Decorate your house with flowers


 

Christmas at Longwood Gardens

When we think of Botanical Gardens, wefantasy tree called "Shimmering Elegance"
usually don't think of winter. But inadorned with peacock feathers and clusters of
reality, Christmas is one of the better timesclear glass ornaments that look like bubbles.
of year to visit Longwood Gardens in Kennett
Square, PA. From the end of November throughThe narrow Arcadia passage running alongside
the beginning of January, Longwood Gardensthe Silver Garden is hung with giant "Kissing
hosts a series of events that fill theBalls" made out of boxwood, lilies and salal
conservatory with Christmas Organ Concerts,leaves. They look like big orbs of
Organ Sing-alongs, Carillon Concerts, Choralsmistletoe. You'll see holiday wreaths made
and Handbells, Strolling Performers andof orchids, begonias, poinsettia, and
visits from Santa. And if you can brave thebromeliads. In the chilly Grapery, with its
winter chill, you will see a delightfuldormant grape vines, the ceiling is hung with
colored Fountain Display with holiday musica huge wreath made out of preserved taxus
every half hour. At dark, Longwood turns on(yews)  and  clusters  of  grape  lights.
their beautiful outdoor light display;
shimmering stars seem to hover high above theThe huge exhibition hall features a revolving
ground, and trees glisten with over 400,00022-foot tall Douglas fir standing inside a
colored lights that turn the gardens into acircle of 200 water jets. The tree is
wonderland.decorated with red ornaments and silver
icicles that create a lovely complement to
Longwood Gardens is the creation of Pierre duthe red begonia topiary trees that surround
Pont, industrialist, philanthropist, andit. Other decorated trees crop up throughout
conservationist, who purchased the propertythe conservatory, decorated by local floral
in 1906. The site was already known for itsdesigners. Twenty-two little fir trees line
fine collection of trees, and du Pont hadthe greenhouses that shelter the starter
every intention of preserving the trees andplants, each one decorated by a local
creating a beautiful garden for his familyelementary  school.
and posterity. Longwood Gardens expands its
commitment to the public with extensiveAs you leave the humid comfort of the
ongoing renovation projects and a continuingconservatory, you will pass beautiful light
education curriculum in Gardening, Botany,displays on the way to the Pierce-du Pont
Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, FloralHouse. The 5-acre Main Fountain Garden is
Design,  and  much  more.hung with thousands of tiny brilliant blue
LED lights, including a tall blue spruce
The garden's four acres of heated greenhousessporting glittering snowflake ornaments.
contain 20 indoor gardens that manage toYou'll pass through a row of lights shaped
integrate holiday cheer with settings most oflike a lilac garden, cheerful
us wouldn't necessarily associate withgreen-and-yellow Witch Hazel and Daffodil
Christmas. Imagine a tropical rainforestdisplays and alongside graceful alleys of
that hosts a miniature choo-choo traintrees. The hanging stars and icicles tower
running on elevated timber tracks andover your head before you are greeted with a
carrying tiny clay pots and holidaybeautiful Wildlife Tree decorated with edible
decorations. In the Silver Garden full oficicles made of raisins and red millet
cacti and aloe and sand, you'll find a hugestrands, suet bags and citrus cups filled
living wreath composed of succulent plants.with bird-seed, dried flowers and Indian corn
On the way out of the room, you'll pass afor wildlife winter treats.



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