As ‘Longwood Christmas’ closes, ‘Winter Wonder’ opens

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

a close up of a flower garden

Longwood’s Winter Wonder show launches Jan. 22.

 

“A Longwood Christmas” officially closes Sunday, but fans of the Kennett Square gardens won’t have to wait long for the next exhibit.

“Winter Wonder” will run Jan. 22-March 27, with public performances back on the grounds, but mostly live-streamed classes.

The conservatory — now undergoing a $250 million redo — will turn into a lush sanctuary bursting with color featuring vibrant baskets of primroses (Streptocarpus ‘Concord Blue’), African violets (Saintpaulia), and towering chains-of-glory (Clerodendrum schmidtii). An array of orchids in bloom also will be on display.

Outdoors, the landscape will be designed to show how plants can be used for both aesthetic and habitat benefit, with a serene landscape on the Hillside Garden and hues of copper and umber in the 86-acre Meadow Garden.

In early March, Longwood’s famed blue poppy (Meconopsis ‘Lingholm’) returns to the conservatory. Native to the high elevations of the Himalayan Mountains, they have to be forced to flower in March.

The Gardens are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays. Timed admission tickets are $25 for adults; $22 for seniors (age 62+); $13 for students (ages 5–18 or with valid student ID) and be bought at longwoodgardens.org.

The shows

Concerts return to the Conservatory with the 2022 Winter Performing Arts series. Specific tickets are required for the performances.

  • Dreamers’ Circus. Feb. 3, 8 p.m. $35-$30. Dreamers’ Circus plays Nordic world music, drawing from regional folk music traditions.
  • Katelyn Emerson. Feb. 25, 8 p.m. $25-$21. Named a leading young organist, her repertoire spans the 14th through 20th centuries.
  • Noa with Gil Dor. March 2, 8 p.m. $38-$32. Israeli-born singer-songwriter Noa and musical collaborator and guitarist Gil Dor offer a diverse repertoire in English, Hebrew and Yemenite.
  • Simone Dinnerstein. March 3, 8 p.m. $35-$30. American pianist Simone Dinnerstein is heralded for her distinctive musical voice and commitment to sharing classical music.
  • Nella. March 25, 8 p.m. $29-$25. The 2019 Latin Grammy Award winner for Best New Artist, Nella’s powerhouse voice blends folklore roots of Venezuela, modern production and Andalusian inspirations.

The classes

For a full list of Continuing Education courses and to register, go to longwoodgardens.org/enroll.

  • Floral Spotlight: Philadelphia. Live-streamed. Jan. 19, 6–7:30 p.m. $29 $26. This class will explore how Philadelphia impacted Longwood Founder Pierre S. du Pont.
  • A Touch of Hollywood: Showstopping Floral Design. Live-streamed. Jan. 20, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m,. $259, $233. Join Full Bloom (HBO Max) finalist Ace Berry and Kelly Shore of Petals by the Shore of Washington, D.C., lead full-day, expert-level floral-design experience.
  • Growing Dahlias: Early Spring Preparation. Live-streamed. Jan. 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $29, $26. LeeAnn Huber—the dahlia hybridizer, educator, flower farmer and entrepreneur behind Coseytown Flowers of Greencastle, Pennsylvania, talks about the springtime preparation needed for a great dahlia garden.
  • Photographing the Winter Garden. Onsite Jan. 28 and Feb. 11, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.; online Feb. 24 and March 3, 6–7 p.m.; $179, $161. Expert instructors talk about how to capture the “bones” of the garden.
  • Floral Spotlight: French Formal Design. Live-streamed. Feb. 9, 4–5:30 p.m. $29, $26. Explore the influence of the du Ponts’ trips to Versailles and Paris, and see florist designer Alisha Simone craft a design inspired by French tradition.
  • Diversify Your Harvest: Exceptional Herbs and Uncommon Veggies. Live-streamed. Feb. 28, 5:30–7:30 p.m. $29, $26. Longwood Horticulturist Alex Correia explores underutilized, exotic and heirloom varieties of vegetables and herbs that deserve a place in your garden. Participants will be sent a selection of seeds.

 

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