Wednesday, December 30, 2015

A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal - Part One

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A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

My husband planned a birthday surprise for me that included a trip to Longwood Gardens! Well, it was going to be a surprise, but because it also involved an overnight stay in Lancaster and required reservations, he did tell me where we were going before we packed up and left. Anyway, seeing Longwood Gardens - and their Christmas season light display - has been on my bucket list for awhile, so it was a great birthday gift. We arrived at Longwood in the early afternoon, so we spent the first part of our day largely in the conservatory and saved most of the outdoor walking for later on when the lights started coming on.

The topiary garden is not open to walk through at this time, but can still be viewed over the hedge.

Topiary Garden - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Topiary Garden - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

The conservatory is huge and I would have been hopelessly lost if left on my own! The entrance features fountains and was decked out for the holidays.

Conservatory - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Conservatory - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Poinsettias, cyclamen, paper-whites and other flowers associated with the season are prominently featured.

Poinsettias - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Poinsettias - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Poinsettias - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

In this section, outside the music room, poinsettia 'trees' seem to be floating in a fountain pool.

Poinsettias - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

The music room window is open to that section too. What a view!

Music Room - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Not everything is Christmas-y, although every section featured at least one "Christmas tree" designed with different plants. We enjoyed so many different flowers and plants, including lilies, ferns, cacti, succulents, roses, hibiscus, and too many others to name.

Lilies - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Ferns - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Succulent Plants display - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Christmas 'tree' of silver plants - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Christmas 'tree' in Mediterranean plant display - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

So many variations on the orchid theme!

Orchids - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

And the bonsai were fascinating.

Bonsai - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Bonsai - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Bonsai - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

After the conservatory, we took a hot chocolate break and then went to the train garden. We found Thomas the Tank Engine and his friend Percy being very useful engines.

Train Garden - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Train garden -A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

We climbed up into one of the treehouses for a birds-eye view of some of the grounds.

treehouse - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

Christmas tree in the birdhouse treehouse - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

And toured the DuPont family's home. 

DuPont home, kitchen - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com

It was so warm inside the house, with so many people there and we had to either wear or carry our coats, so we didn't linger. We headed over the musical fountain display next and by that time the lights all over the park were just starting to come on. I'll save those pictures for another post!

Rose - A Longwood Gardens PhotoJournal, Part One on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com
This post is linked up at Chestnut Grove Academy's Friday Field Trip Blog Hop.
Chestnut Grove Academy Field Trip Friday Blog Hop

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3 comments:

Tea said...

Thanks for sharing your trip. I have never heard of Longwood Gardens. It looks like a fabulous exhibit.

Annette said...

that would be SO MUCH FUN to walk through. Would be lovely to go. :)

I am located here (not where google will send you)
http://anetintimeschooling.weebly.com/a-net-in-time-blog

Chestnut Grove Academy said...

you got some great shots! Thanks for sharing at FTF!

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