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Home for the Holidays
a pink tricycle with a green bowl on it and wrapped presents in the background

Home for the Holidays

Our Christmas display is one rooted not only in beauty, but also in a spirit of giving that has resonated here at Longwood for the last century … and, to us, that spirit can be warmly felt in each lovingly placed ornament to each impeccably grown flower showcased throughout this year’s display.

By Gillian Hayward, on December 23, 2020
How to Photograph Holiday Lights

How to Photograph Holiday Lights

Whether you’re using a smartphone or a DSLR/camera, follow along as I share some tips on how to take fantastic photos of Christmas lights during your Longwood visit.

By Becca Mathias, on December 16, 2020
The Poinsettia: An Evolving Tradition

The Poinsettia: An Evolving Tradition

The poinsettia is an iconic holiday plant with an interesting history that, despite being notoriously difficult to grow, we’ve woven into many facets of this year’s Christmas display, grown in shapes and sizes found nowhere else on Earth.

By Betsy Beltz, on December 9, 2020
Christmas Tree Decorating, by Design

Christmas Tree Decorating, by Design

Decorating a tree is not only a cherished holiday tradition, but a practice that is rooted in design and one meant to evoke a feeling of warmth and cheer.

By April Bevans, on December 2, 2020
A Longwood Christmas Cheer is Here

A Longwood Christmas Cheer is Here

While it’s been a year full of challenges, it’s also been one of hope and resilience … and it was exceedingly important that a spirit of cheer shine through in each and every aspect of this year’s A Longwood Christmas display.

By Jim Sutton, Display Designer, on November 25, 2020
Holiday Baking at Home Sweet Home

Holiday Baking at Home Sweet Home

As the executive chef here at Longwood, I thought it would be a great time to share not one, but two, desserts that are sure to make the holiday season even sweeter.

By Executive Chef Will Brown, on November 18, 2020
Growing for Good
a plot of plant harvest

Growing for Good

This growing season, Longwood joined the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in their new program, Harvest 2020. An initiative designed to help address the 11 percent of households in the Greater Philadelphia region that are food insecure and unable to access healthy, fresh food on a daily basis.

By Nicole Krom and Alex Correia, on November 11, 2020
The Show Must Go On

The Show Must Go On

Here at Longwood, we always look forward to our annual Chrysanthemum Festival for so many reasons … it’s a chance for us not only to put on a colorful show of rare and beloved cultivars, but also a way for us to stretch our horticultural limits and proudly share with you the fruits of that labor.

By Jim Sutton, Display Designer, on October 28, 2020
The Art of Heart
a bronze statue of two goats surrounded by greenery and trees

The Art of Heart

We are so pleased to welcome a new addition to our Idea Garden—an intricately detailed, beautifully realistic life-sized bronze sculpture by celebrated Brandywine Valley artist André Harvey (1941–2018).

By Katie Mobley, on October 21, 2020
Fall is for Foliage
yellow, pink, green, and red fall foliage overlooks a small lake

Fall is for Foliage

Determining peak timing is not as easy as one may think … when it comes down to it, the timing depends on the weather leading up to the fall months and, as we all know, the weather can be unpredictable.

By Tyler Altenburger, on October 14, 2020
Full Steam Ahead

Full Steam Ahead

Each fall, a multi-departmental team made up of members of our Horticulture, Facilities, and Guest Services departments together achieve the not-so-small-feat of creating this multi-level world in miniature.

By Katie Mobley, on October 7, 2020
Fighting Fire in the Face of a Pandemic
image of a Longwood crew member walking away from a cleared forest fire area

Fighting Fire in the Face of a Pandemic

As Longwood’s Land Stewardship Operations Manager, a Chester County forest fire warden and first responder, and a wildland firefighter, it’s my absolute honor to protect the landscape.

By Erik Stefferud, on September 30, 2020
A Meadow is a Moment in Time
a large field with tall, golden wild grasses and rolling hills in the background

A Meadow is a Moment in Time

A meadow is a moment in time, like the shape of a cloud or cherry blossoms in the spring. A meadow is ephemeral.

By Lea Johnson, on September 23, 2020
A Chenille Plant Journey
chenille plant's pink cascading flower clusters

A Chenille Plant Journey

Chenille plant is native to tropical Papua New Guinea, and according to our plant records it has been grown at Longwood since at least 1957.

By Gillian Hayward, on September 16, 2020
Getting Started with Seed Saving
vegetable plant getting cut from stem

Getting Started with Seed Saving

Getting started with seed saving can be easy if you select good beginner crops and learn some basics about plant breeding.

By Alex Correia, on September 9, 2020
A Very Lucky Rabbit’s-Foot
a large hanging fern basket suspends from the ceiling of a greenhouse

A Very Lucky Rabbit’s-Foot

This hard-to-miss green giant hangs in the center of the Tropical Terrace and measures a sprawling 9.5 feet in diameter.

By Gillian Hayward, on September 2, 2020
Getting to Know Plants by Name
a silver sage plant planted in a bed of brown mulch

Getting to Know Plants by Name

Names, in general, allow us to make an association with an object, living or not, and are a basic facet of our everyday life. In the world of biology, living things have scientific names … and plants are no exception.

By Kristina Aguilar, on August 26, 2020
Our New Combination Garden
a pathway lined with lush summer grasses

Our New Combination Garden

We have transformed part of the Idea Garden into our new Combination Garden, an intimate and exuberant mix of woody, herbaceous, and seasonal plants, all layered into one dynamic space just next to our Main Fountain Garden.

By Judy Stevenson, on August 19, 2020
The Season (and Reason) for Native Plants
a yellow and black striped caterpillar crawling up the stem of a wild flower

The Season (and Reason) for Native Plants

Flowers of countless garden favorites abound this time of year and among them are several of our most cherished, useful, unusual, and rare native plants.

By Peter Zale, on August 10, 2020
A Musical Score for a Time of Hope
a wall of fountains that glow colors of green, blue, purple, and pink

A Musical Score for a Time of Hope

The voices of my colleagues are really needed more than ever. And with technology, we can have this much needed contact and support.

By Tim Martin, on August 3, 2020