Summer LONGWOOD 2016 CHIMES 293

1 No. 293 Pierre S. du Pont was an engineer at heart. His passion for technology and innovation is evident throughout our Gardens and is a driving force behind the beauty and spectacle of Longwood today. In this issue, we go behind our beauty to explore the machines, the mechanics, and the mindset that brings this beauty to life—from the technology used to grow extraordinary plants in our greenhouses, to the handcrafted work of our in-house artisans, join us as we examine how our beauty takes shape.

In Brief 6 8 10 A Royal Affair Turf War The Volunteer Spirit Professional Gardeners travel Keeping the grass greener is Beginning with a single volunteer abroad to volunteer at RHS’s an ongoing battle, but research in 1989, to more than 700 today, prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. is helping to win the war. volunteering is a tradition that By David Sleasman By Shawn Kister makes our Gardens flourish. By Aimee Beam

Features 18 28 34 The Art of the Trades In Control The Fountains of Longwood Meet some of the talented The science and systems Part Four: Mystic Grandeur tradesmen whose work behind growing our Encouraged by the success of is integral to our Gardens’ extraordinary plants. Longwood’s other fountains beauty. By Ryan Knauer and surrounded by the endless By Lynn Schuessler optimism of the Roaring Twenties, Pierre du Pont decided to create the ultimate fountain spectacle. 46 By Colvin Randall A Membership Moment From a few ‘Good Neighbors’ to 65,000 ‘Members,’ a look at Gardens Membership.

End Notes 48 Of Fountains and Fortunes Each year guests from around the world visit Longwood and leave behind coins they have tossed into our fountains, many of which are housed in the archives as a reminder of who visited and from where.

In Brief

Detail of a partially dismantled Worthington Model #5L2 pump, one of the original 1931 pumps in the Pumphouse of the Main Fountain Garden. The #5L2 is a 50 HP pump, running at 1,740 RPM, pumping 1,160 GPM, and capable of 121 feet of Total Dynamic Head (TDH = maximum pumping height capability from pump impeller to top of stream). Photo by Daniel Traub.

Education Professional Gardeners travel abroad to volunteer A Royal at RHS’s prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. Affair By David Sleasman

The Royal Horticulture Society’s (RHS) shirts and happily chat, “Are you from Did you see the Chelsea Flower Show is one of the most Longwood? How Lovely. Do you know Dancing Einsteins? Is prestigious flower shows in the United so and so?!” New connections are made. Kingdom, if not the world. The level of Old friends and former Longwood students that Lady Mary Keen design and the quality of plantsmanship reconnect. is extreme. Hardly any expense is spared. As the displays grow closer to talking to Fergus As part of our Professional Gardener completion, the BBC and other television Program, our senior PGs are exploring crews are recording interviews with Garret? Dame Judi British horticulture in a two-week trip designers and shooting close-ups of the Dench just walked from Cornwall and Devon to London and gardens. The gardens and displays are ending at the National Trust’s Waddesdon stunning. Each one appears as if it has been past me… Manor, Buckinghamshire. One of the most in place for years with large, established exciting segments of the trip is a stop to trees, buildings, and structures. Wow. volunteer during the build-in of the great As time passes, gardeners are becoming Chelsea Flower Show. Build-in is a two-day, more intent and focused on details. coordinated, but mad-dash effort by all As a reward for their work, the PG the vendors and demonstration garden class is invited to preview the entire show exhibitors to stage the show. Everything during the exclusive Press Day on Monday, must be perfect. Judging will occur on the first of the official opening events. Press Day and everyone is very serious. The day is sunny and beautiful. Everyone Early on Saturday morning PGs Jenna, is dressed and ready to impress—gardens Hannah, Martha, Sarah, Rob, Emily, and people. And what an impression! Jason, and staff chaperones Mark Mosinski Today the show is just as much about and Doug Needham arrive for assignments the people as the gardens. The stars of and safety training. With so many large the British horticultural world are here lifts and power equipment moving in addition to celebrities and some everywhere, steel-toed shoes and high- former Longwood Graduate Program visibility vests are a must. Trolleys and students and international interns. … carts of plant material are jamming Did you see the Dancing Einsteins? Is the aisles everywhere. The quality and that Lady Mary Keen talking to Fergus variety of the plants is breathtaking, Garrett? Dame Judi Dench just walked and their luxuriousness and fragrance is past me. The PGs wander and wonder almost unbelievable. to see all the finished displays inside and The group is asked by RHS staff to outside the Grand Pavilion. The gardens coordinate the assembly of benches and are even more perfect than yesterday containers using donated plants from the with last-minute touches . It’s a very vendors, and to assist Bowdens Hostas with special treat to experience the show Opposite: its main exhibit in the Grand Pavilion. before the crowds. Press Day ends Professional Gardener seniors and accompanying Teams target particular vendors for midafternoon and the Queen arrives chaperones were on full donations of plants, soil, and mulch, while shortly after for the royal viewing. display throughout build- others work to plant each container and Tomorrow the crush of ticketholders in and Press Day for the Chelsea Flower Show. label it. Repeatedly during the days will arrive, and the PGs head to their Photos by David Sleasman. of work, vendors see the PG’s Longwood next stop, Waddesdon Manor.

Horticulture Keeping the grass greener is an ongoing Turf battle, but research is helping to win the war. War By Shawn Kister

Although we are perhaps best known determine the influence of mowing Our final research project began in the for our acres of colorful floral displays, frequency on weed encroachment in fall of 2015, when we installed a National we also tend 185 acres of turf throughout naturalized grass species. This trial was Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) trial the Gardens, which can be just as performed with the support of Dr. Pete to determine the rate of establishment, stand challenging to maintain as our floral Landschoot, Professor of Turfgrass Science density, weed species, and cover, along with beauty. Keeping turf looking pristine at the Penn State University Park campus. aesthetic characteristics of 32 cool-season requires a combination of skill and The research found that mowing three turfgrasses and mixes. This trial is also being knowledge that comes from years of times per year or one time per month aided by Dr. Fidanza who will help with the experience. And as many homeowners significantly reduced the weed pressure plot ratings over the five-year trial period. with just small yards can attest, it isn’t easy. in naturalized grass areas while reducing NTEP trials are established across the To help arm us in the ongoing struggle, mowing frequency. Both mowing frequencies country and aid professional turfgrass we engage in a variety of research to produced aesthetically acceptable turfgrass managers with evaluating turfgrass species identify the best practices, techniques, stands with minimal weeds. Creeping and cultivars under many different criteria. and cultivars we can use to grow and red fescue, hard fescue, and turf type tall All of this information is available online maintain our turf in the most aesthetically fescue performed best under these mowing free of charge, so if you are looking for pleasing, ecological, and efficient way frequencies in this trial. As a result, we help with your own turf challenges, visit possible. Currently, we are in the midst initiated another trial to look at two http://www.ntep.org/. of three active turfgrass research projects. establishment regimes using the three Each of these trials has, or will, help The first trial is designed to evaluate aforementioned species of turfgrass. One guide our turfgrass program by providing eight cultivars of turf type tall fescue to establishment technique involved scalping valuable information for species and determine which perform the best under the existing vegetation and seeding into maintenance programs. The findings allow Longwood’s turfgrass management the soil while the other technique involved us to more efficiently manage our turf, program over a five-year period. We killing the existing vegetation and then often reducing the amount of intervention partnered with Dr. Mike Fidanza, Professor seeding. The second option was the needed to achieve the desired aesthetic and of Plant and Soil Sciences at the Penn State traditional method used and the one we ecological goals. The grass can always be University Berks Campus, to assist us with found worked best for establishing turfgrass. greener… with some help from research. the evaluation of the plots. All of the cultivars are commercially available and the trial is being conducted in the Idea Garden so guests can view the plots as the research progresses. The cultivars are being evaluated by Dr. Fidanza monthly for a number of criteria, including establishment time (how long it takes an area to be covered by plant material), turf quality, Left: turf color, stand density (how many Dr. Pete Landschoot, Professor individual plants are in the area), percent of Turfgrass Science at Penn State University Park campus, ground cover (percent of area covered with and Longwood Section the selected plant material), plant quality Groundskeeper Mike Raign, during heat/drought stress, and disease in the feld surveying a turf trial being conducted to assess resistance to Brown Patch. (Brown Patch establishment regimes for three is the most common disease for turf type different species of grasses. tall fescue, so cultivars resistant to the Opposite: disease are highly sought.) Detail of creeping red fescue Another ongoing trial is the result of plot cut three times per year. a previous research project that helped Photos by Hank Davis.

Legacy The Volunteer Spirit

He may not have known it at the time, but Sally Kutyla, Volunteer Services Beginning with a single in 1989 Hugo Taraboletti started one of Manager, says the biggest advancement volunteer in 1989, to the most important programs at Longwood is in the growth of our Guest Services when he became our first volunteer, Volunteer teams. “More than half of more than 700 today, assisting with the care of our orchids. all of our volunteers serve in a guest Today, Longwood couldn’t flourish like it engagement role,” says Kutyla. “This volunteering is a does without our Volunteer Program, as allows us as an institution to make more than 700 volunteers work alongside better connections and have a bigger tradition that makes staff in every department. “We couldn’t and brighter impact on our guests. our Gardens flourish. achieve all we do without our staff and Our volunteers help enhance the guest volunteers collectively working together experience, share our Longwood story, By Aimee Beam to contribute more than 65,000 volunteer and help connect to our community.” hours every year to make us one of the Beyond our year-round volunteers, great gardens of the world,” says Executive we engage another 300 volunteers who Director Paul B. Redman. come as part of corporate teams to help Over the past 27 years the Volunteer with large-scale, one-day projects such Program has grown in size and as bulb and native grass plantings. opportunity. Our first volunteer-led team Volunteering spans generations, was the Christmas Team, and now there too. Since 2013, our Teen Volunteer are more than a dozen teams of which Program has accepted 12 new teens to be a part. From gardening in the annually along with the returning classes Conservatory to educating guests about of teen volunteers. These teens have the our history, from leading bird walks in opportunity to work with our docents, the Meadow Garden to making ornaments horticulture team, and education staff. with our Christmas display team, from The program is inspiring teens to look at conducting research with our archives horticulture as a viable career, something team to identifying plants with our they may not have realized. “We are so phenology team, from photographing grateful for all of our volunteers’ talents, the Gardens to growing and caring for our and the energy that they bring to their beautiful display plants, from welcoming roles. They are able to explore, learn, our guests and answering questions … the and make friends while helping make list of their roles never ends nor does their our Gardens a better place … it’s a win impact on our Gardens. for us all,” says Kutyla.

Opposite, clockwise the Meadow Boardwalk; with seasonal changeover; hand-crafted ornaments for from top left: volunteer Vallerie Hunt crafts Volunteer Services A Longwood Christmas; A corporate volunteer from a Christmas topiary; W. L. Manager Sally Kutyla and volunteer Karen Comolli W. L. Gore & Associates Gore & Associates volunteer Executive Director Paul B. helping a young guest make spreading mulch; Volunteer shoveling mulch; Bluebird Redman present a 25-year a paper lantern during Night Team badges; Bluebird and Team volunteers Bob Eaves, Service Award to volunteer of 1000 Lights. Photos by Meadow Team volunteers Jeannie Ogle, Dick Gies, and Carol Majors at the 2016 Nancy Bowley, Paula Butera- Paula McLean, Gerry Phil Ebert inspect a bluebird Volunteer Appreciation Kunkel, Steve Fellows, Steve Neeson, Bob Eaves, and house; Bank of America event; Christmas Decor Fenton, and William Hill. Kevin McLean gather on corporate volunteers assist Team volunteers making

1 11 Volunteer Spotlight In their own words

Bob Eaves Mary Lou Gantzer Shyuan Hsia Mary Jane Pahls Pat Saia Kaleigh Marr Patti Durning Nanette Morrone

“Throughout all my volunteer “I have learned a great deal “I’ve had a love of gardening ever “Initially, volunteering at “Words can’t express how “Volunteering at Longwood “What I find so special about “Volunteering at Longwood fills roles, I find joy in seeing that our about plants, ecology, and since I was a child…so to get to Longwood was a way for me to rewarding it is to have the chance has influenced my life in volunteering at Longwood is my life with beauty, color, and guests are almost transformed sustainability as a volunteer. volunteer at Longwood Gardens get away from the computer. to help guests understand how many ways and has shown me the culture and people. All of wonder. In working with orchids, when visiting. I believe it’s the I have always enjoyed learning, and help care for plants such as Over time it’s become the place our Meadow Garden works and what I want in my life in the the staff are very skilled at what I feel like I am traveling around beauty, diversity and scale of and find that the learning just chrysanthemums, poinsettias, where I’ve made wonderful why natural lands like it are so future. I want to be a part of a they do … and they are beyond the world since Longwood’s Longwood that provides an continues, even now in my and tulips that are about to friends, worked with incredibly important. When our Meadow team, and work with people to generous with sharing their collection spans the globe. escape, and gives our guests a retirement. I have met lots of make their way into our artful talented staff and other Garden reopened in June of 2014 make something that others knowledge and experience. What is most special to me, and chance to relax from their daily great people—guests, other horticulture displays is like volunteers, talked to and been so many guests expressed to me can enjoy. I want to be able to I also can’t forget to mention what I am most grateful for, are routine and issues. I consider volunteers, and Longwood staff. living a dream. I get such joy educated by people from all how happy they were to be able work in an environment like the beauty of Longwood … the Longwood staff I have the myself extremely fortunate to It really feels good when a guest in seeing the plants I know I over the world, learned new to visit the Meadow again and Longwood, where everyone is I wake up at 6 am with a smile, privilege to work alongside… have Longwood in my life. It’s remembers your name, is happy had a part in helping grow on skills, and had more interesting how impressed they were with all friendly, creative, passionate, and am elated to get to go they make me feel like I am part family to me, my other home.” to see you again, and recalls the display in the Conservatory and experiences than I could possibly of the new paths, pavilions, and and energetic … There is so volunteer. It’s joyful walking of the Longwood family.” conversations we have shared outdoor Gardens.” recount.” features.” much planning, creativity, through the doors.” Volunteer Since 2008 Volunteer Since 2012 in the past.” and teamwork that goes Volunteer Since 2004 Volunteer Since 2003 Volunteer Since 2014 Volunteer Since 2013 Volunteer Teams into making Longwood as Volunteer Teams Conservatory and Meadow Garden Volunteer Since 2010 Volunteer Team Volunteer Teams Volunteer Teams Volunteer Teams West Conservatory and Orchids Docent, Bluebird Program Leader, Meadow Garden Steward, successful as it is, and by being Christmas Team and East Volunteer Teams Horticultural Production Main Conservatory, Orchids, Conservatory, and New Volunteer Meadow Bloom Log, Meadow Conservatory and Meadow a teen volunteer I was able to Conservatory Orientation Leader Conservatory Docent Team, Gardener Teams Meadow Garden Docent Team, Garden Walks and Hikes Leader, see and take part in that.” and Children’s Garden Team and Horticulture Information Team Leader Teen Volunteer Since 2014

Photographs by Heather Coletti. Photo of Heather Coletti by Laurie Carrozzino.

1 1 Duane Erdmann Heather Coletti Chris Sperber Ger Meeuwissen Wan Yin Jung Ken Cangin Carol Majors W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

“Guests are usually in a jaw- “For much of my professional life, “Even though my role is “Being a chemical engineer “Although I love working “One of the many reasons I enjoy “I am an avid birdwatcher, and “Volunteering gives our associates dropping, wowed frame of I’ve been an academic. Working strictly behind-the-scenes I have a lot of interest in in all different areas of the volunteering at Longwood first starting going on monthly a chance to work side by side mind when they step into the at Longwood allows me to put with managing volunteer hours investigating and learning Conservatory, I especially is that I have the unique bird walks that Larry Lewis in a beautiful setting. Our Orchid House. I’ve heard guests to use an entire set of skills that and performing any handyman new things like geology and like volunteering in the opportunity to share with our led back in the late 1980s. In associates love gleaning tips say, “Look at all these varieties. I value but can’t fit into other work at student housing on biology. At Longwood I have Fern Passage as I am an avid guests information about the 1991 when it was announced from Longwood experts as Are they really all orchids? Can areas of my life. It also allowed Red Lion Row, I still get the had the opportunity to pursue enthusiast of a particular fern beautifully restored 10,010-pipe Longwood was creating a Birding we weed, mulch, prune, and you believe that color? Maybe me to be the student instead same satisfaction as our these interests in a beautiful family commonly known as organ from 1929 and tell them Team, I jumped at the chance to deadhead together, and more. I should try growing one again. of the college professor. I love volunteers who get to interact outdoor setting and I get to help staghorn ferns. As someone about Pierre S. du Pont and the be a volunteer—and I’ve enjoyed At the end of the day, our Gore Let me get a picture. This is volunteering at Longwood for with our guests on a daily Longwood at the same time.” who grows these ferns and legacy that he left … The scope sharing my passion by leading associates feel like they’ve helped worth the price of admission.” the same reason that I’ve loved basis … I feel like what I do Volunteer Since 2009 has a small collection of and breadth of The Longwood bird walks ever since.” contribute to the success and It is great to be a part of this working at a university: it’s a is important and allows the different species of this family, Organ is truly amazing. The beauty of Longwood… which Volunteer Teams Volunteer Since 1991 display. Having grown orchids hive buzzing with some of Longwood employees to focus Phenology, Flower Garden Walk, I am able to learn about other smile on our guests’ faces when Our longest serving volunteer is truly amazing.” for more than 40 years, it is also the hardest workers and most on their core responsibilities to and Meadow Garden ferns. It has given me a greater it is playing and the music itself Volunteer Team Corporate Volunteer Partner enjoyable to come in and follow amazing creative thinkers I’ve make Longwood one of the great appreciation of fern culture, always brightens my day.” Bird Team Leader Since 2008 the progress of Longwood’s ever met.” display gardens of the world.” growth, and plant diversity. In Volunteer Since 2012 5,000-plus plants. As a scientist, appreciation of everything that Volunteer Since 2014 Volunteer Since 1995 I like collecting data, seeing the volunteering at Longwood has Volunteer Teams Visitor Center Garden Ambassador, bloom patterns, and helping Volunteer Teams Volunteer Teams meant to me, I donated one Photography and Longwood Volunteer Records Management Organ and Pipes Gallery Docent, to create the digital database. Blogger and Student Housing Maintenance of my staghorn fern species, a Photography, and Garden Railway Having pursued photography Platycerium elephantotis that for most of my life, I also Longwood did not have in its enjoy capturing the beauty, collection.” uniqueness, and essence of Volunteer Since 2013 these flowers in a way that can be shared with all of our fans.” Volunteer Teams West Conservatory and Orchids Volunteer Since 2009 Volunteer Teams Phenology (Orchids), and Photography

1 1 Features Corinthian column capital, limestone, circa 1930, from the Love Temple. Originally sited on the West Game Lawn of the Main Fountain Garden, Pierre du Pont purchased the structure in 1933 for $2,500 from the William H. Jackson Company of New York City. A letter in Mr. du Pont’s rresndene fle refers to a Pergola with a hand- wrought dome and orsera stone base. The components of this Love Temple, including the large iron dome, have been in storage at Longwood since the 1990s. Longwood Gardens Library & Archives. Photo by Daniel Traub.

1 1 The Arts Meet some of the talented tradesmen whose work is integral to our Gardens’ beauty. By Lynn Schuessler

Senior Plumber Bret Shelly in the Italian Water Garden, checking to ensure every nozzle is “lined up perfectly” and functioning properly.

Photographs by Daniel Traub Art of the

Trades1 1 Left: Wayne Bender in his element —the Boiler Room of the Conservatory. Below: The “K-3” boiler, one of three boilers that circulate heat through the Conservatory.

It’s 7:00 am and Wayne Bender, Mechanical mentoring, working alongside Ed Detwiler, Wayne’s four-man team works 12-hour Section Lead, is wrapping up a twelve-hour John Kerr, and Jack Strouth before they “If we lose steam mid- shifts, alternating a month of nights shift of checking gauges, monitoring draft retired; and through a wealth of on-the- winter, we lose the with a month of days from late September pressures, and looking for anomalies that job experience. through mid-May. Over the previous six might hint at trouble in the three boilers The heat plant at Longwood includes plants, and we can’t months, they produced 37 million pounds and half-mile maze of pipes that circulate three pumps that bring water to the boilers, of steam, using three-and-a-half million heat through the Conservatory. where flames burn at 2,000 degrees to get them back. We can gallons of water, 88 percent of which Not only is Wayne at home here—he create the steam—1,600 cups of steam for was recycled. lives on the grounds and is often called if every cup of water—that powers its way by never let the heat fail.” Wayne is proud of the boiler room’s a problem arises—but he is also in his virtue of its pressure to every indoor garden. —Wayne Bender, Mechanical Section Lead uptime. “If we lose steam midwinter we element. Wayne’s element is steam, and It includes the air valves and thermostats and lose the plants, and we can’t get them back. his job is to keep the plants warm. After the distinctive whoosh in the greenhouses We can never let the heat fail.” 25 years, he knows the system—how it as steam gives up its heat and water is If the Facilities Department at Longwood works, how it breaks, how to fix it. Like reclaimed. It includes the snow melters Gardens is a round-the-clock operation, it many Longwood tradesmen, he reaped his where glass walls meet roofs; it includes also covers a lot of ground. “We’re our own knowledge through education; through the warm radiators beneath your feet. little town,” says Senior Electrician Benny

1 Rigoroso, “with our own water supply, problem-solving. He describes his 30 sewer, and electrical substation.” years at Longwood as “fun and Add to that the skill set of its tradesmen, frustrating, challenging and rewarding.” an infrastructure as extensive and as Although he completed an integral to Longwood’s operation apprenticeship in pipe fitting at the as its physical plant. When he started in Philadelphia Navy Yard, Bret says that 1996, Benny knew he could depend on the Longwood Gardens, with its fountains expertise of John Miller (now Electrical and waterlily pools, requires on-the-job Lead). “But I also dug into stuff myself, to learning. “They say you can stick a man on build confidence. At first, whenever I was an aircraft carrier and it will take him a on call, I was uncomfortable. Later, I wanted week to find his way out. It’s the same here.” to get the calls.” Like the Christmas evening He credits Brian Vahey, who still works when a power blip threw the Gardens into at Longwood part-time, with teaching him darkness, or the Memorial Day Weekend to slow down, look, and listen until he when a fountain pipe broke and flooded figures out the problem at hand. Over the the pump house. years Bret has brainstormed such mysteries Benny has always loved the fountains. as faulty check valves that caused the Before the Main Fountain Garden controls irrigation system to dilute fertilizer lines; and lighting could be updated in 1999– the hookup of effluent irrigation to 2000, he spent two-and-a-half months outdoor gardens; the backup of water in lily tracing wires, since things had changed pools; and deteriorating bathroom pipes. here and there over the Garden’s 70-year “There’s so much old stuff around life span. With the current revitalization here,” says Bret. With the old Main project, Longwood has constructed a Fountain Garden, for example, “we had new electrical substation to support the to make parts if something broke—we fountains, existing Gardens, and all future couldn’t buy them.” He says the new growth within the Master Plan. Fountain Garden will be amazing and That’s part of the challenge and will require a lot of retraining, “with new charm of working at Longwood—“the nozzles we’ve never experienced.” infrastructure ranges from the early 1900s Bret speaks of a push for perfection to modern technology, so you have to be at Longwood that is always on display, able to shift gears from a 1930s starter in but the elements of which are often hidden the boiler room to a new variable-frequency from view. The Italian Water Garden, for drive.” At least Longwood no longer uses instance, which he was about to test for manholes; Longwood has designed the current season, is breathtaking because electrical control rooms that are built “every nozzle is lined up perfectly.” into the ground and look like part of the Besides pipes and wires, infrastructure Gardens. “You open a door and walk in. at Longwood includes metal, wood, They’re clean, safe, and well lit.” stone—materials that provide form and “Most people don’t understand the frame, texture and structure—the often magnitude of the infrastructure,” says unseen branches upon which the artistry Benny. “A great part of our job is meeting of the Gardens unfurls. people and explaining what it takes In the metal shop, Senior Mechanic/ electronically to run a garden of this size.” Fabricator Dave Beck shapes steel that Senior Plumber Bret Shelly says that supports the symmetry of our Thousand running a greenhouse takes a lot of Bloom Mum, the drape of an orchid curtain Senior Electrician Benny Rigoroso threading conduit “Most people don’t understand the on a Ridgid power threading machine in the electric shop. magnitude of the infrastructure. A great part of our job is meeting people and explaining what it takes electronically to run a garden of this size.” —Benny Rigoroso, Senior Electrician

in Exhibition Hall, and the twine of vines the art of making frames for the Thousand lathe. “No CNC (computer numeric control) Ken came to Longwood in 1993, Pierre S. du Pont in the 1930s. Due to decline, over arbors in our East Conservatory. Bloom Mum. He took photographs, made machines here,” Dave says proudly. “All “No CNC (computer learning from Roy Simmers, John Yoder, the trees were removed from Conifer Knoll Dave apprenticed with Bob Nead sketches, then sculpted his knowledge into manually operated machines in this shop. numeric control) and Dave McCleary. “Some guys don’t in 2012 and the wood sat uncut, awaiting before Nead’s retirement in 2001, and then the system that Longwood uses today. Human hands need to touch something share secrets,” he says, “but they were the perfect use—awaiting the Beer Hut, partnered with Jack Carrigan—someone In turn, Dave enjoys sharing practical for it to be art.” machines here… All happy to share everything they knew.” which Ken’s team built for the opening of Dave looked up to—until Dave Thomson knowledge with Professional Gardener Sometimes a design idea comes to Ken The equipment he uses dates from the Nightscape in 2015—when something old filled Carrigan’s footsteps eight years ago. students as they plan their Student Stapleford as a computer-aided drawing, manually operated late ’60s and early ’70s. “I like the feel of became something new. Beck’s first project, the espalier in Exhibition Garden, a project that encourages sometimes as a napkin sketch. Either way, doing things the old way,” says Ken. “But “We’re very fortunate,” says Ken, “to have the Estate Fruit House, was also his most them to blend hardscape and sculpture it’s his job as Lead of the Finishes Section, machines in this shop. you need to know the old and the new, the resources we do—materials, craftsmen, memorable. “I had to push through it into garden design. One such sculpture sits which includes carpentry and painting, to Human hands need so I keep up on trade shows for the latest good attitude. We don’t have to cut corners. hard to figure it out,” he says. Today’s outside his shop window, because he can’t “put the nuts and bolts to an idea and get technology.” Perfection doesn’t come for free.” guests still enjoy this two-dimensional yet bear to turn it to scrap. In the front of it done on time.” to touch something The old and the new sit side by side at Civil Section Lead Bob McLimans heads wire landscape of nectarine branches, the shop sits a large loader bucket he’s Barely fitting inside Ken’s shop are Longwood, and sometimes it’s hard to tell up the equipment operators and stone blossoms, and fruit. fixing for a machine that makes compost. the nuts and bolts of an arch, a mock-up for it to be art.” them apart. Like the bookcases Ken made masons who sweep and haul snow from “Most guys get into metal for its On a smaller scale, an 18-inch hanging for this year’s Chrysanthemum Festival. —Dave Beck, Senior Mechanic/Fabricator for the 2008 Music Room Christmas the parking lots and maintain a myriad of mechanical aspect,” says Dave. But basket—a staple of Longwood’s floral “Ninety percent of displays use mock-ups,” display. “The objective was to make it look stone walls and walkways before Longwood Longwood bridges mechanics and aesthetics. displays—is in need of repair. he explains, “to get a sense of scale and to like they’d always been there,” to make guests arrive each day. “But we’re not just About five years ago, Dave traveled to Japan Surrounding these metal objects are see what the display will look like.” Ken something new look old. equipment and walls,” he says. with Horticulture Technical Specialist the machines that made them: bandsaw, puts effort into each one, hoping to use it Then there are the four giant sequoias “We work on irrigation lines with Yoko Arakawa to learn, from the masters, belt sander, tig (tungsten inert gas) welder, in the final product. (Sequoiadendron giganteum), planted by plumbers, cultural storage with archives,

Opposite: Dave Beck in the metal shop amidst material racks containing a wide variety of structural stainless steel.

Right: A 32-ounce cross peen hammer sits atop the metal shop’s 114-pound anvil, made in Sweden by Paragon.

“We’re very fortunate to have the resources we do—materials, craftsmen, good attitude. We don’t have to cut corners. Perfection doesn’t come for free.” —Ken Stapleford, Finishes Section Lead

and furniture moves with administration. Operating Procedures and construction by the Chimes Tower about ten years Every day is an adventure.” The section is photographs. ago. Where does a public garden find housed at Whitewing, a perimeter area that Recently his section dug a trench a Zamboni? Well, if you’re Longwood, was once a horse farm. Before they could drain to control erosion in the Meadow you make one—out of a used golf cart and utilize it, they used their cranes to remove Garden, and ran new underground utilities a scraper that was probably fabricated in the stalls. to the Terrace Tent and Beer Garden. the metal shop. “As long as you work at Bob, who was an equipment operator They lift pots from the waterlily pools so Longwood, you’ve never seen it all.” for the state highway before joining Senior Gardener Tim Jennings can change Without the strength of our unseen Above: Bob McLimans, performing Longwood ten years ago, absorbed the the soil; bring refrigerators to the tents infrastructure, the beauty of our Gardens an excavation of a leaking knowledge of Barry Smith, a mason with for Wine & Jazz; help arborists take trees would itself remain unseen—a designer’s underground irrigation pipe 30-plus years of experience, and Ralph down and help gardeners put decorations dream, a drawing on a napkin. In all, our at the Nursery using a John Deere mini-excavator and McKeown, an equipment operator of up … and the list goes on. Facilities Department includes 50 men hand shovel. 43 years. Now he’s trying to extend that One of the more unusual pieces of and women whose skills make the finished Right: knowledge through improved equipment Bob has operated at Longwood product look seamless, almost effortless. Finishes Section Lead Ken documentation, including use of Standard was a Zamboni, to smooth the ice rink That’s the art of the trades. Stapleford in the wood shop. Horticulture The science and Photographs by Hank Davis systems behind In growing our extraordinary plants. Control By Ryan Knauer

An Argus sensor monitors a crop of Matthiola ‘Katz Bright Rose’ at Longwood’s production greenhouse facility.

Oh, the adventures of a Gardener. We all almost any ingredient available. This gives The first, a shade curtain, is used to alleviate have stories about wildlife, crazy weather, us the control we want. Even after this, we plant stress by reducing the amount of or plant failures for one reason or another. do regular testing to ensure that the bright midday sun. The second piece of Hopes were high, time and money were chemistry of our growing media starts and equipment is a blackout curtain, which spent, and then because of uncontrollable stays in optimal range, because controlling reduces the light inside a greenhouse to factors, things just didn’t work out. If only what’s underground pays back in the form nighttime levels. Many plants, such as you could control all the light, temperature, of plant growth. chrysanthemums and poinsettias, initiate water, and nutrients your plants get, what Another factor that is always on a flowering when the nights get long. would your garden look like then? Well, grower’s mind when looking at a crop is Blackout curtains prevent problems from at Longwood, our growers use science and temperature. With outside temperatures, artificial light pollution and can trick technology to do just that. Manipulating there is very little to control; we take what plants into flowering at unnatural times these factors allows us to create fresh and we get. This is the major reason why peak of the year. Grow lights are often used for exciting displays every day of the year. color for our spring bulb display varies the opposite effect (to keep plants from Here is a little insight into the varied and from year to year. However, with our flowering) but can also add more light intricate systems and techniques we use Christmas display always opening on energy for plant growth when sunlight to grow crops for display. Thanksgiving Day, you can begin to levels are low. To control this equipment, As all gardeners know, happy plants understand why controlling temperatures growers are always thinking about light start with healthy roots. For a crop at for our greenhouse crops is so important. in two ways: intensity and accumulation. Longwood, one of the most important Growers primarily think of and control It’s similar to thinking about rain. If it’s factors affecting root growth is our temperatures in three ways: average daily pouring rain, we think about how fast “growing media” recipe. We don’t see temperature, soil temperature, and rain is falling; this is similar to light this as just “dirt” or “soil” because we temperature difference between day and intensity. If it rains all day, we think about have designed it with specific purposes night. Average daily temperature of the air how much is in the rain gauge; this is in mind, and we can adjust it according to within the greenhouse helps us time our similar to light accumulation. The Argus the plant’s needs. When designing our plants and the development of flower buds. system measures light in these two ways growing media, we are primarily thinking Maintaining sufficient soil temperature is and uses these readings to close shade about controlling the oxygen, water, important for root growth and nutrient curtains when light intensity is too high chemistry, and biological life around the uptake and is managed by heating our and to turn on lights when light roots of our plants. It is vital to maintain irrigation water and greenhouse benches. accumulation is lower than the plants these optimal conditions for great plant Lastly, setting the difference between day would prefer. Although there is no great health. For this reason, growers spend a and night temperatures helps us control substitute for quality sunlight, growers use lot of time setting up and controlling how tall our plants get. This is a lot of these tools to control plant growth and conditions within the pot, using various temperature control happening all at flowering throughout the year. ingredients to strike the perfect balance the same time, so in our most advanced Longwood’s growers use sophisticated of minerals, water, and oxygen. Getting this greenhouses, we rely heavily on technology and techniques to control right is also our first defense against root programming software made by Argus plants even beyond what is mentioned diseases, but to decrease risk we add certain Control Systems that allows us to manage above. This helps us manage our crops fungal spores to our growing media that by computer all the fans, vents, thermal efficiently and effectively and makes us compete against harmful fungi and prevent blankets, and steam heat. The result is capable of growing plants when others them from infecting our plants. Since we that sensors control the root and shoot cannot. However, with more than 1,000 use about 40 different growing media temperatures of our plants day and night. floral crops grown here each year, our recipes and mix about 600 cubic yards Programming the Argus system also team of growers will always be busy solving each year, we rely on a custom machine helps us manage the light energy that problems and nurturing plants. Art, to help us make this possible. The Bouldin our crops receive by operating three major science, and technology coincide in our & Lawson media machine is computer pieces of greenhouse equipment either production greenhouses, and impact operated and can make custom mixes using to limit sunlight or add artificial light. almost every display our visitors enjoy. …with more than 1,000 Left: floral crops grown here An extensive network of piping throughout the facility delivers heat, water and fertilizer to the crop. each year, our team of Opposite, clockwise from top left: growers will always be Cooling Pad in background keeps greenhouse slightly cooler than outdoor air temperature; Drip busy solving problems irrigation delivers water and fertilizer to potted plants; Volunteers work and nurturing plants. under grow lights on an overcast day; Grower Ryan Knauer closely monitors data from the Argus Control System via a desktop work station.

1 This page, clockwise from top left: Intern Ryan Kniola loads perlite into the Bouldin & Lawson media mixing machine; growing media travels along belt; the fnal i is dred int a hopper capable of holding one cubic yard of media.

Since we use about 40 different growing media recipes and Opposite: mix about 600 cubic In spite of all of the automated technology on hand, much yards each year, we of the day-to-day effort still requires a human touch. Here, grower Gale Brewer removes rely on a custom ale ers f eriallis ‘Longwood Blue’ to control machine to help us cross-pollination. Seed from these plants will be used to make this possible. grow future crops. The Fountains of Longwood: Part Four Mystic Grandeur

In 1928, Pierre S. du Pont purchased In oral histories by the men who built Encouraged by the what was probably the largest boxwood the fountains, there is the occasional success of Longwood’s ever moved—12 feet high, 25 feet in mention of how Mr. du Pont virtually diameter, 75–80 feet in circumference, improvised the layout, telling the men to other fountains and with a 13.5-foot-diameter root ball 3 feet construct this or that without explaining deep. It supposedly had been brought how the individual parts related to the surrounded by the from England in 1720. It cost $8,250 and whole. However, the earliest drawings, took Lewis & Valentine three days to from June 1929, suggest that Pierre worked endless optimism of dig and load and three days to move 46 with his top men to create an integrated the Roaring Twenties, miles in a 40-ton-capacity dray from Ella system which, nevertheless, freely evolved Ball’s country residence five miles west of as ideas arose. Men lower down the ladder Pierre du Pont decided Lancaster in East Hempfield Township. were not as privy to as much information. The August move was featured in the Mr. du Pont’s hydraulic concept for to create the ultimate local papers, where it was noted that the the new system reflected, at least partially, fountain spectacle. boxwood had a State Police escort, 16 what he had seen in Europe, especially attendants, and its own publicity manager. at Vaux-le-Vicomte in 1925, although he By Colvin Randall It was planted as the centerpiece of the contemplated but discarded that concept future fountain garden. when building the Italian Water Garden By this time, encouraged by the success and Open Air Theatre. When designing of Longwood’s other fountains and the new installation four years later, he surrounded by the endless optimism of the returned to the idea of an elevated reservoir Roaring Twenties, Pierre decided to create at the highest nearby spot, on the hill the ultimate fountain spectacle inspired south of the Rectangular Basin. One, two, by his recollections of various world’s fairs, or three 100-HP, 4,000-GPM pumps filled especially the 1893 World’s Columbian a 42,600-gallon hilltop reservoir through Exposition, and by European gardens. four 15-inch pipes that were buried in the

Left: Guests atop the Loggia enjoy a nighttime display, Main Fountain Garden, 1958. ht y ttlie aer ngd Gardens Library & Archives. Right: Large boxwood near Lancaster, PA, purchased by Pierre du Pont for the Main Fountain Garden, 1928. Image from photo album titled “The Development of Longwood Gardens prepared for Mr. and Mrs. P.S. du Pont compliments of Lewis & Valentine Co.”

Right: ilifed illustratin elains the basic hydraulic system for the Main Fountain Garden. The reservoir located under the Eye of Water is part of the original 1929–31 construction, although the Eye was not inaugurated until 1968. Illustration by Rebecca Clarke

Mechanical Statistics Entire system holds 675,000 gallons Recirculates 10,000 gallons per minute during full display 18 pumps range up to 100 HP each There are 229 separate jets, 151 scuppers and spouts Two 40 HP air compressors help propel the 20 largest jets 17.3 million display Left to right: combinations are possible Chimes Tower elevation, during a 30-minute evening 1929–1930. display Pierre du Pont snapshot of Vauvert Tower at Châtillon- Coligny, July 13, 1925.

hillside. Through “tee” connections, these 1931. An east/west Upper Canal nearest Coligny on the Loing River in France, which same pipes also ran to a 36-foot × 30-inch the Conservatory was built adjoining an Pierre visited in 1925, with the addition of 25 header (a giant manifold or supply pipe) existing boxwood hedge. A water stairs tubular chimes costing $15,850 from the J.C. in the Pumphouse, to which all the (replaced by a regular stairway in 1935) Deagan Company of Chicago. fountain displays and their booster pumps spilled from the center of the Upper Canal At least one retiree who helped build were connected. into a north/south canal that divided the fountains recalled tipping large barrels The water in the header was under around the massive single-specimen of water at the top of Longwood’s new cliff “head pressure” because it was supplied boxwood. The water flowed into the Lower so that Mr. du Pont could view the potential from the hilltop reservoir, and the pressure Canal which runs east/west with 60-foot results from afar, before the pumps were was enough to give a substantial daytime Round Basins at either end. connected. display through gravity flow, although the South of the Maple Allée, an arched Between November 1931 and June 1932, reservoir had to be continually resupplied retaining wall was built into the hillside. the original Pear-Shaped Basin was enlarged by the 100-HP pump(s). When various Behind it, to the west, the Pumphouse to its current dimensions. A flume cascade booster pumps were turned on for a full was constructed, and above it a large from the Rectangular Basin to the Pear- or nighttime display, they boosted the Rectangular Basin was filled with nozzles, Shaped Basin was built in what is now already pressurized water even more, so plumbing, and lights. Pierre initially the Hillside Garden between January and that it shot up to 130 feet into the air. contemplating making this a swimming June 1932. Large rocks were placed around Water pumped up to the hilltop pool with a wave-making machine like one the edges of the main basin under the reservoir that was not needed for the he had heard about in Budapest, but in the supervision of landscape designer Fairman fountain display overflowed into the end the idea was abandoned, much to the Furness (1889–1971) from 1931 to 1933. stream that supplies the waterfall. This was disappointment of some employees. Between 1935 and 1938, the above-ground an ingenious solution, so that it was not Pierre built the Pear-Shaped Basin channel from the hilltop reservoir to the necessary to know exactly how much water as the main reservoir for the fountains, Waterfall was dug to replace a buried pipe, was needed for the changing fountain with an impressive manmade waterfall at the upper falls were added, and the new displays, as long as the minimum was the south end. Two hundred pounds of hilltop canal was lined with more rocks. maintained—an intentionally imprecise dynamite were purchased in April 1929 and Mr. du Pont’s master electrician Phil system with a large margin for error, digging and blasting revealed rock which Brewer kept a fountain notebook that considering the varying water needs as was used to build surrounding retaining records an orderly summary of the technical different displays were turned on and off. walls and the concrete-and-stone Chimes development of the Main Fountains. But as The majority of construction was Tower in 1929–1930. The Tower was likely then-engineer Knowles “Bus” Bowen noted carried out from July 1929 through August inspired by a similar tower at Châtillon- in 1963, “after we had done the preliminary

Blueprint diagram of Pumphouse The Main Fountain Garden layout, December 20, 1930. The control board in a New York 15 Worthington booster pumps theatre for testing, 1930. One shown here supplemented the memo notes the “Remote three main 100-HP pumps (far Control Panel” cost $30,000, right) that supplied the hilltop but it is not clear if that reservoir. Longwood Gardens included the contactors and Library & Archives. dimmers in the Pumphouse. Longwood Gardens Library & Archives. Below: The Holophane marine lights had prismatic borosilicate glass reetrrefratrs that did not need to be silvered, greatly extending usable life.

Main Fountain Garden Pumphouse with plumbing in place, but prior to floor slab being poured to conceal pipes, spring 1931. Longwood Gardens Library & Archives. Caption here… computations, we still had plenty of Schutte & Koerting Company of $4,248. Amber was added because it was light circuits on or off of the dimmers and blossomed into an enormous sculptural experimenting to do to get the desired Philadelphia furnished the nozzles for discovered when building the Open Air By 1933, the Canals cyclic device. The remaining 38 switches program under the artistic direction of results.” the Main Fountain Garden. The firm was Theatre that, despite color theory, primary were supplied by are for future expansion. On the right half Pietro (“Piero”) Morseletto (1887–1974) from From 1929 to 1933, hydraulic calculations founded in 1876 and specialized in nozzles red and green lights would not produce an of the control board are found, in a similar Vicenza, who as a subcontractor supplied and tests were undertaken and the for industrial applications nationwide, acceptable yellow. static gravity flow from position to their corresponding light circuit Alessandro Olivotti with both designs and results filled more than 100 surviving including for the DuPont Company. Pierre The control system was a marvel of its switch, 125 small levers which electrically carved pieces to sell. Pierre du Pont studied pages; of these, 55 included calculations, had their catalog as early as 1913 when time, although Mr. du Pont turned down the reservoir (entirely regulate the intensity of the lights on the the proposals in great detail and pondered tables, or annotations in Pierre du Pont’s atomizing nozzles were suggested for the opportunity to install one of the first fountain by controlling the direction and the orders very carefully, more so than for handwriting. The majority of tests (about Longwood’s Open Air Theatre fountains. electronic systems by General Electric that in keeping with speed of operation of the dimmers in the any other aspect of the garden. He even 19) focus on the Upper Canal, suggesting Between September 1930 and July 1931, he used thyratron vacuum tubes. Pierre noted Pierre’s philosophy pumphouse, 500 feet away, as well as permit brought “Professor” Morseletto to Longwood that Pierre was interested in getting the purchased dozens of nozzles from S&K. that while “undoubtedly appropriate for the selecting of the sequence in which the in 1931. The resulting stonework was shipped correct water flow to the canal using a They were made of virgin metal castings, a place where regular entertainments are of minimizing pump colors shall follow one another when the from Italy in hundreds of cases from 1932 to static gravity flow rather than from booster 85% copper, 5% tin, 5% lead and 5% zinc, given, it seems to me that the apparatus is automatic cyclic device is in action.” 1935, with detailed drawings showing how pumps that shot the jets as high as 25 which S&K promoted as considerably too complicated for the more casual work use for static daytime Sculpted stonework is one of the major it all fit together. In total, Mr. du Pont spent feet, resulting in excessive splash into the better than ordinary commercial brass that exists at my country place.” What Phil display), and two of decorative elements in the Main Fountain $50,083 with Olivotti, which Morseletto’s adjacent plantings. But he also needed “to give a very enduring job.” Apparently Brewer developed instead had motorized Garden, although most was added after descendents credit with saving the family sufficient flow to ensure that the scuppers so, as these original nozzles are being resistance dimmers, with a wonder of a four booster pumps for the fountains were already in operation. business during the tough Depression years. and bubblers overflowing into the sub- used for the rebuilt fountains today. The control board. As Brewer described it, “this Limestone, both plain and carved, was the Today, Laboratorio Morseletto in Vicenza, canal attached to the south side of the company is still in business in Trevose, PA. control board is divided in two halves. On the Upper and Lower chosen material. B. Ridgway & Son from founded in 1904, has 10 quarries and supplies Upper Canal operated fully. Test after test The fountain lights were especially the left half are arranged, in symmetrical Philadelphia provided all the plain stone, decorative stone for buildings worldwide. focused on the flow versus nozzle size. By designed and manufactured by Holophane order to conform as nearly as possible to the Canals were reassigned totaling $28,423. A. Olivotti & Co. from Lewis & Valentine did the initial 1933, the Canals were supplied by static (derived from Greek, meaning “to appear actual layout of the fountains themselves, to power new Fishtail Italy, with showrooms in Florence, Venice, landscaping for the Main Fountain Garden gravity flow from the reservoir (entirely completely luminous”), an Ohio company 226 small toggle switches, 58 of which and New York, provided the designs and in 1921–1922. Beginning with the massive in keeping with Pierre’s philosophy of still in operation. The reflector and lens energize the banks of large transformers, and Tree Jets (both all the carved pieces. boxwood planted in 1928, the garden was minimizing pump use for static daytime were combined in a soup-bowl-shaped start or stop the fountain pump motors, Pierre probably began an association greatly embellished through 1935 in what display), and two of four booster pumps housing with prismatic reflectors that open and close motor-operated valves, large fan effects) in with Olivotti in 1913 while in Italy and was one of the largest landscape projects for the Upper and Lower Canals were bounced light out without the use of and even send the waterfall tumbling and continued to patronize them every of the era, certainly for a private individual reassigned to power new Fishtail and silvering. The 740 units cost $63,000. The splashing down over the rocky face of the the Rectangular Basin. few years into the 1930s. An intensive during the Depression years. Pierre was in Tree Jets (both large fan effects) in the red, blue, green, amber, and clear Pyrex cliff. One hundred and five other switches association began in 1931, when he his 60s and couldn’t wait for plantings to Rectangular Basin, while the other two lenses were made by Corning Glass Works control the light circuits directly, while requested designs for three fountains mature, so he planted a mature garden. L&V pumps were set aside as spares. to special color specifications and cost 25 more switches are used to transfer the for the arched Pumphouse Wall. This transplanted several hundred specimen Pierre probably began an association with Olivotti in 1913 while in Italy. An intensive association began in 1931, when he requested designs for three fountains for the arched Pumphouse Wall. This blossomed into an Olivotti sculptural stone enormous sculptural program artistic director Pietro Morseletto, c.1930. under the artistic direction of Pietro (“Piero”) Morseletto (1887–1974) from Vicenza.

Above: Fountain A, located on the east side of the arched retaining wall, as Olivotti frst rsed arge fountain facing swimming pool. 25 ft long and 16 ft high. Composed of one middle large basin with vase and t feale fgures and base. Carved freeze 6 carved capitols arches and Above left: all mouldings of bases as per Mock-ups colored parts on white print of Fountains [=] $2,550.” Olivotti wrote on A, B, and C print: “Colored parts indicate with Loggia, the pieces that we furnish.” September 3, Longwood Gardens Library 1931, prior & Archives. to the visit by Pietro Morseletto.

Above right: Well-head assembly as drawn by Olivotti. Above: Finished well-head #2 in Italy, awaiting shipment to Longwood in crates #503–534.

Right: Center Fountain C, on the central Loggia of the Pumphouse Wall, as originally proposed by Olivotti, 1931. Left: Colored-in pieces would be Sketch showing case supplied from Italy; plain numbers for double-tier stone would come from the wall fountain components. US. Longwood Gardens Longwood Gardens Library Library & Archives. & Archives.

1 Dallin Aerial Survey 70-foot-tall white pine, being showing the garden in prepped for transplanting. 1932. Notice the specimen boxwoods in the garden; the Maple Allée not yet opened in the center; and the many new trees around the Chimes Tower. The future Eye of Water is a square pool, and there is no above-ground stream running to the waterfall yet. The future Rose and Topiary Gardens are Original Pear-Shaped Basin planted with vegetables. before enlargement; three men to right of Tower are planting large evergreen tree, late 1930 or early 1931. shrubs and trees to Longwood from estates, The Wilmington Evening Journal review water tinted delicately as if by the magic of Iris The view in 1921 (left) he would be in position to attempt the use nurseries, and from the wild throughout 14 was glowing: mounted into the air and were wafted away in versus 1939 (above). of more artistic methods.” The latter best captures states. Pierre occasionally bought big trees rainbow mist. Pierre du Pont’s vision: In 1954, one writer reported: “I asked him for as much as $3,400 each, but most of the SYMPHONIES OF SOUND, COLOR AT LONGWOOD Vivid geysers of volcano-like flame blended tall, spectacular [Mr. du Pont] if he still played the console fountains against a specimens were $275 to $425. He purchased GRANDEUR OF NEW FOUNTAINS into subtle shadings of pastel hues, mystically for the fountains. He told me he did not, and deep green backdrop boxwood hedging for $9 to $18 per foot. FOLLOWS MARINE BAND’S CONCERT conjured to enchant the beholder, and then atop a sunken garden that he hadn’t done that for years. There were One memo notes that the 1931 budget for THRONG ENCHANTED BY MAGICAL TINTS suddenly would change into scintillating of massive, billowy only two men on the estate who knew how Lewis & Valentine was $33,085, including crystal, and again into pylons of variegated d defned y to operate them—Mr. Brewer and another. a crisp allée of trees. seven 60-foot white pines for $1,000 apiece. Hundreds of persons from this city and tinge that surpassed any aurora of nature. Photo at top by J.A. Dick. No one else seemed to be able to master the As word got out, Pierre was inundated vicinity enjoyed the band concerts given Throughout the display the carillon south of fountains and that Brewer and the other with offers of plants for sale, especially yesterday afternoon and last night by the the fountains tolled out the quarter hours as gentleman didn’t know exactly how they boxwood, which he let L&V broker. In all, United States Marine Band at Longwood, a magic accompaniment…. accomplished the results.” probably $150,000 to $200,000 was spent the estate of Mr. and Mrs. Pierre S. du In 1933 Phil Brewer summed up the Main on landscaping over a seven-year period. Pont. A display of the new fountains added In 1938, Pierre noted: “The operation of Fountains with multi-hued exuberance, In 1937, he noted, perhaps with a tad enchantment last night …. Following the the electric fountains is by arbitrary process. writing: “As the red, blue, green, amber forgetfulness, “The fountains themselves concert the new fountains in a sunken garden There seems to be no relation to a sequence and white lights spring into being, or creep are of simple design and should cost very in front of the conservatories were displayed, or water display. The chief of the electric slowly up from or return to darkness, or, as little. It is the landscape effect that adds to evoking the admiration of the gathering of installations and his assistant are the only the mixtures, shades, tints or blends of these the total bill.” spectators. The display came as a surprise as two persons who are capable of operating colors turn the stately streams of water into How much did the Main Fountain it confronted with its colonnades of color those the fountains successfully, but the methods columns of beauty, and the floating masses Garden cost? In actual dollars, probably who emerged from the conservatory where of these two men differ considerably, so that of gauze-like spray into mystic grandeur, the about $800,000. It has been estimated they had enjoyed symphonies of sound. it is possible for the observer to state which expressions of appreciation escaping from that, adjusting for the depressed prices The new fountains, some distance from of the two is handling a display. There the lips of the awe-inspired audiences give and wages (as low as 50 cents an hour) those at the open-air theatre, and covering seems to be great latitude for aesthetic undeniable testimony as to the magnificence during the Great Depression, to build a much larger area, in the opinion of effect and artistic feeling. Unfortunately, the of this man-made wonder.” the garden today as it was in 1935 without many who beheld the gorgeous spectacle, necessary concentration on the mechanical subsequent improvements would cost surpass—if such is possible—the effects of movements in connection with fountain about $48 million. the theatre fountains. Standing on the elevated operation would detract greatly from the Nighttime display, The illuminated fountains made their concourse in front of the conservatory, the exercise of artistic operation and a person Main Fountain Garden, 1954. Photo by Gottlieb In the next issue of the Longwood Chimes: public debut after the September 15, 1931, spectators were afforded a splendid view would be obliged to acquaint themselves Hampfler. Longwood Public fountain displays and post-du Pont Marine Band concert in the Conservatory. of the kaleidoscopic play of color as jets of with the mechanics of the apparatus before Gardens Library & Archives. transformations.

The Man Behind No one was more instrumental in Department. He retired in 1960 at age 70. Pierre’s Fountains assisting Pierre S. du Pont to create An interesting footnote is that his son- “I have expressed …repeatedly my Longwood’s fountains than Russell P. in-law was astronaut Alan Shepard sincere appreciation of the privilege (Phil) Brewer (1890–1965). Brewer was born (1923–1998), America’s first man in space. April 1, 1890, in Philadelphia but moved Phil, like a few other top employees, I have had in being closely associated to Lewes, Delaware, at the age of three. He developed a close working relationship graduated from Lewes’ Union High School with Mr. du Pont, who turned much of with Mr. Pierre S. du Pont…. This and took night classes at Drexel College the fountain development over to him. in electrical engineering. He worked as As Phil noted in 1960, “I have expressed association was equal to a college an electrician’s helper for companies in in the past and here repeatedly my sincere education…and enabled me to build Philadelphia from 1911 through 1913 then appreciation of the privilege I have had started his own electrical contracting in being closely associated with Mr. up the Maintenance of Longwood… business in 1914. At the suggestion of Pierre S. du Pont for almost forty years. Pierre’s chauffeur Charles Mason (Phil’s This association was equal to a college to a department of over seventy faithful, boyhood friend), Phil began working for education—which I had not had—and sincere and capable fellow workers.” P.S. du Pont on August 1, 1915, maintaining enabled me to build up the Maintenance Portrait of Russell P. Brewer motors and pumps. He married Julia of Longwood from a one man job to a Phil Brewer at the original by W. Gould White, 1930. Main Fountain Garden Brown in 1917 then enlisted in the US department of over seventy faithful, sincere control room console, 1958. Army on December 1, 1917, serving with and capable fellow workers.” Phil Brewer ht y ttlie aer the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps kept a small notebook on the development Longwood Gardens Library until his discharge after the armistice of both the Open Air Theatre Fountains & Archives. in November 1918. He returned to work and the Main Fountains. It provides for Mr. du Pont and eventually created complete technical insight into the original and headed Longwood’s Maintenance concepts and equipment specifications.

Phil Brewer’s Fountain Notebook Shown here are pages from the fountain notebook of master electrician Phil Brewer. The notebook documents an orderly summary of the technical development of the Main Fountain Garden.

Top: Page 4 of Phil Brewer’s right. The “bubblers” on the south Page 3 of Phil Brewer’s fountain notebook showing side were likely inspired by the fountain notebook showing the Upper Canal in section, Avenue of a Hundred Fountains the Upper Canal. Originally ith the ver l t the at the Villa d’Este in Tivoli, Italy. there were to be 15 spray jets alternating with 14 single jets. Numerous spouts and ulers ver int a “ditch” below. Notice the water steps in the center. s fnally uilt the ets and 14 sprays were paired together. Below: Page 5 of Phil Brewer’s Phil Brewer’s original fountain notebook showing fountain notebook shows the circular canal around that the Rectangular Basin the center boxwood and the began as an oval, 1929. Half-Round Basin, Lower Canal, and two 60-foot- diameter Round Basins. The single jet in the Half-Round Basin became a large fan; the anal etssrays ere Building the Upper Canal, grouped into 16 pairs; and October 21, 1929, in the Round Basin displays alignment with existing are as built. boxwood hedge.

Legacy A Membership Moment

While the spirit of neighborliness was The history of our Membership program From a few ‘Good important on the frontier because neighbors dates back to the late 1970s. For close to Neighbors’ to 65,000 were so few, it is even more important now 20 years it was called the ‘Good Neighbor because our neighbors are so many. Pass’ or ‘Neighborhood Pass’ with ‘Members,’ a look at — LADY BIRD JOHNSON thousands of locals taking part in the pass privileges. In 1991, the ‘Frequent Visitor Gardens membership. Members give meaning to our Gardens. Pass’ was born growing the number of Some walk daily, some bring their kids Passholders to 16,000 households by 2008. to play in the treehouses or frolic in the As the Gardens continued to grow with Meadow Garden, some take classes or new exhibits, enhanced horticulture, and attend concerts, and some shop and dine a new strategic plan, a more formalized with us regularly. Through all of these Membership program launched in 2008. activities, Members add to the spirit of Today, we welcome more than 65,000 our special place and we hope all Member households who show their love understand the importance of keeping and support of our Gardens through their alive the legacy of Pierre S. du Pont. annual Membership.

Membership Facts

Current Member States where we have Countries where we Households active Members have active Members 65,000+ 47 USA (all 50 states, except Alaska, Mississippi, Canada and South Dakota) Current Members who Australia have been Members for 5 years or more Cities with the most France active Members Italy 21,000 Japan Wilmington, DE The Netherlands West Chester, PA Percentage of annual Norway visitation by Members Kennett Square, PA United Kingdom Newark, DE 50% Switzerland Opposite: Philadelphia, PA Collage of Membership- related items from the Member average early years of the program visits per year including: Annual Neighbor Pass, 1980; Annual Neighbor Pass, 1982; Longwood 8 Gardens Neighbor News, Issue #2, February 1980; Longwood Gardens Passwords, Issue No. 37, June 1995. Longwood Gardens Library & Archives.

End Notes Tossing coins into a fountain to invite good luck is an enduring tradition in Of Fountains many cultures. Every day our staff see this and Fortunes tradition represented in shimmering bits of metal at the bottom of each fountain. Although we don’t encourage the practice, with more than one million guests a year, the coins add up. A team of volunteers periodically assist the staff in removing Opposite: The illustration features coins collected from the coins from the fountains to prevent the following countries: Botswana, Brazil, China, damage to mechanical and drainage France, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Norway, systems. The reclaimed U.S. coins support Philippines, Ukraine, and United Kingdom. Longwood programs. The foreign coins, however, Gardens Library & Archives. cannot be exchanged for U.S. currency. A few years ago the Longwood Archives started collecting these orphaned coins. For the Archives staff each coin represents more than its monetary value. These coins symbolize our many international guests who have traveled far to experience our Gardens. Currently the Archives holds coins from 47 countries. We hope wishes do come true, and we thank our guests for leaving a little bit of themselves behind at Longwood Gardens.

Illustration by Morgan Cichewicz

Longwood Chimes No. 293 Summer 2016

Cover Editorial Board Contributors This Issue Distribution Elevation showing limestone Aimee Beam Longwood Chimes is mailed to components and dimensions Marnie Conley Longwood Staff and Longwood Gardens Staff, for Fountain A, Main Fountain Patricia Evans Volunteer Contributors Pensioners, Volunteers, and Garden, by Olivotti & Co., Steve Fenton Kristina Aguilar Chimes Tower Level Members Italy, 1930. Each element is Julie Landgrebe Plant Records Manager and is available electronically to numbered to facilitate Colvin Randall Morgan Cichewicz all Longwood Gardens Members uncrating and assembly in Noël Raufaste Graphic Designer via longwoodgardens.org. its final location in the David Sleasman Heather Coletti southeast corner of the Main James S. Sutton Volunteer Photographer Longwood Chimes is produced Fountain Garden, facing the Matt Taylor, Ph.D. Hank Davis twice annually by and for Turtle Pool. Wooden drafting Brian W. Trader, Ph.D. Volunteer Photographer Longwood Gardens, Inc. triangles, early 20th century, William Hill are believed to have belonged Volunteer Photographer to Pierre S. du Pont. Longwood Shawn Kister Contact Gardens Library & Archives. Grounds Division Leader As we went to print, every Photo of drafting triangles by Ryan Knauer effort was made to ensure David Ward. Senior Gardener the accuracy of all information Maureen McCadden contained within this Inside Covers Digital Resource Specialist publication. Contact us at Superintendent William Sandy Reber [email protected]. Ingram in the Conservatory Archives and Research Boiler Room, 1926. Ingram Assistant © 2016 Longwood Gardens. All started on January 8, David Sleasman rights reserved. and frst red Library & Information for Longwood Farms as a Services Coordinator Laborer. He was later moved Judy Stevenson to the Greenhouse Division Archivist after the construction of David Ward the Conservatory. He was Volunteer Photographer listed on payroll records as an Engineer, Greenhouse. Other Contributors Larry Albee Longwood staff members Photographer Dick Way (left) and Rebecca Clarke George Earle, Sr. servicing Illustrator compressor in the Main Laurie Carrozzino Fountain Garden Pump Photographer Room, 1958. Photo by Lynn Schuessler Gottlieb Hampfler. Copywriter Daniel Traub Photographer

1 “Besides pipes and wires, infrastructure at Longwood includes metal, wood, stone—materials that provide form and frame, texture and structure—the often unseen branches upon which the artistry of the Gardens unfurls.” —Lynn Schuessler, from Art of the Trades, page 20

Longwood Gardens is the living legacy of Pierre S. du Pont, inspiring people through excellence in garden design, horticulture, education, and the arts.

Longwood Gardens P.O. Box 501 Kennett Square, PA 19348

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