The centerpiece of Longwood Gardens’ $250 million transformation plan, a new greenhouse-veranda committed to Mediterranean landscapes, will open to the public in November with festivities marking its novelties and programs.
The Kennett Square Botanical Reserve said its new West Conservatory, which has been under construction since early 2021, will begin Nov. 22. The task is one of several renovations set to open next year, adding a bonsai patio that sits next to the new veranda.
The roof of the greenhouse features a series of spikes over a 32,000-square-foot exhibit area that looks like a frame of water. Three exhibits will be installed on islands surrounded by basins, canals, bridges and low-lying fountains. A combination of wild and cultivated landscapes will rise from the ground to the roof, where some plants will hang from the ceiling.
“The West Conservatory marks the first time we’ve placed aquatic plants under glass,” said Paul Redman, president and CEO of Longwood Gardens. “The pools that form the base of this immersive landscaped garden will be filled with plants that are not only beautiful but interact enchantingly with the water. The horticultural display will be lush and colorful year-round with seasonal species adding to the visual interest and coloring the year.
Among the species planted this spring at the West Conservatory are aloe, laurel, blue flower and Greek horehound. Centuries-old cypresses and olive trees will stand atop the building’s tapestry of 60 permanent exhibits and around 90 species of rotating seasonal plants. The exhibition will highlight six geographical spaces with Mediterranean climates, from the coast of California and central Chile to the Cape region of South Africa.
Image provided/Weiss/Manfredi
A rendering of the new West Conservatory at Longwood Gardens.
IMAGE PROVIDED/Weiss/Manfredi
An aerial rendering of the new West Conservatory in Longwood Gardens.
Image provided/Weiss/Manfredi
The planned bonsai courtyard at Longwood Gardens is shown in the rendering above.
The supply expansion at Longwood Gardens will span 17 acres, which will better connect to the other buildings and exhibits surrounding the garden’s main fountain, which underwent a $90 million renovation completed in 2017.
Another newly constructed 3,800-square-foot greenhouse will be the Cascade Garden, designed in 1992 by Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. The relocation of the tropical turf to their new home will take place this spring and summer.
In May, a new terrace and terrace above the main fountain on the lawn will be opened to the public to coincide with the start of the water and gentle shows. The place for 1906 dining and events is located on the hillside surrounding the fountain.
Image provided/Weiss/Manfredi
A rendering of the terrace and square above the main fountain on the lawn of Longwood Gardens.
Other features of the ongoing expansion include new, administrative construction with a library and classrooms, the redevelopment of Waterlily Court, and the preservation of six historic Lord Greenhouses.
The design of the building is led by Weiss/Manfredi Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism and Reed Hilderbrand.
A series of members-only pre-days and special occasions will take place during the West Conservatory’s two-week opening celebration.
Longwood Gardens has operated as a public turf in Chester County since 1946, spanning more than 1,100 acres and adding curated displays, well-manicured outdoor fields and water features, as well as indoor displays. It was once owned by American businessman and conservationist Pierre S. du Pont. which has opened its sumptuous property to the public.
Last year, Longwood Gardens announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire the Granoge Estate, a 505-acre asset in northern Delaware that was once owned by the du Pont family. The site is about two miles from Longwood Gardens, which will act as the administrator. of the terrain and explore opportunities for public tours in the future.