Longwood Gardens

I recently attended our Longwood Graduate school program 45th reunion at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The 2 year Masters Degree program takes 5 students yearly and offers a full scholarship provided by the DuPont family. Students have a 3 week overseas garden experience as part of the program. The gardens are world famous and cover 1050 acres featuring gardens, greenhouses, woodlands and meadows. The property has a long history with the Pierce house dating to 1730. Pierre DuPont purchased the property in 1906 and expanded gardens and greenhouses through his death in 1954. The present greenhouse complex covers over 5 acres of land and offers spectacular seasonal displays throughout the year. Some of the green house uses go back to the old days including the cut flower indoor rose garden, estate fruit garden featuring oranges, banana house, orchid house and main conservatory. Newer gardens include the silver garden, indoor children’s, garden, palm house, Mediterranean garden, fern passage, cascade garden and the cactus house. The huge pipe organ, ball room and music room adjoin the main conservatory.

The outside gardens include the main fountain garden which features some water jets that shoot water 130 feet in the air. Color lights and music add to this spectacular display garden. The fountains are on display during the evening hours in summer. Exterior gardens include the Italian water garden, flower garden walk, topiary garden, open air theatre, idea garden, water lily display garden, and Pierces woods featuring huge old trees dating back over 200 years. Visit http://www.longwoodgarden.org/ to see more of these unbelievable gardens.