Tag: Longwood Gardens Conservatory

Phlowers – Longwood Conservatory Winter/Part 2

On By TimelessladyIn Phlowers8 Comments

The Longwood Gardens Conservatory boasts a gorgeous display of orchids. Not only can you view hundreds of varieties, you can also gaze out upon the ongoing construction of Longwood Reimagined in the Orchid room. There are many signs on the grounds, and articles available on the web, that apprise visitors of the future gardens and buildings. It’s quite exciting to imagine myself walking in these structures in the future.

The orchids in today’s post are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.

While the sun glare, magnified through the window, can make it difficult to take a larger photo, a close-up of these beautiful blooms in the orchid room is enhanced by the back-lighting.

There is no one dominant species of orchid in the display, but I am always drawn to the faces of the Paphiopedilums. Just like pansy blossoms, they seem to have a perky personality.

This lovely orchid almost seems artificial. The inner recesses of the labellum are sunrose yellow, the January 30th color for City Sonnet’s January Colors and Letters.

Phlowers – Six on Saturday/Longwood Conservatory Winter

On By TimelessladyIn Phlowers16 Comments

Here’s a sampling of the hanging baskets in the Longwood Gardens Conservatory yesterday. It’s hard to capture the size/scale of the flower baskets. To say they are large is an understatement.

Some of the plants are: Cape-primrose (Streptocarpus), Anthuriums, Cinnamon-Wattle Acacia, Bromeliads.

My favorite walk was along the acacia passage. The Cinnamon-Wattle acacias were in bloom. The fragrance was incredible. There was definitely a feeling of enchantment present as we gazed down the corridor. Periwinkle is one of my favorite colors, and the combination of the streptocarpus with the soft yellow of the acacia was stunning. The streptocarpus are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.

I also had some moments of inspiration. I don’t know if this is a hanging basket of some type for displaying flowers, a light fixture, or something totally unique to my imagination. I am determined to create better hanging basket arrangements this year for the porch and outdoors and this will be my artistic muse for the project.

As we walked within the walls the soft winter sun outdoors illuminated everything inside with a glow of Royal Silver. I wish I could somehow capture and copy the indescribable atmosphere in a watercolor painting.

Here’s a silly self-portrait of us in the conservatory; a visual description of our joy. It’s a little distorted, the mirror had a funhouse quality, but it still captured our happiness in being in a place filled with flowers and fragrance.

Phlowers – Dahlia Show

On By TimelessladyIn Phlowers, Quirkiness11 Comments

Longwood Gardens and The Greater Philadelphia Dahlia Society hosted The American Dahlia Society’s 2018 National Show this past weekend. I was able to attend and admire the many varieties. My husband and I are inspired to grow a few named varieties of dahlias in next year’s garden. We both had our favorites. I loved the large dinner plate dahlias. My favorite was the pink and yellow bloom.  These dahlias are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day. 

My husband likes the simpler daisy-like blossom. I’m sure there is room for both our favorites in our 2019 gardens. It will be fun to research and plan ahead throughout the winter months. 

I love this view of the display. The spectators blend right into the blooms and seem to be part of the beautiful indoor garden. 

Dahlia love: A garden of dahlias and admirers. 

Longwood Gardens has a very informative article on growing dahlias: Growing Dahlias at Home

There are several sources for dahlia tubers in the US, I’ve included a sampling:

Swan Islands Dahlias 

Corralito’s Gardens

Another good source for dahlia information can be found at the Dahlia Addict site.

Plants – Graceful Orchids

On By TimelessladyIn Plants7 Comments

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Orchid Days have begun at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. I know I mention the conservatories and gardens at Longwood quite often, but truly, it is one of my favorite places to visit in my area. If you have a chance to travel to the Delaware Valley, please try to visit Longwood.

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The orchids bloom in so many colors and shapes; I wish I could capture the fragrance that greets you when you enter the orchid room. I think orchids resemble dancers with their long stems stretched high and curved in a graceful ballerina’s pose.

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Plants & Place – Longwood Gardens & Anthuriums

On By TimelessladyIn Place, Plants22 Comments

anthirrium hanging basket

Winter Joy is standing beneath this enormous display of anthuriums. The basket of tropical blooms is hanging from the ceiling of the Longwood Gardens Conservatory in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. In the midst of winter, what a blessing it is to have this lovely garden within an hour’s drive of my home.

An extra dose of winter joy awaited me as I browsed in the visitor center gift shop. The same anthuriums, probably grown in overabundance for the display, were on sale for a fantastic price…$6.50 for an 18 inch plant covered in bloom. JOY!

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Place – Conservatory Gridlock/Longwood Gardens

On By TimelessladyIn Photo Challenge at Wordpress, Photographs, Place2 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Grid.” This week, let’s take the humble grid out of the shadows, and make it the star.”

When I think of grids I think of conservatories. My favorite public garden is a perfect subject for this week’s Daily Post photo challenge. Most often, the flowers and plants are the stars of my visits to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. This post features the bones, or the grids, that hold the thousands of glass panes in place.

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You will find grids and grates wherever you look in the Longwood Gardens conservatory. The fragility of the flowers and foliage is protected by the strength of the metal, while the glass panes let in the life-giving light.

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The view looking up reveals even more grids and glass.

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Grids are used outdoors also as a support for vines and other plants. This is a row of spectacular clematis vines that were on display this year.

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Steel grids and cement are the base for the reconstruction of the fountains that is going on at this time. Take a look at the Online Fountain Exhibit at Longwood Gardens.

Photograph – What’s the Rest of the Story?

On By TimelessladyIn Photo Challenge at Wordpress10 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Half and Half.”This week, let’s split our photos in two.

I enjoyed taking part in this photo challenge. Here’s a bit of a game, guess what the other half of my photographs might be, and then scroll down and see how close you were to the correct answer.

What is missing in the photo of a frog?

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Why his frog buddy of course!

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trestle bridge

What will you find if you follow this railroad trestle bridge across a Southern New Jersey salt marsh?

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A terrific waterway for crabbing.

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What are these two ladies creating that requires so much concentration?

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They are creating a floral masterpiece in the Longwood Gardens Conservatory.

Praise, Poetry & Phlowers – Daffodils Part I

On By TimelessladyIn Phlowers, Poetry, Praise12 Comments

“So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.” ~ Hosea 6:3

Longwood Daffodils
Longwood Gardens Conservatory Daffodils

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” ~ Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

 

And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”
~ William Wordsworth, I Wander’d Lonely as a Cloud

 

“Symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings, the daffodil is virtually synonymous with spring. Though their botanic name is narcissus, daffodils are sometimes called jonquils, and in England, because of their long association with Lent, they’re known as the ‘Lent Lily.'” ~ Teleflora

Longwood Daffodils
Longwood Gardens Conservatory Daffodils

Photograph – Green & Graven Symmetry

On By TimelessladyIn Photo Challenge at WordpressLeave a comment

Symmetry – “For this challenge, share an image of symmetry. Don’t limit yourself to architecture — you can bend this theme in any way you’d like.”

Symmetry – the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis.

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Bird’s Nest Fern – Longwood Gardens Conservatory

This beautiful Bird’s Nest fern while not being perfect in its symmetry, is still a good example of a plant growing in a symmetrical manner. Growing a Bird’s Nest Fern is easy. The plant is more resilient against dry conditions than the more feathery ferns. An added plus is a Bird’s Nest Fern is a low-light plant.

Another example of symmetry is a gravestone. This one, weathered by years, wind and sea salt can be found in the graveyard on Block Island, RI.

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Plant – Anthurium

On By TimelessladyIn PlantsLeave a comment

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I have long admired the anthurium plants displayed each year in the Longwood Garden Conservatory in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. I have a small anthurium with red heart-shaped flowers, although in reality, according to horticulture experts, what we call a flower is a spathe.

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I’ve always hoped to run across a pink and green Anthurium, and recently I was lucky enough to find one to purchase. The plant is lovely and growing well in my living room. It receives strong morning sunlight and seems to be adapting well to life in my home.

Culture Tips for Anthuriums

Give Anthuriums a try for a bit of tropical beauty indoors.

Perspective & Phavorites – Blue Monday

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective, PhavoritesLeave a comment

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A blue mood can sometimes take hold after the joy of a holiday. Today I am giving into the blueness and delighting in the many shades of azure I was able to enjoy in the Longwood Gardens Conservatory on Sunday. What an array of tones we found there, from the sky blue of Forget-Me-Nots and Himalayan Poppies, through the deep purple-blue of Spring Pansies. These blues lift my spirit. I hope they lift yours too!

Artists and Crafters: Please feel free to make use of these photographs as reference for painting, projects, etc.

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This beautiful blue poppy is almost spent, but in it’s last hours the petals are at their most beautiful as they become tinted with softest pink before dropping from the plant.

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I thought this bed of blue flowers was incredibly lovely, a gorgeous mix of hydrangeas, cineraria and Himalayan poppies.

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I am always  entranced by the buds of the poppies too.

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Who can resist smiling back at these joyful pansy faces?

Proverbs & Place – Conquering Winter Blues

On By TimelessladyIn Place, Proverbs1 Comment

A1 - Longwood Tulips-January 2013

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7

Banishing wintertime blues and anxieties can be as easy as visiting a local garden, a nearby park or arboretum. Even a quick walk or bike ride around the neighborhood does me good in the winter. Saturday was a perfect day to visit one of my favorite gardens, Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The sight of God’s beautiful flowers in the conservatory was the perfect prescription for my hunger for green.

Check back tomorrow for a slideshow of my favorite flowers in the Longwood Conservatory.

Praise and Phascination – Our Amazing World

On By TimelessladyIn Phascination, PraiseLeave a comment

 “My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2

I love the display of carnivorous plants in the Longwood Gardens conservatory. They are fascinating and unique. I find joy and peace in knowing that the Maker of heaven and earth loves all mankind, and is the ruler of all the earth, no matter what man might say. The creator of such diversity is able to bring salvation and healing to every man or woman’s heart no matter what their circumstances, past or present. He can bring beauty out of ashes and dust. I think that good thought deserves an, “Amen.” Have a glorious Sabbath Day.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?

 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven  and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;

Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm —he will watch over your life;

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.