Mid-November isn't the ideal time to tour an East Coast garden, especially during that transitional period between vibrant fall color and the twinkling holiday lights. Everything is brown and grey. But we gardeners love gardens and we will go when we get the chance!

photos by Erin Mahaney

While visiting family in Maryland, my brother asked if I wanted to tour Longwood Gardens in nearby Pennsylvania and I jumped at the opportunity. Longwood Gardens is a public garden that was developed by Pierre du Pont and opened in 1921. (https://longwoodgardens.org.) It now covers more than 1,100 acres, including Conservatory gardens, fountains, meadows, formal and informal gardens, treehouses, and more. In this short blog, I cannot begin to describe the history and grounds, but, rest assured, there is much to explore!

During our visit, it was chilly and overcast, so we focused on touring the indoor Conservatories and exhibits while quickly strolling a portion of the outside grounds. The outside gardens bustled with equipment and activity as the workers set up the holiday lights and decorations. I could only imagine how festive and spectacular it would be once they were finished!

We were fortunate to arrive for the opening of the new 32,000-square-foot West Conservatory, which features interior Mediterranean-inspired gardens set amid pools and fountains. While many of the plants are familiar to us in California, I imagine it would be a completely different experience for those on the East Coast. Plus, pools, fountains, and soaring steel columns can make even the mundane plants seem even more beautiful and exotic. One of my favorite displays was the succulent towers. Gorgeous!

The older East Conservatory covers over half an acre, with the lush, established plantings, fountains, and pools that you might expect from a traditional conservatory. I was impressed by, and a little bit jealous of, the multiple hanging baskets of Streptocarpus ‘Concord Blue'. I own and love this houseplant, but my leggy, slightly scruffy, lopsided plant isn't nearly as impressive as the full, symmetrical, hanging baskets at Longwood!

One of the highlights was the outdoor Bonsai Courtyard. I certainly don't have the patience for Bonsai, but I appreciate the effort and artistry that underlies the craft. My favorite was a tiny pomegranate with a full-sized fruit, which began “training” in 1910!

Perhaps on another visit, I can see the gardens when they are growing and blooming. Nonetheless, we had a wonderful time strolling inside the Conservatories and briskly walking around the grounds.