I’m going to do a couple of Longwood Gardens posts as it really is too much to squish into one post.

Longwood is really huge – over 1000 acres. We were there for 6 hours and didn’t see the whole thing.  It was founded by Pierre Dupont and was designed as sort of a horticultural and cultural experience. Not only are there the gardens and learning centers, but there is a stage for performances.

Upon entry:

It was quite sunny that day. Not the greatest for taking pictures as the colors get washed out. Cloudy days are best for photography, but at least it wasn’t raining!  Early morning sun as I was pretty much banging on the gate when they opened 🙂

The gardens are divided into sections or groupings and there is always something in bloom. Clematis was all over the place:

This was along the Flower Walk:

I really got some great ideas for plantings and new things to try.  This is datura.

It’s actually a poisonous plant, so you pretty much have to grow it from seed. There are a lot of colors available, too.

.Right now is the Festival of Fountains. There are a lot of water features around the gardens.

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I wish I noted the tag on that flower. It looks like kind of like celosia or maybe amaranth, but I’m not sure.

Topiary garden:

They didn’t come to life a la The Shining, thank goodness.

Italian water garden:

This was lovely. You weren’t allowed out there in the fountain area, which is probably a good thing. People tend to ruin stuff, you know?

Then there is the main fountain area:

The Conservatory (my favorite thing) is that big building in the back. We are standing on a walkway between these fountains and the larger ones:

The fountains put on periodic shows that are set to music throughout the day. It was fun to be this close to them.

The rose garden:

I love pretty much any flower, but I have a special fondness for roses.

I wish I had the patience for tea roses, but they are so fussy and need too many chemicals for me to bother with. I’ll just enjoy the work other people put in and stick to my floribundas.

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Last rose shot:

That’s enough for today. If you ever are going near Philadelphia, you need to check this place out. Doesn’t matter if it is in the winter as they have the whole conservatory blooming then.