Stop and Smell the Roses, Raphael Coronel ‘23

Stop and Smell the Roses

I believe in long walks at Longwood.

But first, what is Longwood? Well, Longwood Gardens, if you don’t know, is a large botanical garden located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. It houses a large conservatory with hundreds of flowers, trees, and other plants from around the world, a wide field of fountains where extravagant light shows are held, and countless scenic roads to follow. The point being, Longwood Gardens is big. Very big. In fact, it’s over a thousand acres in area! So, how does one explore such a wide expanse of beauty? Why, they have to walk!

My friends and I go to Longwood a lot to just hang out. All we really do is just walk and talk, and that’s all we need. During our walks, we’d happen upon landmarks that I gave names to such as the Square of Dance for when we did our best to waltz there. There’s also the Tunnel of Love, the Walkway of Love, and the other Walkway of Love, all named for the general romantic aura that fills the serene Longwood air. We’d always journey on a road up to the top of the fountain field, take a picture of our shoes over a circular turquoise light, and then chat for hours until night fell. We once got stuck at the entrance because our friend with the Longwood membership didn’t have any ID. We panicked for a moment, but fortunately, a kind old lady let us in for “looking like nice kids.” The best memory was when a friend gave their phone to another old lady to take a picture of us. We posed patiently for about ten seconds before she asked, “Is there a delay?”, and we discovered she had been taking a video the whole time! These memories and the chance to make more just like them always keep me coming back to Longwood.

I believe that those walks in Longwood represent life as a whole. Now, hear me out. I see life as a path. And that path is almost never a clear, straightforward one. Instead, it often has unpredictable twists, turns, loops, breaks, and forks. And usually we don’t know exactly where we’re going, too. So, we’re stuck on a seemingly uncontrollable path. What exactly can we do about it? Well, sometimes it’s ok to just take a deep breath and appreciate where you are.

Our paths don’t always need a concrete destination, and that’s perfectly okay. Instead, just enjoy the journey. Take some time to smell the pink roses and coral hibiscuses, look up at the imposing palm and oak trees, and wonder if you could stand on the giant lily pads. Walk through the endless fields of wheat, walk on the wooden bridge and ponder the weird glowing spheres beneath you, maybe even observe the countless other people all walking on their own paths. But here’s what I suggest most of all: grab your most comfortable picnic blanket, wait till night time, and watch the beautiful fountain show. Be amazed at how the brilliantly lit water jets up majestically, and you might even see a comet! It doesn’t really matter what you do, just treasure the moment! Life is far too short to spend it all working and worrying with no breaks in between, and sometimes all you need to do is just relax and take a walk.

Raphael Coronel ‘23