Orchids take center stage at Longwood Jan. 23-March 31.


Longwood Gardens transforms its
majestic conservatory into an Orchid Extravaganza January 23-March 31. The
horticultural showplace near Kennett Square, celebrates the “divas” of the
plant world with thousands of orchid blooms, displays and special exhibits
throughout its famed 4- acre conservatory. The award-winning Orchid Curtain
returns, fashioned this year with dazzling purple Phalaenopsis, in addition to stunning displays of orchids in
planting beds, containers and innovative exhibits.

Featuring a plethora of colors, sizes
and shapes, guests will be amazed by the variety of orchids on display,
including Cattleya, Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis,
Paphiopedilum
and Oncidium, among
others. In all, more than 4,000 blooming orchids will delight the senses. In
the East Conservatory, giant white Phalaenopsis
adorn urns, while Dendrobium ‘Fuller’s
Sunset’ are fashioned into vibrant, eight-feet-tall yellow towers on the Patio
of Oranges.  Eye-catching Dendrobium
topiary line the adjacent Fern Floor.

Throughout the Orchid Extravaganza
Longwood is celebrating fragrance in preparation for its exciting new
exhibition, Making Scents: The Art & Passion
of Fragrance
opening at the Gardens on April 10.  Guests will be
greeted by an 18-foot-tall perfume bottle in the Main Conservatory surrounded
by orchids. When the exhibition officially opens in April, the bottle will be
joined by a museum-like exhibition that explores the art, science and history
of fragrance. In addition to fragrant orchids guests will encounter other
fragrant plants throughout the conservatory, including hyacinths, lilies,
narcissus and more.

In early March, Longwood’s famed Blue
Poppy (Meconopsis) returns to the
Exhibition Hall. Usually, to see masses of blue poppies in bloom, you needed to
travel to Scotland, Alaska, or the Himalayas. Not anymore. Longwood Gardens has
successfully produced a stunning crop of blue poppies that decorate the
Conservatory’s Exhibition Hall with their unique blue blossoms.

Additional indoor highlights include
the Acacia Passage, which explodes with masses of yellow blooms in January
& February accompanied by fragrant Oncidium
orchids. The Mediterranean Garden is a riot of vibrant color January
through April with Australian purple coral-pea (Hardenbergia) vines blooming like miniature wisteria; while the
Estate Fruit House displays nectarines, melons, and other fruits and vegetables
flourishing in the midst of winter.

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