Longwood Gardens takes flight for the Holidays
Less than 2.5 hours from Salisbury, MD, Longwood Gardens is a Holiday treat for the soul! The Gardens take flight this year with a bird-inspired theme carried though out the shimmering exhibits.
Our favorite way to tour the Gardens in the winter is to go directly to the Main Conservatory. OK, maybe we slow up a tad to eyeball the latest offerings of the Gift Shop, but basically we head out for the Conservatory, picking up a map as we go.
As you proceed through the main entrance, the first room literally takes your breath away with the shimmering silver and white decorations, punctuated by the burst of red poinsettias, intense green turf and elegant trees, all soothed by the flowing fountains. Along the way, mass plantings of perfectly tended holiday plants and trees and, then, at the far end of the Main Conservatory is a huge tree populated by “flying” red birds guaranteed to take your breath away.
When you pass through the Conservatory and turn right, it will take you to the Music Room with its massive fireplace and dining area, masterfully decorated with a featured tree wearing hues of blues and lavendars of paper mache feathers and leaves. Matching china on the heirloom table, of course! Other trees in the room shimmer with a variety of interpretations on the theme.
Every display is breathtakingly perfect as you meander past the sunken garden, the orchid room and the children’s display room where the trees were designed by elementary students. You’ll have to chuckle as you take in the interpretations which even included a pink flamingo tree! Always mindful of conserving, there is a red bare-branched tree created from branches that died last winter and were spray-painted bright red. This particular tree hosted hummer-sized birdhouses in natural tones providing an interesting contrast.
To find out more about the Holiday Display which continues through 11 January, go to the Longwood Gardens website. You will find tons of information on timed ticketing, peak and non-peak hours, pricing, membership reservations, holiday performances, illuminated fountain shows and organ sing-alongs. You’ll be so glad you did!
The Gardening Grannies, a group of mature and Master Gardeners, live, love and garden on the Delmarva Peninsula. You can reach us at gardeninggrannies@wmdt.com.
