Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens, just west of Philadelphia, is one of the best-kept botanical gardens in the U.S. Originally an arboretum created by a Quaker family in the early 19th century, it was purchased in the early 20th by Pierre DuPont (head of the DuPont chemical company) as a means to explore his gardening urge and preserve the park-like setting. I recently spent most of a day there, and won't burden you with all the pictures (!) but here are a few.

July is prime-time for perennial viewing and the annual beds are in full-bloom as well.


The native Culver's root, (above, Veronicastrum virginicum) is clearly a bee favorite.

At the center of the gigantic conservatory building is a courtyard that displays the collection of water lilies, including more of those Victorian-era gigantic water lilies than I've ever seen in one place.


Remember, those bright green things are about four feet wide.

There wasn't a label on this one, which was slightly greenish white with centers that varied in color:


Anyone have an idea what it is?

This type of caladium was repeated throughout the gardens. I love how it looks like pink rust:


This is my new favorite plant that can't be grown in Minnesota (except in a greenhouse): the Mexican tree fern, Cibotium schiedei: