SP RI SP NG RI NG Spring Blooms April 2–June 3
Spring Blooms On view April 2–June 3
Watch as the landscape awakens and the splendor of spring emerges. Dogwoods, magnolias, wisterias, azaleas, foamflowers, and more than 240,000 tulips herald spring’s arrival. Experience our Meadow Garden alive with flowering trees and a robust layer of herbaceous plants. Breathe in the fresh air and relish the beauty of spring in our Gardens. Plan Your Visit In Advance We all eagerly anticipate the first signs of spring. Encourage your guests to buy timed admission tickets early as tickets are limited, and be sure to take advantage of our Member Appreciation Days during Spring Blooms. For details, see our Members-only Moments pages.
Plan Early & Visit Late Mother’s Day Weekend May 7 & 8 Gardens Open Until 8 pm
Take advantage of extended Mother’s Day Weekend hours. Make a reservation to savor a gourmet dinner in 1906, enjoy live music during the early evening, or experience a breathtaking sunset in our Meadow Garden. Our outdoor Gardens will be in spectacular bloom and are expected to feature cascading wisterias, magnolia trees, and thousands of tulips. Purchasing Tickets for Guests? Buy Before You Arrive • Timed Admission Tickets Required • Tickets Limited Mother’s Day Weekend is a popular time to visit our Gardens. Buy guest tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Performances In The Conservatory Saturday, May 7 Chris Braddock and Dan Graper, Guitar Duo, 12–3 pm Monica Buffington and Ann Fontanella, Flute and Violin Duo, 5–7 pm Sunday, May 8 Chris Braddock and Dan Graper, Guitar Duo, 12–3 pm Monica Buffington and Ann Fontanella, Flute and Violin Duo, 5–7 pm
Wine & Dine The Café: Open 10 am–7 pm, no reservations necessary. 1906: Reservations available 10 am–6 pm. 1906 will feature a special prix fixe menu as well as à la carte options. Reservations limited, make yours in advance at opentable.com. Member reservations are not required and complimentary tickets may be used. During peak visitation times, free off-site parking may be used if our on-site lot is full. Transportation is provided between off-site parking and the Visitor Center entrance.
Highlights from Our Gardens Tulips on the Move (1) The bulb display in our Idea Garden is a highlight of Spring Blooms. This year the tulips have found a new home in the Trial Garden area of the Idea Garden. Our horticulturists relocated the display from the annual beds to this area where soil-borne tulip diseases should be less likely. Rotating crops is an important horticultural practice to control pathogens in the soil, and to keep the plants as healthy as possible. The tulip display will likely remain in the Trial Garden plots for the next three seasons so that when the tulips return to the annual beds, the soil pathogens will be greatly reduced. An estimated 60,000 bulbs were hand-planted in the Trial Garden by staff, students, and volunteers during a three-day period in October 2015. These colorful tulips are arranged in 228 squares, representing more than 90 different varieties. Guests will enjoy a full palette of colors throughout the display. It is estimated that these tulips will be in peak bloom in mid-to-late April, but these dates will ultimately be decided by Mother Nature.
Native Orchid Conservation Project (2) Our research team is working to conserve orchids native to the Brandywine Valley landscape and throughout Pennsylvania: lady’s tresses orchid, fringed orchids, and lady’s slipper orchids. These orchids, which represent some of the most-recognized members of our unique native flora, are being threatened directly from climate change, invasive species, and habitat loss. The importance of these native orchids reaches far beyond Longwood Gardens—their extinction would further contribute to the global loss of biodiversity. We are collaborating
with the Brandywine Conservancy and Mt. Cuba Center to share scientific expertise and resources as we work together to better understand these orchids’ biology and long-term conservation. In our Gardens, we have grown the large yellow lady’s slipper in the Hillside Garden since 1963 and already have populations of the slender lady’s tresses orchid and the ragged fringed orchid in our Meadow Garden. Our research team collected seeds with permission from the Brandywine Conservancy, which has allowed us to start propagating and growing more of the orchids, which requires specific laboratory techniques. Our goal will be reintroduction of them to the wild and establishing ex situ populations of orchids at Longwood Gardens.
Student Exhibition Garden Opens Mid-May (3) Our senior Professional Gardener students are planning for the installation of the Student Exhibition Garden. On view starting May 14, the Student Exhibition Garden is the senior capstone project. This year, our seven students have designed four gardens that fit with the theme “Plant Exploration.” The Garden will feature bright colors, creative structures, new designs, and interesting plants. “We are striving to transform empty garden plots into four different experiences for the viewers. Driven by horticulture and structure, we are taking the guest through a ‘plant exploration’ journey,” said Rob Shaut, Senior Professional Gardener Student. These gardens are located within the Idea Garden and will be on view through mid-October.
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New Artifacts In Our Webb Farmhouse
A Walk in the Woods: Visit the Forest Walk During April and May be sure to take a stroll through our Forest Walk, which is located just west of our Meadow Garden and Lookout Loft Treehouse. This woodland is one that is beginning the transition into an old-growth state of forest succession. Some of the trees in this woodland are more than 160 years old. One of the most notable trees is the PA State champion tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), which is the tallest recorded hardwood in the Northeast, standing at 164.2 feet. Old growth forests in Pennsylvania are increasingly rare, making up only 0.2% of the overall forest cover in our state.* Characterized by old trees, dead and dying trees, fallen wood, “pit-andmound” topography caused when large trees are uprooted, and a mix of dense shade and small “canopy gaps” caused by falling trees, such forests are important habitat for species like the Pileated woodpecker, Brown creeper, Southern flying-squirrel, and various salamanders.
If you haven’t had the chance to explore our historic Webb Farmhouse & Galleries in our Meadow Garden, there is no better time than now as we’ve recently added new artifacts to further reflect the home’s 18th century roots. The Webb Farmhouse & Galleries were selectively restored by John Milner Architects in 2014, to preserve the original character of our Meadow Garden landscape. Inside the Farmhouse, the past and present of the Meadow Garden come together. In the East Gallery several new artifacts have been added to our “Hearth Fireplace.” Discovered during restoration of the home, Milner describes this as the, “heart of the home” during this time period. An additional set of andirons, several cooking tools including an iron griddle, kettle, and several other artifacts have been added to celebrate this feature. These new artifacts have been sourced from Michael M. Coldren Company, Inc. in Maryland that specializes in historically accurate architectural hardware, lighting, and objects. The Webb Farmhouse is open from 9 am till dusk, or until Gardens close. A shuttle service is available to guests, weather permitting.
*”The Wisdom of Age-Why Older Forests Matter,” by Margaret C. Brittingham, in Pennsylvania Forests Magazine, Volume 106, #4
Fountains Spring to Life Italian Water Garden Opens April 22 Open Air Theatre Opens May 27 5-minute shows run at 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm, 5 pm, and 5:55 pm, daily. Please note: Shows do not run on days when there are rehearsals or performances. All fountain shows are weather dependent.
Community Read Read. Think. Engage.
Earlier in the year we invited you to join us in reading two books, Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery and our children’s title, On Meadowview Street, by author Henry Cole. Together with local libraries and many community partners, we’re exploring the books’ powerful ideas about how one person has the power to inspire many. A Community Conversation with Ben Montgomery Saturday, April 23, 7–9 pm Join Ben Montgomery to learn more about his writing and Grandma Gatewood, and join with fellow readers to celebrate and discuss the book. The presentation will also include Matt Kirk, a highly accomplished Appalachian Trail thru-hiker. A book signing follows the conversation. Advanced Registration Required: $20 / Free for Members, registration required enroll.longwoodgardens.org or 610.388.5454
Community Read Events Throughout the Region There are so many ways to take part in the Community Read throughout our region. Visit longwoodgardens. org/community-read to see a robust list of local adult and children’s events happening at our partner organizations including the Appalachian Trail Museum, Natural Lands Trust, Chester County Trail Club, Delaware Nature Society, The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County, and the library systems of New Castle County, Chester County, Cumberland County, Delaware County, and many more.
#CommunityRead We’re talking about the books on social media. Be sure to follow us @LongwoodGardens and share your ideas using the hashtag #CommunityRead.
Get the Books Get your copy of our Community Read Books. Available for purchase: The GardenShop, shop.longwoodgardens.org, and major booksellers. Available for borrowing: Most New Castle County, DE, Chester County, PA, Cumberland County, PA, and Delaware County, PA public libraries.
Members-only Moments
Members Save 10% On Continuing Education Courses
Kick-start garden-related projects and learn new skills. Throughout the year, we offer a rich selection of courses in floral design, visual arts, horticulture, and landscape design for adults of all ages and experience levels. Floral Design Lecture & Wine Reception: The Elegant Style of Constance Spry Wednesday, April 6, 4–6 pm Enjoy a fun event in our Ballroom, featuring endless flowers and an entertaining, informative demonstration. Floral instructor, Nancy Gingrich Shenk will introduce you to the elegant style of Constance Spry, who was a pioneer in local sourcing. Before there was overnight shipping, designers created beautiful arrangements with flowers and fruits from the gardens nearby. This style is resurging in today’s fashion and has never been more relevant. A wine and cheese reception and silent auction follows.
Digital Garden Photography Basic I Online 5-week online course, starting May 2 Make your garden images stand out by learning basic digital photographic techniques in clear, easily applied terms. This interactive online course engages students with hands-on projects and rich open discussions in a fully online environment. Complete weekly assignments in garden photography by shooting anywhere in the world. Registration and fee required: enroll.longwoodgardens.org or 610.388.5454. Visit longwoodgardens.org for our complete list of Continuing Education courses.
Upcoming Member Appreciation Days
Summer Members-only Hours, 6–9 pm
April 18, 25, and May 2
June 26 Featuring Angela Sheik August 28 Featuring Bumper Jacksons
Visit on Member Appreciation Days and take advantage of 20% discounts in The GardenShop (on-site and at shop. longwoodgardens.org), 1906, and The Café. Reservations for 1906 are strongly recommended via opentable.com.
Mark your calendars for these exclusive Members-only hours featuring a free 7 pm concert. Our Beer Garden will also be returning for a second season, and will be open for Members to enjoy on these evenings. Take advantage of 10% discounts at The Café and 1906. Dining in 1906 is popular on these days and space is limited. Early reservations are recommended via opentable.com. Registration is not required. You may bring your own chair or blanket to Members-only Evenings performances. Members may use complimentary guest tickets.
Spring Calendar
Garden Highlights Meet our expert guides and explore the Conservatory and outdoor Garden displays that are in peak bloom. Thursday–Sunday at 1 pm Free with Gardens Admission
Insider Tours Spring is an exciting season in our Gardens. Our Tour Guides are here to help you discover behind-the-scenes spaces and our Outdoor Gardens that are in peak bloom. Get an exclusive look at our Production Greenhouse, experience the heritage of our Performing Arts spaces within the Conservatory Story tour, and explore the fountains of our historic east gardens on a Garden Story, Italian Water Garden, or Fountains of Longwood tour. Thursday–Sunday at 11:30 am & 2 pm Members $3, Guests $4
April ulips Expected to Be On T Display in Mid-April Visit the Flower Garden Walk and the Trial Garden to see hundreds of thousands of blooms in a rainbow of colors.
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On view April 2–June 3
Delaware Photographic Society Exhibit On view April 2–June 3 Explore an exhibit from The Delaware Photographic Society. As one of America’s oldest and most respected photographic associations, Delaware Photographic Society members have captured stunning images of our spring flowering plants and trees. See the exhibit in the Visitor Center. Family Community Read Day 10 am–2 pm Family Workshop with Henry Cole Join On Meadowview Street author Henry Cole for a hands-on workshop for children and their parents 2:30–4 pm* Organ Series: Paul Jacobs
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Floral Lecture: Celebrating the Elegant Style of Constance Spry 4–6 pm*
Fertilizers and Formulations 9 am–12 pm*
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Planting Design 7-part class April 7, 14, 21 & 28 May 5, 12 & 19 6–9 pm* Classical Series: Venice Baroque Orchestra
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Birds of Longwood Walk 9–11 am
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Birds of Longwood Walk 9–11 am
Serpentine Splendor 9 am–12 pm*
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Organ Series: Rebecca Kleintop Owens 3 pm
Member Appreciation Day 9 am–6 pm
Ornamental and Native Shrubs 6-part class April 18, & 25 May 2, 9, 16 & 23 6:30–8:30 pm*
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American Birding Association Monthly Bird Hike 9–11 am
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Beginner Bird Hike 9–10:30 am
Organ Series: Open Organ Console Day 9:30 am–12:30 pm
A Community Conversation with Author Ben Montgomery 7–9 pm*
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Meadow Birding Hike 9–11:30 am
Organ Series: Eric Plutz 3 pm
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Member Appreciation Day 9 am–6 pm
Birds of Longwood Walk 9–11 am
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The Beauty in Line 6–8:30 pm*
May Peirce’s Woods Expected to Be In Bloom W Wander through Peirce’s Woods and discover creeping phlox nestled beneath flowering dogwood and Eastern redbud.
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Wisteria Expected to Be On Display In Early May
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Application Deadline** College and University Internship Program International Internship and Training Program The Meadow Garden through the Seasons: Capturing the Meadow on Canvas 4-part class May 1 June 5 September 11 October 30 9 am–1 pm*
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Member Appreciation Day 9 am–6 pm
Developing a Design Philosophy Based on “Sense of Space” 4-part class May 4, 11, 18, & 25 6:30–8:30 pm*
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National Public Gardens Day Activities: 11 am–3 pm Birds of Longwood Walk 9–11 am
Mother’s Day Weekend 7 Plan Early. Visit Late. Enjoy Extended Gardens hours: 9 am–8 pm Performances in the Conservatory: Guitar Duo, Featuring Chris Braddock and Dan Graper, 12–3 pm Flute and Violin Duo, Featuring Monica Buffington and Ann Fontanella, 5–7 pm Mother’s Day Buffet 10 am–5 pm1 Treat Mom to a gourmet feast in our Ballroom. Seatings are every half hour. Limited seating times available.
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Mother’s Day Weekend Plan Early. Visit Late. Enjoy Extended Gardens hours: 9 am–8 pm Performances in the Conservatory: Guitar Duo, Featuring Chris Braddock and Dan Graper, 12–3 pm
Flute and Violin Duo, Featuring Monica Buffington and Ann Fontanella, 5–7 pm Mother’s Day Buffet
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Birds of Longwood Walk 9–11 am
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Family Story Time 10 & 10:45 am
Ornamental Vines 3-part class May 10, 17 & 24 6:30–8:30 pm*
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Weed Identification 9 am–12 pm*
Tips for Turf Diagnosis: Insect and Disease Management 1–4 pm*
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Floral Fun: Peirce’s Woods 1–3 pm*
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Student Exhibition Garden On View May 14–Mid-October
Girl Scout Day 10 am–1 pm Elegant Events: Fun and Festive 9 am–12 pm*
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10 & 10:45 am
Longwood Lecture Series: Grand Ideas that Scale 6:30–8:00 pm
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American Birding Association Monthly Bird Hike 9–11 am
Plant Disease Identification 9 am–12 pm*
Dining
Horticulture
Education
Performance
Family Fun
Members-only
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Birds of Longwood Walk 9–11 am
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Family Story Time 10 & 10:45 am
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Pest Identification 9 am–12 pm*
Plant Disease Identification 1–4 pm*
** To apply: longwoodgardens.org.
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Waterlily Display On View May 28–Mid-October
Beginner Bird Hike 9–10:30 am
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Meadow Birding Hike 9–11:30 am
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Family Story Time 10 & 10:45 am
June
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Floral Fun: The Italian Water Garden 6:30–8:30 pm*
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Summer Spectacular on View June 4–September 5
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Special ticket required: longwoodgardens.org, 610.388.1000.
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Special ticket required: ticketphiladelphia.org, 215.893.1999.
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Advanced Registration and fee required: enroll.longwoodgardens.org, 610.388.5454 For a complete list of our Continuing Education opportunities, visit us online at longwoodgardens.org. Members save 10%.
L ongwood Lecture Series. General Admission: $29. Members: Free, advanced registration required via longwoodgardens.org, 610.388.1000. L ook for the dining symbol to make a reservation for a prix-fixe, pre-performance dinner in our fine dining restaurant, 1906. Three gourmet courses, $46. Reservations can be made via opentable.com or by calling 610.388.1000. cout Programs. Registration required: S longwoodgardens.org. Look for the coffee symbol to enjoy a complimentary coffee reception with the artist after select performances.
Wine & Jazz Tickets Limited. 2–9 pm1
American Birding Association Bird Hikes, Birds of Longwood Walks, Beginner Bird Hikes, and Meadow Birding Hikes require outdoor clothing and shoes/boots. Binoculars are recommended. Excellence in education is at the heart of Longwood’s mission. See all of our 2016 Continuing Education course offerings online at longwoodgardens.org. Members save 10%.
Please note: All ticketed events are limited. Sell out likely. During Family Story Time young guests can enjoy nature–based stories in our Lookout Loft Treehouse amid the beauty of the surrounding forest. Storytelling, songs, and puppets encourage children to discover the joys of nature, language, and literature. Family Story Time is designed for children ages 3–5 and their caretakers.
Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition Returns June 14–18, 2016 Tickets on sale now: longwoodgardens.org/organcompetition
Experience the music and excitement as 10 of the organ world’s brightest young talents compete before a panel of top judges in a quest for the $40,000 Pierre S. du Pont First Prize. Preliminary Rounds Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 2 pm & 7 pm
We proudly announce our 10 competitors: Alcee Chriss III, 23, USA
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at 2 pm & 7 pm
Thomas Gaynor, 24, New Zealand
The Final Round
Michael Hey, 25, USA
Sold Out.
Ryan Kennedy, 21, USA Colin MacKnight, 22, USA Virgile Monin, 28, France Adam Pajan, 29, USA Alessandro Pittorino, 22, Australia Joshua Stafford, 27, USA Gregory Zelek, 24, USA
Stay All Week and Join Us for These Exciting Events Lectures Travels with a Pipe Dreamer June 14, 11 am–12 pm Visitor Center Auditorium Michael Barone, host of Pipedreams, recounts his adventures visiting some of the most exquisite pipe organs around the world.
Story of the Longwood Organ Renovation Project June 15, 11 am–12 pm Visitor Center Auditorium From 2004–2008, a complete rebuilding totaling $4 million restored the Longwood Organ to its original sound.
Organ Crawls Spend the day listening to the largest musical instrument on earth at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, or enjoy some of the finest organs in the Philadelphia region. June 16 Atlantic City, NJ
June 17 Atlantic City, NJ or Philadelphia region, PA
Registration and fee required for lectures and organ crawls: longwoodgardens.org
Get Your Seats For Our Summer Shows Check out our exciting lineup of performers coming this summer: Tickets On Sale Now: longwoodgardens.org/ summer-series Summer Performance Series Member Discount: Members save $5 per ticket on summer performances. Members, find your discount code on the back cover of this brochure.
Set Up Your New Account We have launched a new online platform so you can purchase tickets on our website. If you haven’t done so already, you will need to set up your new account to purchase tickets. Starting with our Summer Performance Series, we are no longer using Ticket Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Orchestra Wednesday, June 29, 7:30 pm The Philadelphia Orchestra performs works by Mozart, Handel, and Vivaldi led by conductor Lio Kuokman and concertmaster David Kim. Reserved Seating: $55–$85 Members: $50–$80
To set up your account: Visit longwoodgardens.org/ summer-series Click on the Set Up My Account button Enter your email address and hit Submit
I f your email is in our system you’ll receive an email with instructions to create a new password. Otherwise, you will be directed to create a new account.
CHICK COREA TRIO Chick Corea Christian McBride Brian Blade Sunday, July 3, 7:30 pm The Grammy Award winning Chick Corea Trio features the jazz icon Chick Corea, performing with bass boss Christian McBride, and drum master Brian Blade. Reserved Seating: $40–$70 Members: $35–$65
Natalia Lafourcade Wednesday, July 6, 7:30 pm The Latin Grammy Award-winning Mexican alt-pop singer-songwriter, Natalia Lafourcade, performs hits from her album, Hasta la raíz. Reserved Seating: $30–$50 Members: $25–$45
Taj Mahal Trio and Bettye LaVette Sunday, September 11, 7:30 pm Joined by his trio, with special guest Bettye LaVette to open the evening, the critically acclaimed blues legend Taj Mahal, brings his undeniably unique blues sound to Longwood Gardens. Reserved Seating: $39–$59 Members: $34–$54 Concerts are still being added. Check back on our website for concert announcements and additions. Performances sell-out quickly, and all tickets are limited.
Joey Alexander Trio and Time for Three Tuesday, August 23, 7:30 pm Experience the extraordinary talents of Joey Alexander, the 12-year-old jazz prodigy, who recently received 2 nominations and a standing ovation at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. His performance at Longwood will feature many favorites from his debut album, My Favorite Things where audiences will hear him perform classic tunes from Coltrane to Rodgers & Hammerstein. This performance also features the exciting opening act, Time for Three—a melody-rich string trio of graduates from Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. Reserved Seating: $35–$49 Members: $30–$44
Limited Tickets Remain for Upcoming Spring Performance: Yefim Bronfman Grammy Award Winning Pianist Thursday, May 5, 8 pm Tickets for this performance are sold via Ticket Philadelphia: ticketphiladelphia.org or 215.893.1999
Nightscape Returns A Light and Sound Experience by Klip Collective Wednesday through Saturday evenings August 3–October 29, 2016
It’s not often you get a second chance… but this summer that’s about to change. Thanks to an overwhelming response, we’re bringing Nightscape back with a few surprises in store. Haven’t Nightscaped? Then, come experience the indescribable. Where color, light, and sound emerge from our Gardens to become one night garden experience you’ll never forget. Member reservations and tickets are available starting May 2. A free Member reservation or special ticket is required to view Nightscape. Member reservations and tickets can be purchased at longwoodgardens.org/nightscape or at 610.388.1000 starting May 2. Chimes Tower Members and those included in a Chimes Tower Membership do not require reservations. To preserve this special benefit for all of our Members, please only make reservations for dates you plan to attend.
Beer Garden Re-opens for Summer Spectacular & Nightscape Sit under the stars with friends and family as you enjoy our Beer Garden featuring tasty pub fare and Victory Brewing Company beers on tap, including our own Longwood signature brews. Beer Garden Hours This Summer June 9–July 30 Every Thursday–Saturday: 5:30–9:30 pm Free with Gardens Admission August 3–October 29 Every Wednesday–Saturday: 5:30–10:30 pm* *Nightscape ticket or Member reservation required
Gardens Information Gardens Hours April 2–June 3 9 am–6 pm Please note: The Gardens will close at 2 pm on Saturday, June 4 for everyone except Wine & Jazz ticketholders. Admission Adults: $20 Seniors ages 62+: $17 Students with student ID: $10 Children 4 & under: Free Members: Free
For Your Convenience Longwood Gardens covers many acres. There are no shuttles within the Gardens. We’re happy to offer the following: – Non-motorized wheelchairs, electric scooters, and children’s strollers are available on a firstcome basis for a fee. Supply limited, reservations not accepted. – Rentals are free for Members, but Member guests will be charged a fee.
Prices and hours are subject to change.
– Scooters are not available during rainy, snowy, or freezing weather.
Dining at The Terrace The Terrace is a Certified Green Restaurant through the Green Restaurant Association and offers two dining experiences:
Become a Member Make our world yours—become a Member today. Membership pays for itself in two visits.
The Café Enjoy casual fare made from fresh seasonal ingredients.
Follow Us @LongwoodGardens #LongwoodGardens
1906 Savor this artful, full-service dining experience. Reservations made via opentable.com or by calling 610.388.1000.
Phone: 610.388.1000 Website: longwoodgardens.org
Parking Longwood offers free parking for our guests. Transportation is provided between off-site parking and the Visitor Center entrance.
Free WiFi available: Connect to FreeGardenWIFI Our Gardens are smoke-free. Photography credits: Larry Albee, Hank Davis, Longwood Gardens, Klip Collective, and Daniel Traub
longwoodgardens.org
Longwood Gardens PO Box 501 Kennett Square, PA 19348
Deliver to:
West Chester, PA Permit No. 474
PAID
Non-Profit Organization US Postage