Longwood Gardens

Flower & Garden Magazine, Nov-Dec, 1998

Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania celebrates the holidays in its own garden style. Thousands of poinsettias accented with tulips, narcissi, cyclamens, and many other flowers flourish inside the conservatory's crystal palace. Lavish decorations, including swags of exotic plants and living wreaths, festoon 20 garden rooms. The Conservatory Music Room features a Home for The Holidays tableau depicting a happy gathering of family and friends for a lavish holiday party. A 16-foot Douglas fir decorated in traditional red, green and gold slowly rotates amidst the festivities of arriving guests and holiday preparations.

Longwood works its garden magic outdoors, too, conjuring up topiary reindeer and fountains dancing to holiday music. After dark, huge starry snowflakes seem to fall from the sky, as 400,000 tiny lights glow in the trees. The wildlife have their own Christmas tree hung with edible ornaments near the Peirce-du Pont House, which is also decorated for the season.

DIRECTIONS

Longwood Gardens is located on U.S. Route 1, three miles northeast of Kennett Square and 30 miles west of Philadelphia in the historic Brandywine Valley.

The outdoor gardens and conservatory open at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively, and both close at 9 p.m. from Nov. 27 through Jan. 4. Admission prices are $12 for adults ($8 on Tuesdays), $6 ages 16-20, $2 ages 6-15, and free for children under the age of 6. For information call 610-388-1000.