Longwood Gardens Wow all Year, but Especially at Christmas

Nobody does Christmas like Longwood Gardens, the famous public garden near Wilmington, Delaware. Their 4.5 acres of greenhouse are dolled-up for the holidays, and outdoors, over a half million lights make for a grand show. PLUS, there are performances – by ice skaters and by multi-colored “dancing” fountains (to quote their website).

Just a few days ago, the happy bunch below left from Behnkes via tour bus to spend the day visiting Longwood – thanks to Cheval’s 2nd Act (a garden tour service) and Washington Gardener Magazine. Feast your eyes on the sights in this small selection of photos from their visit.

Below, some very clever trees constructed entirely from succulents (left and center) and bromeliads. Awesome!

Below, part of the permanent display of gray and silver foliage plants in the West Conservatory.

Finally, these outdoor scenes are lovely but they don’t even hint at the drama that comes after nightfall.

Photo credits: Top two courtesy Longwood Gardens; all the rest thanks to Stephanie Fleming.

Stephanie Fleming

Stephanie Fleming was raised at Behnke’s Nurseries in Beltsville. Her Mom, Sonja, was one of Albert & Rose Behnke’s four children. She was weeding from the moment she could walk and hiding as soon as she was old enough to run, so many weeds, so little time. Although she quickly learned how to pull out a perennial and get taken off of weed pulling duty.

Longwood Gardens

This Post Has One Comment

JAN WILLIAMS says:

December 19, 2011 at 7:31 pm

Photos are wonderful. I had hoped to go on the bus trip but my friend got ill — and I did not want to go alone. Thank you for the photos — just wish there were more–beautiful job. I will go next year alone or not — but I do want to see the nite lites and the skaters. Every season of the year Longwood has something spectacular.
Thanks again. JanMarie

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