Spring Flowers at Longwood

Last week I went up to Longwood Gardens outside Philadelphia for several days to enjoy

spring flowers.  They had hundreds of thousands of daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and other

colorful spring blossoms.  Outside the entrance, there are 15 raised beds of flowers,

and they were exceptionally beautiful, colorful, and aromatic this year.

The bulbs are all purchased from Holland, planted here in October for blooms in April,

then dug up, shredded into mulch, and spread around.  They are used only once.

Head Gardener Roger was responsible for these beds, and he was there working on them,

so I got a chance to talk with him.

On the left and right sides are "Fortissimo" Daffodils.  In the front are "Odysseus" hyacinths 

(tan/peach) and "Yellow Queen" hyacinths.  They have a strong, sweet, delightful arome

which covered the whole area.  The orange tulips in the center are "Orange Emperor."

The white daffodils are "Slim Whitman" and the red are "Scarlet Wonders."

These double reds are "Marianne."  Every single flower was at its peak, and none were

wilted.  Every bud had burst forth.

One of the biggest and nicest beds, with many varieties.

Hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils.  This is what Spring is supposed to look like.

Cool temperatures kept everything fresh and lasting longer.

"Slim Whitman" Daffodils with large yellow cups.

"Slim Whitman."  "Scarlet Wonder."  "Fortissimo Yellow Daffodil."

Several of the beds.  There are wonderful rocking chairs in back, and I always spend time

sitting out here and just enjoying the colors and smells.

"Odysseus" and "Yellow Queen" Hyacinths.  "Slim Whitman" Daffodils.

Usually I arrive at Longwood to see the Late Blooming Tulips, but this year I arrived

earlier and got to see things like hyacinths and daffodils, which I have often missed

in the past.

"Slim Whitman" Daffodils and "Yellow Apeldoorn" Tulips.

A bed of flowers and two rocking chairs.

On this outside terrace, they also sell plants from the gardens, so you can take home

some of your favorite flowers.

"Odysseus" and "Yellow Queen" Hyacinths.  These are relatively recently developed

varieties.  In my gardens in the past, there were only pink, white, and blue hyacinths.

But these new varieties are very colorful and also very aromatic and sweet.

A bed of spring flowers outside the entrance to Longwood Gardens.

Each season, a few special plants are highlighted and used in a variety of ways in the

Gardens.  This year "Daydream" Tulip was one of the featured.  It is a hybrid, stands two

feet high, and opens as a bright yellow.  In succeeding days, it gradually turns orange,

so that a group of "Daydreams" has many rich colors and every flower is different.

"Daydream" Tulips in various stages and colors.

These are very Early "Dutch Painter" tulips, standing less than a foot high.

Early blooming tulips tend to be short and close to the ground.

In the background you can see some of the Yoshino Blossoming Cherry Trees.

They are mature, very large, and were covered with brilliant white blossoms.

There were many trees all over the Gardens.

This is the entrance building.  Inside are meeting rooms, gift shop, flower shop, etc.

When you exit the other side, the building disappears - it is covered with dirt and grass

and becomes part of the grounds.

Entrance Building and some flower beds.

"Orange Emperor" Tulips.  These stand about 30" high and the flowers are very tall

and shaped like a chalice until they open fully.  I once a bed of "Red Emperors" behind my house,

and I enjoyed them very much.

A full bed of spring flowers.

Flower beds and beginning of parking lots.

Visitor and flower bed.

Once inside the Gardens, Oak Hill and Conifer Ridge are covered with 260,000 daffodils,

which have been naturalized, that is, they are planted and allowed to stay and reproduce,

so there are more flowers every year.

Oak Hill and daffodils.

Conifer Ridge and daffodils.

Between the large swathes of yellow daffodils are masses of little blue-and-white

Chionodoxa flowers.

At the foot of Oak Hill is Magnolia Meadow, with dozens of magnolias in many

varieties, and they were all in bloom.  This is a young "Star Magnolia" at the foot

of the waterfall.  There is a tower with carillon bells inside, and it chimes each fifteen

minutes and gives concerts several times a day.  You can hear throughout this area.

Close-up of blossoms on "Star Magnolia."

A medium-sized "Star Magnolia" tree.

"Star Magnolia" tree.

"Saucer Magnolia" tree.  These trees have the very large, waxy flowers which are

8-10 inches in diameter.  There were white, pink, lavender, and purple trees.

"Golden Forsythia" bushes were used throughout the gardens.

"The Path to the Lake" runs along the south side of the gardens.  Motorized chairs

are available for rent so the elderly or handicapped can also enjoy the gardens.  It is kind

of amusing to watch the old folks who come here regularly and know how to use the 

carts as they zip along and have a great time.

Masses of daffodils along "The Path to the Lake."

"Fortissimo" Daffodils along The Path.

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