The Outdoor Gardens at Longwood

9/8/13

one of many outdoor gardens

     Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, the site of the former home of the du Ponts, has 1,077 acres of outdoor gardens.  Not only are there many different gardens, but also lakes, waterfalls and magnificent fountains.  I took the following photos on my recent visit there.

hardy begonias and coleus

     This path leads to the flower garden walk.  The flower garden walk has several gardens each displaying flowers of one color.

the red garden

the orange garden

the yellow garden

    

There are many small, enclosed gardens.

one of the lakes in the gardens

The topiary garden figures are all clipped evergreens.

the water lily pool

There are several experimental/trial gardens.

Main Fountain garden

     Several water gardens dot the landscape.  The Main Fountain Garden shoots 10,000 gallons of water a minute, and nighttime shows illuminate the water in every imaginable color.

Italian Water Garden

     The Italian Water Garden was my favorite.  It is based on the Villa Gambria near Florence, Italy.

student exhibition gardens

     Longwood has great influence on American horticulture through its educational programs.  For the past thirty years, as many as 5,000 students have attended classes for amateur and professional gardeners and nurserymen.  In addition, since 1958, students from all over the world have participated in one or more of the seven intensive programs from internships to a two-year professional gardener training program to a master's degree in public horticulture administration.