Autumn at Longwood Gardens

For Christmas last year, J got us a membership to Longwood Gardens. We're nearing the end of our membership year and decided to pop in again to see what was going on at this time of year (we do plan to renew). I am always amazed at how different the place looks depending on the season. The last time we were there, a month or two ago, it was really hot and pretty uncomfortable walking around in the sun. This time, I was taking it all in and reluctant to go indoors as outdoor time is now limited. I won't share all 92 pictures I took, but I would like to share two highlights - the borders on the Flower Garden Walk, which are always tremendously well done, and some autumnal shots.

Flower Garden Walk Borders
The plants on the Flower Garden Walk change with the seasons. They are added and removed and though it's not realistic, everything always looks amazing and nothing is dying (because dying plants are removed!). There are blocks of colors - blues and purples at first, then pinks and reds, oranges and yellows, and ending with white. I always find a plant or ten that I NEED RIGHT NOW in this section of Longwood.

Presented without many comments, as I didn't write down the names of most of the plants:

The purple plant, Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha) is one of my MUST HAVEs

This is by the vegetable gardens on the other side of Longwood

Autumn's show
In the spirit of stopping to look around and enjoy what is around me, I did my best to appreciate the bounty that autumn has to offer.

Sourwood

Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra 'Laciniata')

Isn't it all so beautiful? Happy autumn!

Orchid Orbs

J and I visited Longwood's Orchid Extravaganza yesterday. It was a dull gray winter day and I needed to see and touch some living things. It was also one of the few Beyond the Garden Gates days, so we got to go behind the scenes and see some interesting parts of the Conservatory that we have not been allowed in before. Those pictures are for another day, though. For now - the magnificent orbs and other shapes that were skillfully made of orchids:

Orchid orbs hanging from the ceiling

Creating an orchid orb demonstration

Demonstration materials. Can I have one?

Orchid cone hanging from the ceiling

An arch made of orchids

Closeup of the arch

A Longwood Christmas - Trees

Though Christmas has thankfully been over for a month now, the memories of the beautiful displays at Longwood Gardens still linger. Hosting family at my house for the holiday left me no time for any relaxation - until they left. So on New Year's Eve, J and I decided to use our brand new memberships to check out their Christmas display before it was removed for the year. The folks at Longwood do a phenomenal job with their gorgeous display of lights and plants used in creative ways. We assumed that the place would be deserted but it was packed. Doesn't anyone go to New Year's parties anymore?

It's hard to take pictures there because there are so many people doing the same and you don't want a random stranger in your photo, but here are some of the shots I snagged of the myriad Christmas trees around the gardens.

Outside:

Enormous outdoor tree decorated for Christmas

Staff decorate this tree with edibles for birds and animals

Inside (in the Conservatory):

A trifecta of Christmas trees

I think the docent said there were 3,500 decorations on this tree

Poinsettia tree

Christmas tree made of agave

Greenhouse tree made of multiple plants

Closeup of the greenhouse tree

Spinning tree on the water