The "Orchid Extravaganza: Part 1" Story

This display of orchids is in the hallway
leading to the entrance to the grounds
of  Longwood Gardens.

It was an ordinary day.  Pulled into the parking lot at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania after the trip from Lancaster that took slightly under an hour.  Beautiful day with temperatures in the low 50s and no breeze at all.  A few weeks ago Carol saw a small story in the local newspaper telling about the Orchid Extravaganza and she expressed an interest in going to see the more than 5,000 orchid plants that are featured in the show.  Quite a few thousand more than grace the living room in our Beach House.  The extravaganza covers the four acre Conservatory that was established in 1919 by Mr. Pierre S. du Pont.  Today the Longwood Gardens consists of 1,077 acres which consists of 20 outdoor gardens and 20 indoor gardens with the four acre Conservatory the jewel of the Gardens.  

This is the impressive view as you enter the Conservatory.

We have visited the beautiful grounds twice before, once in the summer and once during the Christmas season a few years ago.  Both times were special to us so we knew we needed to make another trip before the end of March when the current program ends.  My multi-day story begins today with an overview of the Conservatory followed by a day of orchid photography and another day of flowers of the Conservatory.  

The Longwood Gardens 10,010 pipe organ.

It was a real treat to walk the beautiful grounds of the Conser- vatory, smelling the fragrance emanating from the plants and horticulture from one of the premier botanical gardens in the United States if not the world.  As we wandered parts of the Conservatory we were serenaded by the 10,010 pipe Longwood Organ which was installed in 1929.  We had the chance to walk through the hallway behind the organ and see the huge pipes that give the organ it's fantastic sound.  Follow along as my camera documents the sights of Longwood Gardens Conservatory.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - click on photos to enlarge.

Some of the many pipes that make the magnificent sound that emanates  throughout parts of the Conservatory.

Colorful plantings such as this one fill the 4 acres of the Conservatory.

Another greenhouse in the Conservatory.

This greenhouse hold the tropical plantings.

One of the many waterfalls that fill the Conservatory.

Another waterfall with platings.

Walkway filled with flowers of all colors.

Large pillars begin the pond that has "trees" of orchids in the foreground and hanging baskets of orchids overhead. 

Another greenhouse filled with flowers.

Bonsai is an ancient art of growing plants in containers to represent mature plants found in nature.  It originated in China and was furthered in Japan.  The display at Longwood Gardens is housed in a hallway and consists of over 40 specimens.  Each specimen is marked with a date that signifies the year the training began on the specimen.  This particular specimen impressed me since it was begun in 1944 making it the same age as me.