Winter LONGWOOD 2019 CHIMES 298

1 2 No. 298 A seed… that amazing marvel of nature that overcomes incredible odds to flourish into something beautiful, life-sustaining, and inspiring. In this issue of Longwood Chimes, we explore seeds in all contexts … from the seed of inspiration that spurred Mr. du Pont to construct our grand Conservatory, to the seed of an idea that has grown into a national movement to combat declining numbers of horticulture professionals, to the beauty of physical seeds gathered from our and from our plant exploration trips around the globe. Celebrate with us the humble beginnings that lead to great things.

In Brief 6 8 10 Plantologists Unite! By the Book Nutrition from Within Seed Your Future is growing Our Community Read is How composting is the next generation of building rapport by sharing nourishing the needs horticulturists. the joy of plants, nature, (and seeds) of our plant By Susan E. Yoder and great books. collection. By David Sleasman By Dr. Matt Taylor

Features 16 24 34 Natural Selection Gone to Seed A Century of Floral Sun Parlors Christmas ornaments crafted A survey and celebration Part One: The Seed is Planted from natural materials embody of seeds from throughout A new series on the creation of our spirit of beauty and giving. the Gardens. Longwood’s great Conservatory. By Katie Mobley By Colvin Randall

46 Array of Light A spark of creativity and a plethora of details bring Luminary Nights to life. By Patricia Evans

End Notes 52 Remembering William H. Frederick, Jr. A look back at the life, work, and enduring influence of plantsman and landscape designer William H. Frederick, Jr.

3 In Brief

The seeds of a Victoria special tanks dedicated and ‘Longwood Hybrid’ waterlily calibrated to the needs of are juxtaposed here with these majestic giants. the underside of one of the From seed sown in January, waterlily’s giant leaf pads. plants are set out on display Commonly referred to as the around the end of May and giant water-platter, they are quickly grow to fill the pools one of the iconic features during the summer season. of our summer season. One In August we begin the little-known fascinating fact process of hand pollinating about these plants is that and harvesting seed to ensure they are grown from these stock for next year’s display. pea-sized seeds each year in Photo by Daniel Traub.

4 5 6 Education Seed Your Future is growing the Plantologists next generation of horticulturists. Unite! By Susan E. Yoder

We are reaching a crisis point in horticulture. people to pursue careers working with in the BLOOM! initiative. With its support, The horticulturists of today are aging and plants. We spent our first three years we have also created an exciting microsite retiring, and the pipeline of people to follow conducting focused research, which today of free educator resources including an them is a mere dribble. Employers across all serves as a foundation for the work that online learning module, sample lesson of horticulture—from public gardens and officially launched in 2018. The research plans and activities, infographics, and laboratories, to greenhouses and hydroponics affirmed what we are experiencing today. videos to help adults inspire youth to love facilities—cannot find enough qualified We are living in a time of great disconnection plants and consider careers in horticulture. candidates to fill their open positions. from plants. Plants are everywhere—yet Anyone can download the free resources at College and university horticulture programs plants are nowhere on the minds of most scholastic.com/BLOOM (educator resources) are declining. Reaching far beyond the Americans. This “plant-blindness” is and weareBLOOM.org/partners (toolkit of strength and longevity of the horticulture especially significant among our nation’s materials). industry, this crisis is about the future of youth. Informed by research examining the We’ve already reached almost one million the planet. We must consider who will take right time to reach young people about the students with our BLOOM! materials in 2018! the reins and have the expertise to provide wonder of plants and fulfilling plant careers, Year two goals include reaching an additional the technology, science, art, and business Seed Your Future decided to focus our first one million students. acumen necessary to meet the rapidly campaign on middle school students. But Now that we’re on a solid path of reaching increasing demand for ornamentals, fruits, first, we needed to know what kids had to say. middle schoolers, we’re developing our vegetables, nuts, and herbs in the face of When asked, middle school students second campaign—this one focusing on the changing global environment. Who in our focus groups did not know what colleges and universities. In 2019, Longwood will grow food that is safe and nutritious to “horticulture” meant. After we shared with will host an enrollment summit with colleges feed the growing world? Who will research them how plants impact our lives every day, and universities that currently offer cures for disease? Who will help solve some and the diversity of careers across the art, horticulture programs. We hope to learn of our world’s biggest environmental issues science, technology, and business of plants, their needs, and then based on the research such as pollution, drought, clean water, the students’ perception of horticulture we’ve already conducted, create tools and and climate change? And who will bring became much clearer. They wanted us to resources to help colleges and universities wonder to our world by creating landscapes stop using “weird” words like “horticulture,” inspire enrollment in horticulture training and gardens that are not only beautiful but show them through video and social media programs. In years to come, we’ll develop provide physical, social, and emotional content how plants can change the world, other campaigns to help solve this workforce health supports? and have “cool” young people tell them gap. Perhaps mid-career-changers, returning In 2014, Longwood Gardens took the about their fun (#ILoveMyPlantJob) careers. veterans, ex-offenders, and people with lead on tackling this issue, and along with They coined the term “plantologist” instead special needs will be among our next the American Society of Horticultural of “horticulturist” and urged us to connect priorities. We’ll continue to expand our Science, founded the Seed Your Future plants to what they are already interested partnerships and work together to ensure movement with Longwood President and in such as sports, fashion, medicine, a solid pipeline of trained and passionate Chief Executive Officer Paul B. Redman technology, and art. horticulturists for years to come. serving as the Seed Your Future co-chair. To engage middle school students, we With more than 150 partners across the launched Seed Your Future’s BLOOM! horticulture industry including horticulture initiative (weareBLOOM.org) in April 2018. companies, gardening organizations, Through eye-catching content delivered both schools, colleges and universities, public inside and outside the classroom, BLOOM! gardens, and youth organizations, we are is educating and inspiring young people For more information about the work of Seed Your Future, visit seedyourfuture.org. We invite united by our confidence in the power of about the endless possibilities in horticulture. you to join in the movement to help teach the plants to change the world. With a staggering presence in 100 percent plant-blind to see and open young minds to the The Seed Your Future movement has of classrooms in K-12 schools and more than possibilities of a future in horticulture. It’s time for Americans to wake up and smell (and grow) taken a proactive approach with a mission 90 percent of classrooms in America, the roses, trees, and tomatoes. Together, we to promote horticulture and inspire more Scholastic serves as an important partner can show them how.

7 Education Our Community Read is building rapport by By the sharing the joy of plants, nature, and great books. Book By David Sleasman

For the last few years the Longwood Library utilizing Community Read as a way to The types of activities are bounded only and Information Services Department nurture the organizational relationships by a partner’s imagination and budget. The has been leading an initiative to share the between like-minded nonprofits. Public audiences range from large to small, but joy of plants, nature, and great books. gardens in the region frequently every event adds up to a big impact. In 2018 As most Longwood Chimes readers know, share resources, but not so common is an the combined attendance for the 214 programs this department largely works behind the ongoing forum to reach across the gardens’ on the Community Read calendar was scenes. The LIS team manages the library, gates to public libraries, museums, and estimated to be more than 8,000 people. In institutional archives, photography conservation organizations. In this spirit addition, consider the thousands of people collections, and plant records. For this Longwood uses the skills of our Education checking out copies of the books at each of initiative, however, the LIS team—joined by and Marketing teams to provide extensive the public libraries. That is a substantial colleagues in the Education and Marketing program resources and publicity materials, amount of reading and talking. Departments—works to share the message while strongly encouraging cooperation Expanding the potential for conversation directly with Longwood’s Members and between partners. For the many nonprofit to younger readers, we have added titles for the community beyond. The strategy is to organizations involved in the program, young and middle school readers at the encourage two simple, yet powerful, human Community Read is a chance to work on suggestion of our partners, who wanted to activities—reading and talking. initiatives together. For example, over the reach a wider audience. With those additional The Community Read idea draws upon last few years Delaware Nature Society and young adult titles, the Community Read a programming format common in libraries Delaware Museum of Natural History each extends its ideas across the region and across to focus attention on literature. For have created Community Read programs age levels. Parents and grandparents can talk Longwood this means shining a light on that they have taken on the road to the about many of the same ideas with their writings about plants, science, and gardens. many public library partners. Without children and grandchildren. In turn, the ideas embedded in the featured Community Read, these libraries may not New titles introduced in 2019 include books seed events and programming have had the opportunity to offer such The Triumph of Seeds: How Grains, Nuts, throughout the region. The first featured programs. This cross-pollination of Kernels, Pulses, and Pips Conquered the Plant book in 2014 was Aldo Leopold’s conservation programming helps each organization to Kingdom and Shaped Human History by Thor classic, A Sand County Almanac, a selection broaden and nurture its audience and help Hanson. Hanson’s engaging writing leads inspired by our newly opened meet organizational goals while exploring readers to discover the power that seeds . That pattern continues. The vision the ideas of the featured books. contain, their ability to endure, and the for each book selection starts with Longwood Community Read partners include journeys they take. Hanson tells the tale of but must speak to a wider audience. public libraries, museums, gardens, and these amazing marvels of nature as they Appropriately, the Community Read conservation organizations throughout explode into extraordinary beauty both tiny selections should embrace larger themes southeastern Pennsylvania, northern and grand and, in turn, nourish and inspire drawn from humanity’s relationship with Delaware, and northeastern Maryland. human life. Also included this year are two the plant kingdom. Featured books They are the essence of the “Community” books for younger readers: Seedfolks by Paul have explored Native Americans’ spiritual in the Community Read. Most return year Fleischman for middle school readers, and connection to plants (Braiding Sweetgrass after year and some join for a specifically The Reason for a Flower by Ruth Heller for the by Robin Kimmerer), the potential power themed year. Some create only one program youngest readers. of one’s own creative energy for a world while others create more. Although better connected to nature (Grandma Longwood plants the seed, the real Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery), cultivation of the ideas happen with each engineering in the garden and all around community partner organization. Each us (The Way Things Work Now by David of these organizations plans programs Macaulay), and women in science and based on its own perspective and audience: horticulture (Lab Girl by Hope Jahren). book discussions, lectures, activities, movie From the very beginning we sought nights, videos, hikes, and sometimes even Visit longwoodgardens.org for a complete list of to take the programming idea further by field trips. Most are free. 2019 Community Read programs.

8 9 10 Sustainability How composting is nourishing Nutrition the needs (and from seeds) of our plant collection. Within By Dr. Matt Taylor

From little acorns mighty grow—or, tight control over plant decomposition and and nursery have a premium root growth in the case of Longwood’s Soil and nutrient cycling. We collect herbaceous environment. As a result of this research, Composting Facility, from plant material and woody plant material across the property we have reduced our dependence on growing to nutrient-rich soil, the next generations and then blend the material with horse media ingredients sourced from outside the of seeds grow. All seeds (except those of manure, along with food waste from our Gardens by approximately 15 percent. orchids) have nutrients and energy stored Terrace Restaurant in specific ratios to begin Longwood always has a very as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. These the composting process. We closely monitor high pH. This led us to research and create reserves are essential for germinating seeds the windrows, created from the blended a unique specialty “acid compost.” Using that have not yet formed chlorophyll to feedstocks, for temperature and oxygen to a recipe we developed, we create a low pH harvest solar energy or developed extensive determine when we should utilize a tractor- version of our compost to ensure it is safe root systems to collect mineral elements mounted compost-turner to oxygenate for use with acid-loving plants, helping from the soil. As a seedling develops, these the windrow and, in turn, facilitate them stay vigorous and healthy. Our secret stored nutrients become exhausted. The decomposition. Regular and properly timed ingredient? We add elemental sulfur in the young plant will shift dependence from the turning is essential in the production of beginning of the composting process. As reserved nourishment and instead rely on high-quality compost, and once the windrow a result, we can use our “acid compost” as its developing root system to obtain vital temperature stops exceeding 140 degrees a garden bed amendment in areas where elements from the earth in order to grow. Fahrenheit, which kills weed seeds and we want to lower soil pH. Soil or growing substrate, as used in pathogens, the intense decomposition phase Both regular and “acid” compost are greenhouse and nursery production of of composting is complete. We then conduct used to promote tree health; and as a plants, serves as the source of mineral a nutrient analysis to ensure the finished fertilizer for turf areas, our vegetable elements the plant requires for growth and product is suitable for use. In nature, garden, and agricultural fields across the reproduction. As the plant grows—whether decomposition of woody plant material can property. The compost delivers essential in nature, on a greenhouse bench, or in the take decades. With controlled thermophilic nutrients to the plants, and provides a suite landscape—its root system will tortuously composting at our Soil and Composting of microorganisms that can improve soil navigate the soil, searching for areas rich Facility, we create mature, usable compost health and protect plant roots from diseases. in nutrients and water. Once a plant has in less than four months. But we’re not done Our composting efforts have far-reaching completed its life cycle, nutrient absorption just yet—this newly created compost is so effects within the Gardens, as the compost by roots ceases, and the plant returns to the nutrient-rich that using it solely as a growing we create is only used here at Longwood. ground from which it germinated. Through media for plants would burn their roots. With winter upon us, flowers have faded decomposition by the soil fauna and biota, In order to use the resulting compost in and leaves have senesced. Decaying plant the plant matter releases its collected mineral greenhouse production, we must blend it materials of the land will be cycling their nutrients to the soil, from which future with other ingredients. The Research Team nutrients back to the earth to become the generations of plants can use these nutrients. has conducted years of studies evaluating the nutrition for the next generation of seeds. This process is referred to as nutrient cycling. physical and chemical properties of a wide And so begins another cycle of drawing At our Soils and Composting Facility, range of compost growing media recipes to upon these nutrients to nourish the next we use thermophilic composting to place ensure the plants we grow in our greenhouse generation of Longwood’s plant collection.

Opposite: A grower holding a custom- made Longwood substrate blend that contains nutrient- rich compost. Photography by Hank Davis

11 Left: Turning a compost windrow at Longwood’s Soil and Composting Facility. Regular and properly timed turning is essential in the production of high-quality compost. This procedure oxygenates the compost and reduces the temperature within the windrows.

We closely monitor the windrows …for temperature and oxygen to determine when we should utilize a tractor-mounted compost-turner to oxygenate the windrow and, in turn, facilitate decomposition.

Above: Senior Soils and Composting Equipment Operator Evan Gruber takes a temperature read on a compost pile. Left: Fresh wood chips from Longwood arborist activities will be used as a feedstock for compost.

12 Soil Testing Program

Testing soil pH and nutrient content is an essential tool for healthy management of Longwood’s plant collection. Longwood volunteers Catherine Buckminster and Steve Long have been running the soil testing program for the last five years, during which time they have handled upwards of 5,000 samples. They run analyses for greenhouse crop production, test soil throughout the Conservatory, and often take on large holistic projects such as testing the soils through the entirety of Peirce’s Woods and Above: the Main Fountain Garden. Soil samples are routinely collected from across the Gardens and brought to the Soil Lab for testing.

Above: Longwood volunteers Catherine Buckminster (foreground) and Steve Long in the Soil Lab. Catherine is mixing a soil sample with deionized water to extract nutrients. Photo by Daniel Traub. Left: Extract solutions are then tested for pH and electrical conductivity. Soil pH is a measure of acidity and EC is a measure of nutrient content.

13 Features

The edible fruit of Poncirus trifoliata ‘Flying Dragon’ contains an abundance of seeds, yet very little pulp. Hillside Garden, 2018. Photo by Daniel Traub.

14 15 The Arts

Natural Selection Christmas ornaments crafted from natural materials embody our spirit of beauty and giving. By Katie Mobley

Photography by Daniel Traub

Left: Longwood Land Stewardship Technician Calvin Cooper forages for hickory nut shells in the Meadow Garden. The shells were used to make Christmas ornaments for the Meadow Trees. Opposite: Longwood volunteer Sarah Finnaren puts the finishing touches on a sphere made from the scales of Atlas cedar cones for the Lookout Loft Christmas display.

16 17 The spectacular 15-foot birdhouse Detail view of coconut shell Wildlife Tree featured 204 feeders, and millet and broom birdhouses in eight different corn bunches, set atop two of designs to accommodate a the northern flicker birdhouses variety of species including owls, created for the Wildlife Tree chickadees, purple marlins, wood display, Christmas 2018. ducks, wrens, housefinches, and northern flickers.

The towering elegance of twinkling Norway spruce situated outside of the East sets Longwood apart,” shares Senior Fraser firs. The graceful curve of a vibrant Conservatory. While the Conservatory Horticulturist Pandora Young, who has amaryllis. The sounds of laughter glowed with an 18-foot revolving tree overseen the Wildlife Tree since 2005. punctuating the Gardens. A sense of trimmed with 1,200 ornaments and 7-foot “We use things from the Gardens and warmth and togetherness. Beauty can poinsettia standards lining an allée of we take inspiration from the Gardens. be found in many shapes and senses at spinning fountains, the Wildlife Tree stood The end result is not just pretty but gives Longwood—particularly during our tall just outside, decorated with sheaths back to wildlife at a time of year when Christmas season, when the comfort of of wheat, barley, and millet, outfitted with they could use it the most.” nostalgia meets the spirit of giving cups full of birdseed, apples, and cranberry This past Christmas, Young and her throughout our Gardens. rings, and enjoying its popularity with the team of volunteers created a thing of While we always aim for innovation guests, squirrels, and birds. beauty with the imaginative 15-foot and imagination in our Christmas displays, Since its beginning, the Wildlife Tree birdhouse Wildlife Tree surrounded by we also take care to showcase the tiniest has moved about the Gardens each four evergreens draped in millet, wheat, of natural materials that make our Gardens Christmas season, making stops along the and broom corn, as well as 50 coconut so beautiful, as well as the hard work of way outside of the Peirce-du Pont House, shells replenished daily with birdseed. our volunteers that allows Longwood to Canopy Cathedral Treehouse, and, this past The volunteer team lovingly constructed truly shine. Perhaps no Christmas elements year, near the Small Lake. No matter its the Wildlife Tree’s ornaments, as well as celebrate natural materials, applaud our setting, the Wildlife Tree has always focused its 204 birdhouses in eight different designs volunteers, and give back to our resident on nourishing wildlife, adorned with to accommodate owls to chickadees. feathered and furry friends more than ornaments crafted from seeds and other Following birdhouse kits created by the Wildlife Tree and Meadow Trees. natural materials, from raisin strands to Longwood carpenters, longtime volunteers Our annual Wildlife Tree made its stacked mini apples to garlands of dry citrus like Roger and Nancy Hiss constructed the debut in 1992 in the form of a 12-foot slices. “The use of natural materials is what beautiful birdhouses from white pine and

18 “The use of natural materials is what sets Longwood apart. We use things from the Gardens and we take inspiration from the Gardens. The end result is not just pretty but gives back to wildlife at a time of year when they could use it the most.” —Pandora Young, Senior Horticulturist, Longwood Gardens

Right: Pandora Young restocks the feeders at the Wildlife Tree located near the Small Lake, Christmas 2018.

19 Left: Volunteer Karen Blackburn (left) and Senior Horticulturist Kari Getchonis collaborate on natural material ornaments for the 2018 Peirce-du Pont House Christmas display.

Below and center: Volunteer Lois Lynch cuts birch bark into strips for a handcrafted birch bark tree for the Peirce-du Pont House Christmas display.

Ornaments created for the Lookout Loft Treehouse Christmas display include (above) a handcrafted ornament made from sugar pine scales and Above: Atlas cedar cones, and Volunteers Anne Baines (right) wreaths constructed (left) and Kathy Wells from princess-tree seed working on a birch bark capsules and dawn wreath for the Lookout Loft redwood cones. Treehouse holiday display.

20 Left: Volunteer Barbara O’Connell assembles a Meadow Tree ornament from larch cones. Below: Volunteer Toni Gorkin assembles a larch cone ornament for the Meadow Trees.

Above: A variety of finished ornaments created for the Meadow Tree, in a color palette of gold, silver, bronze, burgundy, and white.

Above: A handcrafted ornament in progress for the Meadow Tree, made from a variety of materials including , alder, and pine cones.

21 22 “We’re using already beautiful objects to create new beautiful objects.” —Calvin Cooper, Land Stewardship Technician, Longwood Gardens

Above: fallen redwood and cypress trees from ornaments made of pine cones, magnolia A beautiful ornament crafted Longwood property, and then coated pods, milkweed pods, and sweet-gum from dried common milkweed pods and a sweet-gum ball them with linseed oil to protect them balls, sourced from Longwood property, topper. Meadow Tree, from the elements. “The Gardens in a color palette of gold, silver, bronze, Hourglass Lake Pavilion, are extraordinary inspiration,” shares burgundy, and white. Christmas 2018. Nancy. “I like the idea that the tree is Land Stewardship Technician Calvin Below: decorated in natural materials that Cooper, overseeing the Meadow Trees for An artful assemblage of perhaps are reminiscent of a simpler the first time in 2018, recognizes the use hickory nut shells (sourced from the Meadow Garden). time…” Not only did this year’s Wildlife of natural materials as “a way to get people Tree ornaments and birdhouses give further acquainted with the objects they’d Opposite: Calvin Cooper gathers back to the wildlife—they also give back find in the landscape, showing how to be common milkweed pods to the local community, as a number creative and resourceful with what you can from a natural land area of the birdhouses will be given to area gather in your own backyard. We’re using at Longwood as source material for Meadow Tree schools and natural land organizations already beautiful objects to create new ornaments. to be future homes for birds. beautiful objects.” Another Christmas highlight that Just like Young, Cooper calls the role showcases the beauty of natural materials of volunteers “absolutely crucial” in the is our Meadow Trees. Their natural creation of the Meadow Trees, citing aesthetic is a reflection of the Meadow their dedication to gathering the natural Garden itself. Our first Meadow Tree came materials from such Longwood spaces as on the scene in 2015 as a 12-foot white fir and Conifer Knoll and transforming with ornaments crafted from materials those natural materials into gorgeous found in the Meadow Garden and our ornaments worthy of their stunning natural lands. Draped throughout the Meadow Garden surroundings. Volunteer years in such creations as silver grapevine George Gallatig, who has donated his time garland and water droplet-shaped and expertise to many Meadow Garden ornaments filled with milkweed down, endeavors, shares that the creation of our Meadow Trees have always relied the Meadow Trees and his work building on the beauty of natural materials. This the birdhouses for the Wildlife Tree has Christmas season, our twin Fraser fir ultimately resulted in “happy memories” Meadow Trees wowed with artistic for all. With that, we happily agree. 23 Horticulture

A survey and celebration Gone of seeds from throughout the Gardens.

Photography by David Ward toSeed24 Longwood hybrid aquatic canna. In the 1970s Longwood acquired Canna glauca, a true aquatic canna from tropical America, for the purposes of crossing with common terrestrial hybrids. The resulting efforts produced four specimens commonly known as Longwood hybrid aquatic cannas that prefer moist-to-wet conditions. Most people grow cannas for their bright vibrant flowers and bold foliage, but the seed pods can be simply exquisite as well. Late in the season we often leave some of the seed pods intact to add interest to the Waterlily Display. These three-angled dry capsules eventually split to expose hard round seeds with a long viability. Opposite The seed head of Tillandsia leonamiana × stricta. This air plant from the bromeliad family is typically on display in the Cascade Garden.

Photography by David Ward

25 26 Opposite, clockwise This page, clockwise from above: from top left: Hamamelis × intermedia (witch- Bald-cypress cones; dried hazel) seeds; Cedrus atlantica seed head of Glycyrrhiza Glauca Group (blue Atlas cedar) yunnanensis (Chinese cone; Quercus cerris (turkey oak) licorice); Wisteria floribunda acorn; Fagus grandifolia (American (Japanese wisteria) seed beech) seed; Quercus alba (white pods; Catalpa seed pods. oak) acorn.

27 Gomphocarpus physocarpus, commonly called swan-plant or sometimes balloon-plant because of the balloon-like fruit it produces, is a relative (in the same family) of the common milkweed. This is especially evident when looking at the silk-like material attached to the seeds, which helps them spread when blown by wind. The plant is native to southeast Africa, but has become naturalized in many parts of the world and is frequently grown as an ornamental, as we do here at Longwood where it is a common ingredient in the trial beds of the Idea Garden.

28 Echium wildpretii, commonly called tower-of- jewels, is one of the more iconic plants in the early spring Conservatory seasonal displays, because of the nearly 7-foot spikes of salmon-pink flowers. Native to the Canary Islands, Longwood received our first seed from a in Tenerife in 1984 and has been growing the plant ever since. Because the plant is rather unusual and not widely produced in the commercial greenhouse industry, Longwood staff hand pollinate several plants each year to generate the seed needed to grow the next year’s crop of display plants. Pollination is done using a large paintbrush and gently brushing up and down the flower spike when it is in peak bloom. Flower spikes used for seed production are allowed to mature naturally and once they dry down, the seed is manually separated, cleaned, and stored until it is time to sow it for the next crop of plants.

29 This spread and following spread: Specimens gathered from the Hillside Garden. Plants in this area are selected for their year-round interest, and add structure to the display even in midwinter. Left to right: Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower); Thermopsis villosa (Carolina-lupine); Digitalis sp. (foxglove); Baptisia (false indigo). Overleaf: Dried seed capsules of Pycnanthemum muticum (clustered mountain-mint).

30 31 32 33 Legacy A Century of Floral Sun Parlors

A new series on the creation of Longwood’s great Conservatory. By Colvin Randall

2021 marks the 100th anniversary of Longwood Gardens’ most iconic feature, the great Conservatory that one writer described in 1921 as a collection of “floral sun parlors.” This crystal palace of glasshouses, artful gardens, production ranges, concert spaces, musical instruments, museum exhibits, floral and design studios, classrooms, library, archives, offices, tunnels, and climate facilities is a unique successor to an exhibition concept that was glorified from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. Many of those older buildings have disappeared, but Longwood’s has survived and grown to its present perfection thanks to founder Pierre S. du Pont and to a dedicated staff who continues his vision. These efforts are applauded by millions of grateful visitors who return again and again. The story of Longwood’s Conservatory is a fascinating tale of travel and discovery, architecture and design, trial and error, exploration and research, and gracious hospitality. As the complex begins its second century, a look back can only strengthen the admiration of the many guests who delight in its varied splendors. The complete story will be chronicled here over the next several issues of the Longwood Chimes, as told by Colvin Randall, Longwood’s P.S. du Pont Fellow, who has studied the Gardens’ history for nearly 50 years.

Tulips and primroses in the Orangery, spring 2003. Photo by Larry Albee. Longwood Gardens Library & Archives.

34 35 Part One The Seed is Planted

3 In his first 23 years, Pierre du Pont’s rustic beginnings were 4 enriched by three world-class spectacles 5 that ushered in a new age for mankind.

Pierre Samuel du Pont was born five years after the close of the Civil War, in 1870, at Nemours, a DuPont Company house overlooking the Brandywine Creek a few miles north of Wilmington, Delaware. He was the third child and first son of Lammot and Mary du Pont, whose large family eventually included 10 surviving children. Pierre’s early years were influenced by the traditions of the Brandywine country where he was exposed to the beauty of the rolling landscape with its ever-present river and to the traditions of gardening. He noted that in this rural setting, his childhood home was four miles from Wilmington with but one family carriage and two horses for travel. A country store and the garden furnished food excepting what was brought from town. Country life along the Brandywine was The Centennial site covered comfortable by comparison to the plight of 285 acres with 255 structures sheltering 30,000 exhibitors. factory workers, but it lacked the excitement Pierre du Pont especially of the big city. So for young Pierre, the 1876 remembered the Main Centennial held in Philadelphia was thrilling Exhibition Hall (1), Hydraulic beyond anything he could have imagined. Annex of Machinery Hall (2), Horticultural Hall (3), and He had the good fortune to be taken to Elevated Railway (4), which the Centennial on two occasions, and true loosely connected Agricultural to his later interests, it was the architecture, Hall (5) to Horticultural Hall. Free Library of Philadelphia. the machinery, the horticultural exhibits, and the waterworks that he remembered. Of his impressions he later wrote: “First the tremendous size and brilliance of the Main Exposition Building—to my eyes a most 36 1

2

Pierre du Pont at about 5 years of age c.1875, at 16 in 1886, and at 32 in 1902. Hagley Museum and Library.

37 beautiful sight with flags flying from staffs did not run off the track as I had felt sure Pierre later noted, throughout its entire length. Within it was it would.” “I have seen other and a wilderness of the manufactured products All in all, the Philadelphia Centennial of the world…. provided for almost 10 million guests a probably much better “The ‘Machinery Hall’ captivated me spectacular glimpse of the world at large though I was disappointed to see that the as well as an indication of things to come. and finer Expositions, building was not as beautiful as the one Pierre later noted, “I have seen other and first mentioned. The great Corliss Engine probably much better and finer Expositions, [1893] the in the center of the building was awe Chicago [1893] the outstanding one, but outstanding one, but inspiring, its great height and reputed the one of 1876 still remains the finest in power seemed beyond belief though today my recollections.” the one of 1876 still it would seem a much over-grown toy.” In 1879, at the age of nine, Pierre Pierre’s second visit to the Centennial stayed in Philadelphia while receiving remains the finest in resulted in two disappointments. The daily therapy treatments for a muscular my recollections.” giant conservatory was not all that he ailment. Much of his free time was spent had expected. Horticultural Hall, he exploring the city. He was fascinated by remembered, “had a collection of tropical the construction of City Hall, then no plants, then small of course, of which the more than two or three stories high, and most advertised were the tree . he especially enjoyed sneaking in an To my eye they were lacking in height— unguarded construction entrance to watch not nearly as high as the trees at home and workmen set large blocks of stone. they were almost devoid of leaves, a sad and But he had what he termed a new “thrill” disappointing sight.” (Nevertheless, tree when he discovered the former Matthias ferns have always been one of the signature Baldwin mansion at 1118 Chestnut Street. He plants in Longwood’s Conservatory.) later recalled: “Mr. Baldwin, founder of the Outdoors, the Centennial grounds Baldwin Locomotive Works, was a self made were ripe with carpet bedding, especially man who is said to have been a lover of along Fountain Avenue leading to flowers in his boyhood and who resented Horticultural Hall, but there were also the fact that many private collections were Below: The $1.76 million Main rugged wooded ravines where no withheld from public view. When he built Exhibition Building was additional planting was needed. One was the greenhouse adjoining his home on 1,832 × 120 × 70 feet high crossed by a newfangled monorail, which Chestnut Street he placed it with one long plus four towers and four was Pierre’s second let-down: “To reach side directly on the street line where it arched pavilions, enclosing 21.47 acres. Machinery Hall the Horticultural Hall [from Agricultural could be observed at all times. This story was 1,402 × 360 feet with a Hall], one boarded a railroad train that was told to me by my Uncle as we admired southern wing of 208 × 210 had one rail only. My disappointment was the flowers. I made an inward resolve that feet, enclosing 14 acres in all; it cost nearly $800,000. in the fact that the one rail feature was if ever I built a greenhouse it would be kept Library of Congress. not clearly seen from the car and the latter open to public view from within as well as

38 Below: Right: Horticultural Hall was 383 × 193 × 69 Australian tree ferns, palms, feet tall, with a 20-foot-high gallery and tropical trees were around the inside. Glass forcing houses displayed inside Horticultural were attached to the sides. A prominent Hall, along with garden roof lantern crowned the top. It cost ornaments, aquariums, $300,000. It was demolished in 1955 after flower stands, garden damage from Hurricane Hazel in 1954. equipment, and mounted New York Public Library. graphic plans promoting the emerging profession of landscape design. Eleven countries exhibited indoors. The tree ferns, shipped from San Francisco, were in the center, and Pierre was not the only one to observe that they were in less-than- perfect condition. New York Public Library. Below right: The Safety Elevated Railway was 500 feet long, chugging along up to 30 feet above a ravine. It seated 60, and passengers paid three cents for a two-minute trip. In addition to the main center rail, two lower rails stabilized the car. Library of Congress.

Below: in 1879, when Pierre saw it, is The 1116–1118 Chestnut Street not known; the conservatory house built by Hartman Kuhn at some point became a florist (1784–1860) was purchased by shop as shown in the photo Matthias Baldwin (1795–1866), at bottom right. The complex who added an adjoining four- was demolished and replaced arch windowed conservatory by Keith’s New Chestnut Street fronting the street. From about Theatre, opening in 1902. 1862 to 1867, some or all of the That theatre was remodeled residence was the clubhouse several times before being for the new Union League of demolished in 1971. Free Library Philadelphia. The building’s use of Philadelphia.

39 from without. Time and destiny have subjects introducing skills that would be wrote Pierre from Boston, “I could not have enabled me to make good this self-made, of practical use. Pierre was glad that he been more prostrated with surprise than if not selfish, promise.” was pursuing chemistry and not civil I was by the latest plan for next summer. In 1881, Lammot du Pont moved his engineering, which his classmates had Of course it has struck me very favorably and family from the Brandywine vicinity to found difficult. However, evaluating his thrown me into a great state of excitement. Philadelphia so that he could more easily MIT studies in 1902, he noted that he I am sure that we would have a splendid commute to his new Repauno Chemical would have profited from the study of time….” Coincidentally, he had dreamt of works in New Jersey. But in 1884, he was mechanical engineering, construction such a trip just a few nights before. killed in an explosion there. Fourteen- work, business method, law, bookkeeping, Mrs. du Pont, her ten children, and two year-old Pierre stepped up and assumed and accounting. He had found use for maids sailed May 25, 1889, from New York responsibilities that would grow as the every subject studied at the Institute, on the Cunard ship Etruria and landed years passed, providing invaluable training “excepting military drill. Probably a in Queenstown, Ireland, on June 1. They for later accomplishments. number have profited by this also.” toured Irish castles and abbeys before Despite the tragedy, the lifestyle of Pierre spent his summer vacations at arriving in London on June 10. There, they the family was not altered to any great home in Philadelphia or visiting relatives visited most of the popular attractions, degree. The du Ponts continued to live down on the Brandywine. A seasonal including the zoo and several of the famous in Philadelphia where, in 1886, Pierre highlight was always a few weeks spent at London parks, and they made two trips concluded five years of study at the Cape May, New Jersey. For the summer of to the Crystal Palace to see the fireworks. Charter School. That fall, at 1889, however, his mother proposed an The Crystal Palace was one of the marvels the age of 16, he entered the Massachusetts extended, three-month trip to Europe for of the 19th century. Originally erected in Institute of Technology. the entire family. The proposal came as Hyde Park in 1851, it reopened in Sydenham, At MIT, the study of chemistry occupied an unexpected but thrilling opportunity. a London suburb about 8 miles to the south, much of his time, but he also pursued other “If I had been run over by a steam roller,” in 1854. As rebuilt and enlarged using 40 Left: The 1889 Expo stretched across the Seine, from the Palais de Trocadero (far left) to the Galerie des Machines (far right). The horticultural exhibits were outside the Trocadero: four compartment gardens with 107 beds each with 100,000 plants from 100 exhibitors; 14 kiosks; two 250-foot display tents; a Japanese garden; and exhibits of conservatories, ornamentals, vegetables, fruits, forest seeds and saplings, and hothouse plants. There were also gardens around the Eiffel Tower. Hagley Museum and Library. Below: This 1889 Expo map was saved by Pierre and presumably used for his four visits. The Trocadero gardens, shown at the bottom right, were actually located off the left edge of the map, across the Seine. Hagley Museum and Library.

41 Above left and below: The vast Crystal Palace, c.1860s, at Sydenham was filled with plants that were greatly reduced in number after most of the tropical north end burned in 1866. The rest of the building was destroyed by fire in 1936. Library of Congress. Above: The 1889 Galerie des Machines at the Paris Expo was 1,452 × 380 × 148 feet high. It was demolished in 1910. Library of Congress.

prefabricated, standardized building parts 1865 to 1936, and the pyrotechnics were Pierre was especially eager to see the “Ex” in a highly complex structure, it contained credited with helping maintain the park because, he noted, it would “not come again a winter garden, caged birds, scientific and financially. There were ground-level set in a hurry.” Fortunately, he was able to make art displays, and products for sale. The pieces up to 600 feet wide and 90 feet tall four trips to the Fair. building, 1,608 x 312 x 104 feet high and that created fiery portraits and animated The Champ de Mars was filled with giant crossed by three transepts up to 384 feet tableaux; and “living fireworks” with men exhibition halls, none more impressive than long and 168 feet tall, was 50 percent larger in asbestos suits scurrying around ablaze the Galerie des Machines, the largest free- in volume than its Hyde Park predecessor, but with more than sparklers. Pierre and five span vaulted building yet constructed. Its 20 one-fifth was destroyed by an 1866 fire that of his family visited on June 20 and he acres of usable space were filled with the era’s eliminated most of the tropical conservatory. and three others returned on July 4, both latest machinery. Smaller but still massive It was conceived to provide education and Thursday fireworks nights, to see the connecting buildings were devoted to diverse recreation for all, with fine arts courts pyrotechnics; they also lunched there industries, the liberal arts, and beaux arts. creating a walk-through encyclopedia of the on the first visit and bought admission Among the great attractions at the history of civilization. By 1889, it was still an tickets, so they must have toured the inside Exposition were les fontaines lumineuses, exhibition hall and museum but also more of the Palace. Pierre had to have been the illuminated fountains that used the of a commercial shopping arcade. amazed by the monumental building. latest lighting technology. These played Outside, a huge, brassy fountain garden After a week spent touring the three times a night to immense crowds. of 11,788 jets and streams had been built by countryside and castles of Scotland, the There were endless other things to see 1856, which required so much water and du Ponts arrived in Paris on July 8. besides the Expo. The du Ponts visited was so expensive to operate that the largest Paris in 1889 was the center of the Versailles and Fontainebleau then features had been abandoned by the time world. “L’Exposition Universelle,” continued through northern , of Pierre’s visit. But the fireworks were still symbolized by the Eiffel Tower, was the Switzerland, Germany, then back to Britain going strong: there were 1,500 displays from greatest ever held. Nineteen-year-old where they departed from Liverpool on

42 Left: Above: The Columbian Arch and The $300,000 Horticulture Peristyle at the Chicago fair, Building, designed by William photographed here by Pierre Le Baron Jenney for the 1893 du Pont, had 48 Corinthian Chicago fair, was 998 × 250 columns representing all 48 × 113 feet high, plus eight states and territories as of attached greenhouses 100 1893. It was destroyed by fire × 24 feet, totaling six acres in 1894. Much of the fair was under glass (compared to 31.5 built of 30,000 tons of staff, indoor acres for the nearby a mixture of gypsum or Manufacturers and Liberal plaster, plus glycerin, dextrin, Arts Building). Inside was a water, and hemp or jute fibers planted palm mountain atop on iron or wood frames, then a 10-cents-to-enter crystal spray painted to look like cave, studded with South marble, useful for temporary Dakota rocks, plus forests of exhibition buildings. It was plants, fruits, and vegetables a major architectural material from around the world, used to create neo-classical including 16,000 orchids, a detailing in fairs Pierre visited 35-foot-tall navel orange tower, from 1889 to 1904. Hagley and displays of European Museum and Library. wines. Library of Congress.

43 August 31. It was the grandest of trips, which cost $5,917.39 (more than $150,000 today) exclusive of passage across the Atlantic. Following graduation in 1890 from MIT, Pierre secured employment with the DuPont Company. His mother took this opportunity to move her family back to the Brandywine and built a house there, called “Saint Amour.” Pierre was overseer on this project, both for building the house and for laying out the garden. In 1893, 23-year-old Pierre visited Chicago and its spectacular World’s Columbian Exposition that commemorated, albeit a year late, the 400th anniversary of the “discovery” of America. He was overwhelmed by the grandiose effects. He wrote to a cousin: “I am enjoying the Fair immensely, there is so much of beauty and interest that one can hardly decide to what to devote the time. The large buildings are magnificent beyond description, it is a lasting enjoyment to look at them alone. I only regret that they must so soon go and that, comparatively, so very few have been able to see them. I do not wonder that the Chicago people are proud of their city and the Fair.” He was especially impressed by the huge central space around which the main buildings were grouped and by the electric fountains at one end. After dark, 5,100 arc lamps and 90,000 electric lights everywhere created, for 1893, a spectacle without precedent. As he noted in 1938, “This great court with its impressive, glistening white buildings of Grecian order and its magnificent water courses and fountains has not been equaled in any exposition held since that date.” Architectural historians have noted that the neo-classical style of the Fair delayed acceptance of more forward-looking modern architecture, as evidenced by numerous post-Fair classical buildings in Washington DC and other cities. But Pierre loved Chicago’s glorious architectural look back, and he would embrace simplified versions for his future building projects at Longwood in the upcoming century.

The conclusion of Part One: The Seed is Planted will appear in the next issue of the Longwood Chimes.

44 Above: The Court of Honor with The Horticulture Building The Chicago site had its two Electric Fountains is above the center 16-acre 61 acres of lagoons and is left of the immense Wooded Island. At the waterways. There were central 1,687 × 787-foot center top is the world’s 14 great buildings and Manufacturers and Liberal first Ferris wheel. Library 200 smaller structures. Arts Building. of Congress.

45 Horticulture

A spark of creativity and a plethora of Array details bring Luminary Nights to life. of Light By Patricia Evans 46 View from top of the Chimes Tower of the June 2018 luminary installation. More than 2,000 luminaries were placed on the Chimes Tower Lawn, aligned on a 45-degree axis to the orientation of the Main Fountain Garden. Photo by Hank Davis.

47 Left: Guests walking amongst the concentric rings of the August 2017 luminary installation adjacent to the Theatre Garden. This design was inspired by the ripple pattern raindrops make when falling into water. Photo by Carol DeGuiseppi. Opposite: Working image board in designer Erin Feeney’s office, featuring inspirational imagery along with conceptual sketches for projects and installations. Photo by Daniel Traub.

A moment of inspiration is often visually lighting device that boasts a constant “I had spaces in mind represented by a glowing lightbulb above flame when ignited and a long handle so one’s head. For Erin Feeney, our Associate one does not have to bend over to light where we could use Director of and each luminary. They also shared their Programs, her most recent inspiration experience with luminary logistics—and strong lines and involved more than 3,000 points of light. there are many—such as how long it takes Feeney led the team that brought to to light the luminaries (about two hours geometric shapes life one of our newest displays, Luminary with eight people), how many people are to contrast the Nights, which first debuted in summer 2017. required for set up and take down (20–25), While luminaries have been used and much more. organic gardens…” throughout history around the world for The team also conducted a number of —Erin Feeney, Associate Director of decorative and symbolic purposes, we had small, onsite trials that proved enlightening, Landscape Architecture and Programs, never used them en masse in our gardens. so to speak. They looked at a number of Longwood Gardens After staff saw a luminary display during light sources, from battery-operated LED a visit to the French garden Vaux le Vicomte lights to wax candles, before deciding that a in 2016, Feeney was asked to think about how real flame provided the purest light, settling to bring such an experience to Longwood. on an 8-hour tealight candle. They also “The direction was to think big,” explored a number of different containers Feeney explains. So she did, compiling an and bags for the candles to sit in before interdisciplinary team to begin researching selecting a cream-colored reusable plastic everything from possible garden locations, container that showcased the glowing light to what kind of light source to use, to how most effectively. “In the end, it always comes far apart to space the luminaries. back to the aesthetic,” Feeney explains. The team began by speaking with other One of the trickiest things to figure out gardens who did luminary displays including was how to weigh the containers down Vaux le Vicomte and Desert Botanical so they would not be easily dislodged by a Garden. Desert Botanical, based in Phoenix, light wind, or the accidental jostle of a guest has presented a luminary display during passing by. Sand is traditionally used, Feeney the holiday season for many years. They explains, but there was concern about filling shared tricks of the trade and lessons the bags and the sand spilling out if a bag learned, including how to construct a clever was overturned. Our masons suggested 48 49 Above: A pre-nightfall view of guests exploring the June 2018 luminary installation on the Chimes Tower Lawn. Photo by Hank Davis. Left: Erin Feeney reviews CAD plans as she directs volunteers and students with the luminary installation on the Cow Lot, August 2017. Photo by Morgan Horell. Right: View inside of a luminary reusable plastic container shows 8-hour tealight set in polymeric sand. Photo by Morgan Horell.

50 polymeric sand, which sets solid when water that patterns found in garden elements, The spacing of the luminaries also revealed is added. Horticulturist and luminary team including gates, benches, and architecture, some considerations. The 10-foot spacing member Darren Rutledge worked out the also played a role. The Theatre Garden and between luminaries on the on the Cow Lot details and the problem was solved. The bags Flower Garden Walk site offered both a allowed guests to move among them with were filled once with the polymeric sand, traditional approach to luminaries, with ease, but the 2-foot spacing in the Theatre water added, and are now stored, solid sand many elegantly lining the 600-foot-long Garden resulted in more than a few in place, ready to be used again and again. Flower Garden Walk, and a more elaborate luminaries being displaced out of position. Perhaps the biggest decision facing the design in the grassy area below the Theatre We treat our Luminary Nights as “pop- team was where to place the luminaries in Garden, which was inspired by the ripple up” events, meaning we do not share the the gardens. “Many factors went into that pattern raindrops make when falling into display dates until we know the weather will decision,” Feeney explains. The space has water, featuring overlapping groups of cooperate for us to successfully put on the to accommodate crowds, it has to be concentric circles. display. And the weather requirements are accessible, and there has to be lighting A combination of 25 staff, students, stringent. Rain, obviously, is a non-starter, beyond the luminaries for safety, among and volunteers assisted with mapping the and even a gentle breeze can wreak havoc other considerations. Feeney also realized design to the turf, setting up the 3,000 with luminaries. “Our threshold for wind,” that topography played an important role, bags, and inserting and lighting the tealight Feeney ponders …“basically there isn’t one,” knowing that the luminaries would best be luminaries. Each evening the luminaries she says with a laugh. appreciated if they were able to be both would burn themselves out (the reason Since that first display in August 2017, immersive for guests and also viewed from to select an 8-hour tealight) and a new we have staged luminaries in our Italian above. “We also wanted to punctuate areas tealight would be swapped in the next day. Water Garden, Large Lake area, Chimes of the gardens that guests might not interact In all, about 300 hours were required to Tower, and surrounding lawn. Each display with often, or add another element to a set up, light, and maintain the display over has boasted an original design by Feeney well-known experience,” Feeney explains. the three evenings. encompassing around 3,000 luminaries. For the inaugural luminary event, the More than 30,000 guests attended the Does she have a favorite? “I hope my favorite team selected the large lawn as you enter inaugural luminary weekend that spanned is yet to come,” she says, “but the Cow Lot the Gardens, known as the Cow Lot, and a picturesque Thursday, Friday, and Saturday is currently my favorite … I loved the the Theatre Garden area and nearby Flower evening in August 2017. Many lessons were experience of journeying to the center Garden Walk. For the Cow Lot, Feeney learned from that first experience. and even if you didn’t make the journey, devised a design that featured nearly 700 “We saw that guests were equally you could enjoy it from the berm.” luminaries in a sunburst pattern that entices enchanted by the opportunity to walk Feeney has more grand designs up her guests to journey to the center of the open among the luminaries as they were to sleeve for future displays including some lawn from where they could experience 48 simply stroll along a luminary-lined path,” extravagant, non-linear patterns drawn from rays aligned perfectly in all directions. “I had Feeney says. “At first, guests were not botanical inspiration that will certainly spaces in mind where we could use strong sure they could walk on the Cow Lot, but prove challenging to implement. But one lines and geometric shapes to contrast the once a few ventured in, more guests can’t help but assume that Feeney and the organic gardens, “ Feeney explains, noting followed and made their way to the center.” luminary team won’t be in the dark for long.

Right: View of luminary installation at the Italian Water Garden shows the “fine edge” treatment used to delineate the pools and fountains. Photo by Eileen Tercha.

51 End Notes

Remembering William H. Frederick, Jr.

We were saddened by the passing of William H. Frederick, Jr., 91, on August 15, 2018. Frederick, an acclaimed landscape architect and passionate plantsman, served on the Board of Trustees beginning in 1970, when Longwood Gardens was first incorporated as a separate institution, until 2006, and was its first President from 1970 to 1980. He also served on the Trustee Advisory Committee from 1986 to 2006 and headed its Landscape Subcommittee. He was a dedicated horticulturist and landscape designer who created great awareness of plant selection and enhanced garden design at Longwood. He was responsible for bringing leading landscape architects to create imaginative enhancements and gardens, especially Thomas Church, Sir Peter Shepheard, Roberto Burle Marx, Conrad Hamerman, and the firm of Reed Hilderbrand LLC, a tradition that continues to this day. Frederick welcomed students and staff to his home and glorious garden, Ashland Hollow, and freely shared his experience and opinions, much of which has fortunately been captured in his several books. We are very grateful to have benefited from Frederick’s 36 years of dedicated service. He set a standard of excellence that his successors have tried to emulate and was instrumental in helping Longwood preserve its past and also build a promising future.

52 Clockwise from top left: from Wrestling with Angels featuring gardens by Frank Letterhead of William H. and Singing with Dragons, Lloyd Wright, Isamu Noguchi, Frederick, Jr.’s landscape the Making of a Garden Luis Barragán, Roberto Burle design firm, Private Gardens, Across 45 Years by William Marx, and other modernist Incorporated, which he H. Frederick, Jr., 2015; cover designers; Frederick on the founded in 1971; cover of of Modern Gardens and the cover of Longwood Chimes Millcreek Nursery 1952–1976, Landscape, revised edition by #263, 2007. Longwood A Brief History by William Elizabeth B. Kassler, 1984, a Gardens Library & Archives. Frederick, Jr., 2001; page book influential to Frederick, Photo by Daniel Traub.

53 Longwood Chimes No. 298 Winter 2019

Front Cover Inside Covers Editorial Board Distribution Dried seedheads of Anemone Inside Front: Western Hubei in Marnie Conley Longwood Chimes is mailed tomentosa (Chinese anemone). Central China is sacred ground Patricia Evans to Longwood Gardens Staff, Photo by David Ward. for plant explorers. This Steve Fenton Pensioners, Volunteers, ruggedly mountainous region Julie Landgrebe and Gardens Preferred and Back Cover contains a staggering diversity Katie Mobley Premium Level Members, and Clockwise from top left: of temperate plant species. In Colvin Randall is available electronically to all Dried seed capsules of September 2018, Longwood Noël Raufaste Longwood Gardens Members Pycnanthemum muticum Gardens participated in a David Sleasman via longwoodgardens.org. (clustered mountain-mint); multi-institutional plant James S. Sutton Dried seed capsules of exploration expedition to Matt Taylor, Ph.D. Longwood Chimes is produced Eryngium yuccifolium western Hubei with partners Brian W. Trader, Ph.D. twice annually by and for (rattlesnake master); from the United States and Longwood Gardens, Inc. dried seed pods of Cercis China, walking in the canadensis (Eastern redbud); footsteps of some of history’s Contributors This Issue dried seed capsules of greatest plant explorers. Contact Canna glauca (Longwood This highly successful Longwood Staff and As we went to print, every hybrid aquatic canna). Photos expedition resulted in a Volunteer Contributors effort was made to ensure by David Ward. variety of seed collections Kristina Aguilar the accuracy of all information from both woody and Plant Records Manager contained within this herbaceous species (shown Hank Davis publication. Contact us at here). These specimens Volunteer Photographer [email protected]. will be placed into specific Carol DeGuiseppi propagation protocols, Volunteer Photographer © 2019 Longwood Gardens. carefully tended by the Maureen McCadden All rights reserved. Research and Conservation Digital Resource Specialist division staff. Once they have Judy Stevenson reached a suitable state of Archivist development, they enter an Eileen Tercha internal evaluation process Volunteer Photographer for possible inclusion in future David Ward collections and displays. Volunteer Photographer Inside back: These thimble- sized test tubes contain Other Contributors thousands of tiny, dust-like Larry Albee orchid seeds. Researchers Photographer at Longwood Gardens are Lynn Schuessler using these seeds to conduct Copyeditor research on propagation and Daniel Traub cultivation of orchids native Photographer to Pennsylvania and the Susan E. Yoder mid-Atlantic. In the tissue Writer culture laboratory, specifically formulated media are used to serve as a substitute for the fungus necessary for seed germination. If this doesn’t work, symbiotic germination is being tested as an alternative. This cutting-edge technique involves harvesting the fungus from the roots of a mature wild orchid, growing it in our tissue culture laboratory, and then introducing the seeds to the fungus cultures. Photos by Daniel Traub.

54 55 “To see things in the seed, that is genius.” —Lao Tzu

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

longwoodgardens.org

56