KENNETT SQUARE, PA — Longwood Gardens is opening its doors to a season of bold color and cultural exploration with “Autumn’s Colors,” running now through November 16. The event blends horticultural tradition, artistic expression, and global design preservation, offering guests a wide range of indoor and outdoor experiences.
The fall display begins with seasonal décor across the grounds. Until October 31, pumpkins brighten the Rose Arbor, Idea Garden, and Peirce-du Pont House Plaza. The beloved Garden Railway marks its 25th anniversary, featuring miniature Longwood landmarks and a new model of the Chimes Tower and Waterfall near the Beer Garden.
Treehouses offer prime views of autumn foliage, while the Idea Garden glows with fiery tones from plantings such as Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire,’ Arkansas Amsonia, and little bluestem. Outdoors, the Main Fountain Garden closes its season with performances at 8:15 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through October 26.
Indoors, the new West Conservatory features vibrant autumn plantings, including Lion’s Tail, firecracker plant, and purple spurflowers. On October 24, the Chrysanthemum Festival transforms the East and Main Conservatories into a showcase of more than 5,000 plants shaped into 66 sculptural forms. A first for 2025, Longwood debuts a grafted chrysanthemum bonsai, while chrysanthemum bonsai created by students and staff are on view through November 16.
Cultural programming includes celebrated poet Joy Harjo, the inaugural André Harvey Fellow, in residence October 12–25. Harjo will present a public reading on Sunday, October 19, from 2–3:30 pm. The fellowship honors Brandywine sculptor André Harvey and highlights the intersection of art and the natural world.
Design also takes the spotlight with the reopening of the Cascade Garden, the only remaining U.S. design by Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. Preserved and reconstructed in a 3,800-square-foot glasshouse, the project reflects Longwood’s broader commitment to honoring legacy landscapes. A related conference, “Designing Change: Landscape Continuity in an Age of Uncertainty,” will be held October 15–16. The event, curated by Harvard professor Anita Berrizbeitia, costs $329 and requires advanced registration.
Dining and entertainment round out the season. The 1906 restaurant celebrates its reopening anniversary in October with seasonal menus, while the Beer Garden offers al fresco dining and live music Friday through Sunday evenings through October 26.
Educational offerings include “Tradition in Bloom: Longwood’s Chrysanthemum Festival” on Tuesday, October 14, from 6–7 pm ($12); “Milkweed and Monarchs” on Saturday, October 25, from 2–3:30 pm ($49); “Feeding Your Backyard Birds” on Sunday, November 2, from 2–3:30 pm ($39); and “Introduction to the History of Garden Design,” a four-week online course running November 10, 17, December 1, and 8 from 6–8:30 pm ($159).
Hours for Autumn’s Colors are 10 am–6 pm Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and 10 am–9 pm Friday through Sunday through October 26. From October 27–November 16, the Gardens are open 10 am–5 pm Wednesday through Monday and closed Tuesdays. Timed admission tickets are required, with member reservations needed Friday through Sunday from 3 pm to close through October 26.
Special ticketing options include two-day passes available through October 26 and Gardens By Day and Night tickets on weekends through October 26, adding flexibility for guests to enjoy the displays twice in one day.
With a calendar full of festivals, performances, art, and education, Longwood Gardens’ autumn programming underscores its reputation as a cultural and horticultural landmark in the Brandywine Valley.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.