

By Katie Mobley, on May 3, 2023
Stewardship Science: Testing Techniques to Benefit Biodiversity
a forest floor with many black pots of small trees lined up in a row

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.

By Lea Johnson and Kristie Lane Anderson, on April 26, 2023
Restoring Longwood’s Guardian Lions
a statue of a foo dog in front of topiary trees

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.

By David Sleasman, on April 19, 2023
A Beautiful Relationship, A Groundbreaking Performance
a close up shot of a musical instrument with keys and strings

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.

By Katie Mobley, on April 12, 2023
Classic Spring Beauties with a Twist
a close up image of pink and white hydrangea blooms

Classic Spring Beauties with a Twist

Through April, classic spring plants such as hydrangeas, azaleas, and fuchsias bloom indoors in new and exciting varieties.

By Jourdan Cole, on April 5, 2023
Meet the Bright Young Talents of the 2023 Organ Competition
a close up of organ keys

Meet the Bright Young Talents of the 2023 Organ Competition

We are thrilled to soon be welcoming 10 of the brightest young organists from around the globe for our 2023 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition.

By Katie Mobley, on March 29, 2023
A Day in the Life of an International Intern
a person in a tan jacket working with leaves of a potted plant

A Day in the Life of an International Intern

Leaving home for the first time to travel to a different part of the world, to come to Longwood as part of the International Internship & Training Program, was a hard choice for me, but the right choice for my career, and a way in which I could experience a culture of kindness and inclusion.

By Siphesihle Sibiya, on March 22, 2023
A Taste of Camellias
A pink camellia flower in bloom with many green leaves around it

A Taste of Camellias

Most of our indoor camellias have wrapped up their flowering for the year, but those that are still in bloom give a hint of the camellias planted in the outdoor gardens, and also hint at our behind-the-scenes breeding work with this group of plants.

By Anthony S. Aiello, on March 15, 2023
A Trip to Italy, Inspired by Longwood Reimagined
a group of people standing behind a table of poinsettias smiling at the camera

A Trip to Italy, Inspired by Longwood Reimagined

We are proud to represent our Professional Horticulture Program classmates in leading the planning and preparation for the class of 2023 trip to Italy, taking place in late May.

By Faith Redcay, Ben Helde, and Elizabeth Ciskanik, on March 9, 2023
Resilience, Roots, and Relevancy
pink flowers in front with a blurry background

Resilience, Roots, and Relevancy

At Longwood, our growing knowledge of horticulture is constantly expanded on by our staff, students, and fellow horticulturists—and as this year’s Today’s Horticulture Symposium hosted by the Professional Horticulture Alumni Association showed, horticulture is a practice of resilience, of roots, and of relevancy.

By Jourdan Cole, on March 6, 2023
Community Read: A Conversation with Author Bryant Terry
a close up image of okra growing in a garden

Community Read: A Conversation with Author Bryant Terry

Over the ten years of Community Read, our program goals haven’t changed; we want to inspire generations to read, think, and engage with authors and their writing … plus, the more than 200 events in the community that explore the books each year help keep the conversation going.

By Brittany Long, on March 1, 2023
Sharing Our Underground Railroad Connection
a cemetary with bright green grass, blue skies, and two large trees

Sharing Our Underground Railroad Connection

As we continue to immerse ourselves in the history of the cemetery and its place in southern Chester County past and present, we develop a deeper understanding of the mid-19th century context in which the cemetery and meeting house were founded, so that we can better share those stories.

By David Sleasman and Jennifer Fazekas, on February 22, 2023
Change and Adaptation, Designed
a person outdoor on a green grass trail overlooking a meadow

Change and Adaptation, Designed

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 theme of change and adaptation.

By Kyle Post, Allison Edmonds, and Kinga Obartuch, on February 15, 2023