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Greenville & Hockessin Life

Longwood's 2016 plans include return of 'Nightscape' light show

Jan 05, 2016 10:31AM ● By J. Chambless

The popular 'Nightscape' sound and light show will return to Longwood Gardens in 2016.

Longwood Gardens is planning five seasonal displays and nearly 600 daily horticultural, educational, performing arts, and holiday programs for 2016. Among the highlights is the return of “Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience by Klip Collective,” from Aug. 3 to Oct. 29.

The exhibit uses moving imagery, lights, and original sound compositions projected onto the trees and plants. Other favorite events returning include Orchid Extravaganza, spring bulb displays, the Wine & Jazz Festival, the Summer Concert Series, and “A Longwood Christmas.”

The outdoor gardens and Conservatory open at 9 a.m. every day. Closing time varies by season. Admission is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors (62 and older), $10 for ages 5 to 18, and free for children 4 and younger.

The 2016 season includes:

Orchid Extravaganza, Jan. 23 to March 27 – Orchid blooms cascade down walls, spill from containers and adorn planting beds throughout Longwood’s four acres of indoor gardens. The award-winning Orchid curtain returns, featuring 250 purple Phaleanopsis and Cattleya orchids in bloom. Outdoors in March, early spring bulbs begin to carpet the landscape.

Spring Blooms, April 2 to June 3 – Enjoy the outdoor spring bulb display, culminating in a rainbow of more than 250,000 blooming tulips in Longwood’s Flower Garden Walk and Idea Garden.

Summer Spectacular, June 4 to Sept. 5 – This summer celebration showcases annual and perennial flowers, roses, waterlilies, as well as alfresco concerts and fountain shows. The annual Wine & Jazz Festival returns on June 4. This popular event invites guests to enjoy some of the region’s finest wines while the area’s best jazz musicians perform live throughout the day. Special tickets are required. The Longwood Beer Garden returns in June, offering guests live music on select evenings.

Summer Concert Series – Well-known artists perform full-length concerts in picturesque settings around the gardens. Visit longwoodgardens.org on March 1 to see the complete lineup.

Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience by Klip Collective, Aug. 3 to Oct. 29 – The gardens are aglow with moving imagery, lights, and original compositions, all projected onto the living canvas of our plants and landscapes. Guests can also enjoy special programming throughout the exhibit. On view Wednesday through Saturday evenings. The gardens close at 11 p.m. Special tickets are required.

Autumn’s Colors, Sept. 10 to Nov. 20 – Celebrate the harvest season with pumpkins and thousands of chrysanthemums indoors and out. The Chrysanthemum Festival (Oct. 22 to Nov. 20) spotlights Longwood’s horticulture expertise as chrysanthemums are crafted and grown into extraordinary shapes, some taking as long as 18 months to complete. The highlight of the display is the Thousand Bloom Chrysanthemum, a single chrysanthemum that boasts more than 1,300 uniforms blooms on a single plant.

A Longwood Christmas, Nov. 24 to Jan. 8 – Thousands of poinsettias, towering Christmas trees, and fragrant flowers transform the indoor gardens into a warm retreat celebrating the holiday season. Outdoors, 500,000 lights glitter in the trees and there are colorful fountain displays set to music. Evening choral concerts, strolling carolers, and organ sing-alongs fill the gardens with the sounds of the holidays.

Year-round – Longwood’s Terrace Restaurant is open daily and offers two food service options. The Café features cafeteria-style dining year-round. 1906, the fine dining room, offers full-service dining. Make reservations for 1906 online atwww.opentable.com. The Longwood Gardens Shop in the Visitor Center is open daily during garden hours.

Other year-round highlights include Longwood’s Indoor Children’s Garden; the Meadow Garden, an 86-acre landscape featuring more than three miles of walking trails; and Nature’s Castles, three imaginative treehouses.

For information visit www.longwoodgardens.org.


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