Longwood Gardens Outdoor light display (by Daniel Traub)
I’m busy sprucing up the ol’ homestead for my holiday party and putting the finishing touches on my winter solstice decorations. As I was hanging festive lanterns in the denuded winter garden—which is empty of greenery save for the holly, the yew, and the hellebores—my minded drifted off to my favorite formal garden. Back when I was a sullen adolescent, my family would frequently visit the princely Longwood Gardens, a summer estate of the inhumanly rich Dupont family, monopolists who controlled a world-spanning empire of industrial chemicals. Although the Duponts are probably busy to this day despoiling things and making cheap indispensable products, they have long since turned over their formal gardens to a trust which runs them for the public benefit. Longwood Gardens are, weirdly, located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, “the Mushroom Capital of the World!” You can visit them any time (during business hours) if you have the fortitude to head to Pennsylvania.
Longwood Gardens Christmas
Anyway, looking at the wintry ruins of my own garden, I wondered whether Longwood Gardens escapes the ravages of the season, and, if so, how? Well, as you have probably guessed from the pictures, the professionals at Longwood have an exquisite winter garden! They landscape outside with conifers, topiaries, and lights. Inside their acres of climate controlled greenhouses, they are free to run wild and create whatever horticultural extravagances they can devise. So, as a holiday treat, check out these exquisite garden photos! Um, in my own garden, I put up some sparkly ornaments…and the holly really does look pretty. I guess we’ll get back to all of the other plants in spring…
I mean, yeah, that’s great and all…if exquisite views of an otherworldly paradise is your thing, but can they make chocolate pie with whipped topping? Happy winter solstice!
ferrebeekeeper 
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December 23, 2014 at 6:39 AM
Paul
As a Delaware resident for many years, an annual trip to Longwood Gardens was a must. Another local highlight is a drive through the Herr potato chip factory site in Nottingham PA. They do a great holiday light display every year.
As an aside, the du Pont family and the DuPont Co. have little influence in the area anymore. The Co. has shrunk to a shell of its former self as it has shed businesses over the last few years.
December 23, 2014 at 2:13 PM
Wayne
They have morphed into the uncharmingly named “E I Du Pont De Nemours And Co” but their stock is at an all-time high. They must have mastered outsourcing!
I wish I could make it over to Longwood Gardens myself. Maybe I can sweet talk a driver into a trip down the coast.