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Image courtesy Longwood Gardens
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Image courtesy Longwood Gardens
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Image courtesy Longwood Gardens
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Image courtesy Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square is a sight to behold for both young and old. Situated on approximately 1,077 acres, the vast horticultural display includes a collection of glorious gardens, canopied woodlands, and lush meadows. The 4.5-acre conservatory alone is a photographer’s dream, with its abundant natural light and 20 indoor gardens showcasing 5,500 types of plants. To encourage budding little horticulturists, Longwood offers a space where kids can explore to their hearts’ content. The children’s garden features secret stairways, sculptures, and scavenger hunts to make learning fun.
Approximately 1.35 million people flock to the area each year to enjoy the breathtaking displays, which vary according to season, from the phenomenal orchid extravaganza in the spring to the colorful chrysanthemum festival in the fall. The annual Christmas display brightens even the darkest days of winter with half a million outdoor lights, a panoply of Poinsettias, and oversized trees dripping with elegant ornaments. And for those who have yet to visit during the summer months, Longwood is now offering an extra-special treat.
The Crown Jewel of Longwood
Just last May, Longwood Gardens wrapped up its most prodigious project to date—an extensive, $90 million Main Fountain renovation.
Longwood’s Main Fountain Garden is said to rival the fountains of Europe with its beauty and use of leading-edge technology and design. The renovation included the complete restoration of the limestone fountains, the creation of a new mechanical and electrical infrastructure, and much more.
Paul B. Redman, Longwood Gardens’ president and CEO, calls the project the most extensive and complex garden revitalization and fountain preservation of its kind in the United States. “The revitalization of our iconic Main Fountain Garden is the largest project in Longwood’s history since the passing of our founder Pierre S. duPont in 1954. Sharing it with our guests is incredibly exciting,” says Redman.
Expanding on duPont’s Vision
The Main Fountain Garden is an Italian-Renaissance-inspired expanse constructed on five acres featuring loggias, arches, and decorative sculptures. Guests can climb stairs or summon an elevator to access the Fountain Overlook, where they can take in magnificent views of the property. Patricia Evans, director of communications, says that the revitalization allowed for increased accessibility with the installation of approximately 5,700 feet of new paths. “We added architectural lighting so that guests can enjoy the gardens at night as well,” says Evans. A new Pumphouse Plaza provides guests with café-style seating for relaxing amidst the fountains and enjoying a beverage or a bite. Those seeking respite in a quiet, contemplative space can retire to a hidden grotto inspired by duPont’s European travels. The new grotto features a cylindrical curtain of trickling water and is located behind the archways of the loggia.
A new museum exhibit is housed in a separate area nearby and allows guests to inspect the original 18 pumps and mechanical systems that powered the fountains from 1931 to 2014.
A Soaring New Show
Beginning on May 7, 2018, and continuing through September 30, guests can enjoy spectacular fountain shows choreographed to classical, patriotic, and popular music. Spectators can thrill to arcing jets of colorful, dancing water illuminated from behind by a new lighting system. A total of 1,719 jets have been called into service to awe and amaze as they shoot water up to the heavens, as far as 175 feet. A crowd-pleasing highlight that inevitably elicits “oohs and ahhs” involves flickering flames that seem to do the fandango atop the soaring jets of water, thanks to propane and a proprietary German technology exclusive to Longwood.
Attracting Record Crowds
Longwood Gardens, already known as one of the most-visited public gardens in America, broke its own attendance record last year, attracting a total of 1,530,237 visitors—an increase of nearly 15.7 percent over the previous year. Redman says that with those numbers comes responsibility to continue on the path envisioned by duPont. “We are thrilled to achieve this record attendance but are ever mindful of the role we play in our community and in our world beyond the numbers—providing a place of beauty, a place of learning, and a place of legacy and stewardship. Our investment in the preservation of our historic Main Fountain Garden and our free virtual field trips offered to schools across the nation are just two examples of the diverse work we do to fulfill that mission,” he says.
Longwood Gardens
1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA
For more information, visit longwoodgardens.org.
