| When we think of Botanical Gardens, we usually | | | | the room, you'll pass a fantasy tree called |
| don't think of winter. But in reality, Christmas is | | | | "Shimmering Elegance" adorned with peacock |
| one of the better times of year to visit | | | | feathers and clusters of clear glass ornaments |
| Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. From | | | | that look like bubbles. |
| the end of November through the beginning of | | | | The narrow Arcadia passage running alongside the |
| January, Longwood Gardens hosts a series of | | | | Silver Garden is hung with giant "Kissing Balls" |
| events that fill the conservatory with Christmas | | | | made out of boxwood, lilies and salal leaves. They |
| Organ Concerts, Organ Sing-alongs, Carillon | | | | look like big orbs of mistletoe. You'll see holiday |
| Concerts, Chorals and Handbells, Strolling | | | | wreaths made of orchids, begonias, poinsettia, and |
| Performers and visits from Santa. And if you can | | | | bromeliads. In the chilly Grapery, with its dormant |
| brave the winter chill, you will see a delightful | | | | grape vines, the ceiling is hung with a huge wreath |
| colored Fountain Display with holiday music every | | | | made out of preserved taxus (yews) and clusters |
| half hour. At dark, Longwood turns on their | | | | of grape lights. |
| beautiful outdoor light display; shimmering stars | | | | The huge exhibition hall features a revolving |
| seem to hover high above the ground, and trees | | | | 22-foot tall Douglas fir standing inside a circle of |
| glisten with over 400,000 colored lights that turn | | | | 200 water jets. The tree is decorated with red |
| the gardens into a wonderland. | | | | ornaments and silver icicles that create a lovely |
| Longwood Gardens is the creation of Pierre du | | | | complement to the red begonia topiary trees that |
| Pont, industrialist, philanthropist, and | | | | surround it. Other decorated trees crop up |
| conservationist, who purchased the property in | | | | throughout the conservatory, decorated by local |
| 1906. The site was already known for its fine | | | | floral designers. Twenty-two little fir trees line the |
| collection of trees, and du Pont had every | | | | greenhouses that shelter the starter plants, each |
| intention of preserving the trees and creating a | | | | one decorated by a local elementary school. |
| beautiful garden for his family and posterity. | | | | As you leave the humid comfort of the |
| Longwood Gardens expands its commitment to | | | | conservatory, you will pass beautiful light displays |
| the public with extensive ongoing renovation | | | | on the way to the Pierce-du Pont House. The |
| projects and a continuing education curriculum in | | | | 5-acre Main Fountain Garden is hung with |
| Gardening, Botany, Horticulture, Landscape | | | | thousands of tiny brilliant blue LED lights, including a |
| Architecture, Floral Design, and much more. | | | | tall blue spruce sporting glittering snowflake |
| The garden's four acres of heated greenhouses | | | | ornaments. You'll pass through a row of lights |
| contain 20 indoor gardens that manage to | | | | shaped like a lilac garden, cheerful |
| integrate holiday cheer with settings most of us | | | | green-and-yellow Witch Hazel and Daffodil displays |
| wouldn't necessarily associate with Christmas. | | | | and alongside graceful alleys of trees. The hanging |
| Imagine a tropical rainforest that hosts a miniature | | | | stars and icicles tower over your head before |
| choo-choo train running on elevated timber tracks | | | | you are greeted with a beautiful Wildlife Tree |
| and carrying tiny clay pots and holiday | | | | decorated with edible icicles made of raisins and |
| decorations. In the Silver Garden full of cacti and | | | | red millet strands, suet bags and citrus cups filled |
| aloe and sand, you'll find a huge living wreath | | | | with bird-seed, dried flowers and Indian corn for |
| composed of succulent plants. On the way out of | | | | wildlife winter treats. |