Spring has sprung in our Gardens, bursting with bright colors and fragrant blooms—and we continue to enjoy the season with you. In this edition of Member eNews, read on for an exciting update on the Longwood Reimagined project, upcoming walks and talks in the Gardens in celebration of Pennsylvania Native Species Day, the next installment of our Science Series, and more!
Spring is an extremely popular time to visit our Gardens. So that we may provide an extraordinary experience for you, Members require timed reservations Wednesday–Monday (closed Tuesday) from open to close throughout Spring Blooms (now–May 5), except for Gardens Premium Members.
Looking to visit early in the day? Enjoy a special morning hour for Members from 9–10 am every Saturday and Sunday throughout Spring Blooms. Timed Member reservations are still required during this morning hour for Members. Reservations are limited, so please plan ahead.
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Professional Horticulture Program Plant Sale |
Shop beautiful spring annuals and perennials, vegetables, and herbs grown by our Professional Horticulture students on May 2 and May 3 on the Visitor Center Patio. Proceeds from the sale benefit educational travel for students of the Professional Horticulture Program.
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Longwood Reimagined Continues |
It is a week of major horticultural happenings for Longwood Reimagined! We have begun planting more than 100,000 square feet of new meadow on the project site. This includes a combination of seeding with a meadow mix, planting 70,000 plugs of Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and laying fine fescue sod. In addition, we are planting an allée of 28 Accolade™ elm trees (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica ‘Morton’) that will continue the grand promenade that stretches from east to west in front of our conservatories. These vigorous-growing elms, which will reach 50 to 70 feet tall, were selected for their upright, arching branches, and glossy, dark green foliage that turns a brilliant yellow in fall. This variety also has good disease resistance, including to Dutch Elm disease. Perhaps even more exciting is that later this week we will install soil in the West Conservatory, all in preparation for planting the Mediterranean-inspired garden beginning next week! We will share more about our planting progress in our next Member eNews.
Want to learn more about this expansive project? Join Longwood staff for an upcoming Longwood Reimagined Member Talk on May 23 at 7 pm. Registration required, space limited.
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HAPPENINGS IN THE GARDENS
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Join Us for Pennsylvania Native Species Day! |
We’re proudly joining gardens across the state in recognizing the third annual Pennsylvania Native Species Day, which falls on May 16—but we’re celebrating on May 17 and 18 with a variety of walks and talks.
Established by the Pennsylvania Invasive Species Council in 2022, Pennsylvania Native Species Day seeks to celebrate the state’s diverse native species and increase Pennsylvanians’ understanding of the importance of protecting them against the proliferation of invasive species.
Can’t join one of our walks? You can find many beautiful native plants in our Meadow Garden, Forest Walk, and Peirce’s Woods.
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SATURDAYS ARE FOR SCIENCE!
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Our Science Series continues! Join us on Saturday, May 18 at 1 pm in the Visitor Center Auditorium as Soils and Compost Manager Erik Stefferud explores how compost serves as a sustainable, eco-friendly, cost-effective practice that not only closes the waste loop but also elevates the overall health and resilience of a garden. Delve into how compost production improves the circularity of the materials we generate here at Longwood and how it enriches our Gardens—and how it could enrich yours.
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If you are not able to attend (or would like to watch a previous event again!), enjoy these two recordings of previous Science Series events.
Watch as Associate Vice President of Science Kate Santos, Ph.D., explores Longwood’s recent science accomplishments, current research projects, and an outlook for the future. Santos explores how our approach weaves together horticulture, ecology, and agriculture with art, stewardship, conservation, and sustainability, offering us the unique opportunity to demonstrate—and share with you—how cultivation and nature can not only coexist, but thrive.
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Follow along as our Associate Director of Conservation Horticulture and Plant Breeding Peter Zale, Ph.D., details our recent expedition to study and document the flora of tropical east Africa in Tanzania. Along the way, learn how plant exploration helps to contribute to displays at Longwood, original scientific research, and global plant conservation efforts.
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Summer Members-only Hours |
Save the dates! Join us for a Members-only concert (including one for our younger guests), delight in an Illuminated Fountain Performance, and dine under the stars in our Beer Garden during our Members-only Hours.
Members’ guests are welcome but must be accompanied by a Member. Guests not included in a Membership require Gardens Admission. Complimentary Guest Tickets may be used on these evenings.
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Members are invited to join Longwood staff in the Visitor Center Auditorium for an introduction to our Gardens and discover all your Membership has to offer. Learn more about your Member benefits, visiting tips, and the history of Longwood. Afterward, enjoy a fun Gardens activity!
Register >
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| Festival of Fountains
May 9—October 27
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Get ready to rediscover summer. Celebrate the season of vibrant hues, sunny days, dancing fountains, and starlit evenings—all here at Longwood.
Timed reservations are required for Members after 3 pm Thursdays–Saturdays. Reservations not required for Gardens Premium Members and Innovators.
Plan Your Visit >
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The Café and 1906 are now open! Enjoy a full-service dining experience at 1906, advance reservations recommended. Or visit The Café for delicious grab-and-go options made fresh in-house for the whole family, no reservations required.
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