Longwood Gardens in Summer

Last week I visited Longwood Gardens outside Philadelphia.  There are 1,077 acres of

gardens of many kinds.  These are the "Trial Gardens," sixteen plots 6 x 16 feet,

planned by different staff members and using only ordinary garden flowers.  They were
 splendid.  You can copy the plan and have this beautiful bed in your yard next summer.

This garden was entitled "Tropical Frieze," and looks like pineapple (coleus), shaved coconut
 (wax begonias and dusty miller), and red Passion fruit (caladiums).

"Pineapple Sun" Coleus - a new variety

"Lantana" - Tutti Frutti

"Redhead."  This garden could be seen from a hundred yards away; the red color is brilliant.  
This is a new variety of coleus called "Redhead." 

"Redhead"  Coleus

A pink and white garden with pink caladium and white alyssum.

Pink Verbena.  Verbena comes in many colors and is used in a number of the beds.

 "Mystic Dreamer" Dahlia.  This has very dark foliage, so it makes a good contrast 
with other plants.  It is also a prolific bloomer.

Mystic Dreamer Dahlia, with dark leaves and stems

A garden with lime green coleus, red salvia, papyrus. and orange cannas for height.

Blue scaevola, white alyssum, lime coleus, and black leaved sweet potato.

Blue Scaevola  /  Fairy Fans

"Yellow Hammer" dahlia with very dark foliage, prolific bloomer.

The black leaves are "Sweet Caroline Bewitched" sweet potato, and the creamy pale
 chartreuse is licorice.  It makes an interesting combination in a large pot.

"Peach Parfait" large dahlia; this is a tall one.

"Swallowtail" Coleus.  This is a new variety and quite dramatic.

"Orange Popsicle" Canna and "Zahara Orange" Zinnias.

"White Datura," from the Nightshade family.

"White Datura," a beautiful large snowy white flower.

"Yellow Hammer"Dahlias with dark green, almost black foliage.

Garden with lime green coleus and orange cannas, Conservatory in back.

Lime-green Coleus, a new variety

Begonias, Caladiums, Coleus, and Dusty Miller

Pink Cosmos, with feathery light-green foliage

Lime-green coleus, Sedona Sunset red coleus, Purple Giant Hyssop, and dark leaved cannas 

Pineapple Sun Coleus

New Zahara Orange Zinnias

Zahara Orange Zinnias

Pale green sweet potato vine, Zahara Orange zinnias, Alocasia Elephant Ears,
and Orange Popsicle Cannas.

Yellow Hammer Dahlias, Sedona Sunset Coleus, and decorative grasses

Sedona Sunset Coleus

Several Trial Gardens and Conservatory beyond.

Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper 

Several Trial Gardens

White Verbena, low plant

On the fence as the edge of the garden, Clematis climbing vines are grown.
This is "Blue Delight Clematis."

"Precious Pink" Clematis climbing vine.

"Dutch Sky" Clematis climbing vine.

When the Clematis flower petals die and fall off, they leave a "floral skeleton,"
which is quite interesting and beautiful.

Clematis floral skeleton

The Horseless Carriage Club of America was meeting while I was there, and there were

cars like this all over.  Groups of them went sightseeing to various locations each day/

A splendid horseless carriage with brass fittings polished and leather seats.
I think I would like this one.


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Chihuly at Fairchild

Glass has been a highly prized medium in art ever since the ancient Egyptians.  For

centuries during the Middle Ages, the millions of square yards of stained glass windows

were recognized as some of the greatest artworks of the day.  In the early 20th century,

Louis Comfort Tiffany made glass art one of the most prominent art mediums for

windows and many other purposes.  In the late 20th century, Dale Chihuly has revived

glass as one of the most versatile and beautiful art media.  For the next six months, there will

be an exhibit of 28 of Mr. Chihuly's large installations sited in the Fairchild Tropical

Botanic Garden in Miami.  I visited it yesterday.

The piece above is entitled "El Sol Citron" and consists of several thousand individually

blown pieces of glass arranged and supported on a steel armature.  It blazes like the sun.

"Cobalt Blue Herons" and "Cobalt Blue Balls" are in a fountain.

"Cobalt Blue Herons."  These are some of my favorites.

"Walla Wallas" in the lake.  They are a kind of float.

Close-up of some "Walla Wallas."

A little peninsula with "Paintbrush Tower" on it.

"Paintbrush Tower"

The magnificent "Blue Fiori."

"Red and Yellow Icicle Tower"

Detail of "Red and Yellow Icicle Tower"

"Lavender and White Herons" in the forest.

"Lilac Reeds" in the Madagascar display.

Splendid and Regal "Amethyst Icicle Tower"

"Red Reeds" in the forest

"Red Reeds" in the forest

"Float Boat" with a number of floats reminiscent of fishermen's floats for nets.

"Mille Fiori Boat"    Even the ibises like it.

"Citron Tower" made of polyvitro, a new plastic developed by Mr. Chihuly working with

chemists.  It is lighter than glass and allows him to explore new forms.

"Citron Tower" seen from opposite side with sun shining through, not on  it.

"Palazzo Ducale Tower"

"Palazzo Ducale Tower" close-up

Orchids growing alongside the "Palazzo Ducale Tower."

When the American Orchid Society, which used to be located in Boca Raton, went

bankrupt a few years ago, Fairchild Garden took all of the orchids and instead of putting

them in another greenhouse, they planted them all outdoors.  So now, wherever you walk,

you find wonderful orchide surprises growing on the ground and on the trees.

In the Gallery are a number of individual pieces by Chihuly for sale.

"Pearl White Nested Bowls"

The largest of the installations is "Blue Mille Fiori", stretching from the Palm Glade

all the way down to the lake.  The "Sapphire Star" stands at the head,

and many more pieces stretch along either side.

"The Sapphire Star"

Various parts of "Blue Mille Fiori"

Reeds, Floats, and Fiori

"Copper Herons" in the forest

"Green and White Herons" in the woods

"Red and Yellow Assymmetrical Tower #1"

"Red and Yellow Asymmetrical Tower #2"

"Najima Floats"  like Japanese fishermen's

"Najima Floats"

Orchids growing on a tree

"Blue Neon Tumbleweed"

"Gold and Clear Chandelier" in the restaurant

Gold and Clear Chandelier detail

Each of these is a separate piece of hand-blown glass.

They are all supported by a complex iron armature inside;

each piece is placed on a rod, like hats on a hatrack.

"Striped Reeds" in the forest

"Fiery Orange Baskets Bowls"

A Blue Morpho Butterfly in the new Butterfly House beside the restaurant.

"Queen's Wreath Vine" from Peru

"Queen's Wreath Vine" coseup.  It comes in both blue and lavender

"End of the Day Tower" in the greenhouse

"End of the Day Tower" closeup

Polyvitro Tower, in two sections.

Made of synthetic polyvitro material

Base section of Polyvtro Tower.

"Black and Green Spiny Reeds" in Madagascar Exhibit

"Green Frog's Foot Forms" in the Tropical Forest

Pale Blue Seaform Bowl with Yellow Lip

I hope you have enjoyed the virtual walk through Fairchild Gardens.

And I hope you have the opportunity to visit it for yourself soon.

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