Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania: A Sure to Please Retreat

Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania was started by Pierre DuPont many years ago and is a beautiful retreat to go to. People come from all over the world to see the famous DuPont estates and the wonderful gardens as well. Located on Route 1 in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, there are thousands of people who visit this estate from around the world.

Not only does the gardens have an out door theater, but they also have a conservatory with a children's garden, a ballroom and many acres of landscaped grounds including roses, a water garden and topiary. I saw Carmina Burana a twentieth century piece that has become quite popular. I had seen it once before in New Jersey and it had some great moments as performed by the Kennett Symphony. Mary Woodmansee Green was the conductor and was celebrating twenty years as working with the symphony in that position. She did an excellent job and was given gifts and flowers in celebration of this achievement. Valerie Haber is a young soprano who starred in the production along with Kyle Braford and Nathaniel Roper.

Also singing were the Mary Green Singers who were very good and really carried the production. Carl Orff lived between 1895 and 1982 and he asked that all his previous works be destroyed. While it is not a favorite of mine, it is picking up in popularity. While not a hedonistic piece, it did celebrate secular intellectualism.

The gardens also have fireworks scheduled on August 31^st for Labor Day weekend in the evening where the fireworks can be seen from the fountains. My friend introduced me to the gardens and I wasn't disappointed.

There was a whole room of orchids, a bunch of tropical rooms, even an indoor vegetable garden with peaches and nectarines growing neatly trimmed, and cantaloupes that hung from the ceiling. It is a picturesque place, everything is as close to perfection as possible and they have gardens not open to the public so they can grow the off season plants.

It is a magical place with the Pierce House telling the story of Pierre DuPont marrying his life long friend and taking over his father's company and turning it into the first real modern corporation. The DuPont Company has come a long way since its beginning supplying gunpowder to troops.

They even had the DuPont Song extolling the near superhuman virtues of the DuPont's. Which is really silly to me, since my name is DuPont but it is unlikely that I am related.

But anyway, it is a beautiful garden and I plan on seeing it again in a little while and I highly recommend anyone visiting Philadelphia area come by and visit it. It is really something to see.