From PhillyVoice · · 1m 40s
5,000 mums, trained for over a year
Longwood Gardens opens its Chrysanthemum Festival Oct. 16 with spirals, clouds and flowers stretched 10 feet long.
In brief
Longwood Gardens opens its Chrysanthemum Festival Oct. 16 with spirals, clouds and flowers stretched 10 feet long. The Chrysanthemum Festival runs Oct. 16 to Nov. 15 at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, and the shapes you see took horticulturists more than a year to grow. Originally reported by PhillyVoice.
Mums, but 10 feet long
Some chrysanthemums at Longwood this fall stretch as long as 10 feet. Others are trained into spirals, cascading clouds and a new double arch.
Opens Oct. 16
More than 5,000 chrysanthemum plants fill Longwood's East and Main conservatories starting Friday, Oct. 16.
A year of training
Longwood horticulturists shape many of the plants into sculptural forms by hand. The process can take more than a year per display.
“a process that can take more than a year”
The new double arch
This year adds a double chrysanthemum arch. Yellow, orange, lavender and maroon blooms run through the conservatories in spirals and clouds.
Stones made of flowers
A new Exhibition Hall display draws on suiseki, the Japanese practice of appreciating stones that look like mountains, islands and waterfalls.
A living curtain
Longwood translated those suiseki shapes into chrysanthemum forms up to 10 feet long, set against a backdrop made entirely of living mums.
Bonsai in the workshop
Longwood students and staff show chrysanthemums grown and shaped as bonsai in the Bonsai Workshop.
Meet Us at the Mums
On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 1 to 3 p.m., Longwood's science team answers questions across the conservatories. Included with admission, but register ahead.
Runs through Nov. 15
The festival is part of Longwood's Autumn's Colors season at the Kennett Square gardens, 1001 Longwood Rd., closing Nov. 15.
The bottom line
The Chrysanthemum Festival runs Oct. 16 to Nov. 15 at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, and the shapes you see took horticulturists more than a year to grow.
