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LONGWOOD CHIMES 313

Summer 2026

No. 313

As America marks its 250th anniversary, we’re taking a moment to reﬂect on our own place in the nation’s story. From the origins of Peirce’s Park to the legacy of the Lafayette sycamore, and even a look back at presidential visits to Longwood, this issue explores the many ways our Gardens connect to American history. And while the Liberty Bell may be getting most of the attention this year, we’re celebrating our own iconic bells: the 25th anniversary of our carillon. Finally, we turn our gaze forward— considering what the next 250 years may hold, and how we are planning and planting for a more sustainable future. That future depends not only on thoughtful stewardship and bold vision, but also on the generosity of the Members, donors, volunteers, and friends whose support makes Longwood’s work possible. Together, we are ensuring that these Gardens continue to inspire, educate, and ﬂourish.

In Brief

Features

The Peirce Legacy Celebrating more than 300 years of horticulture and preservation. By Kelli Stewart

Notable Bells The Longwood 62-bell Carillon celebrates 25 years. By Scott R. Hummel

Star-Spangled Entertainment A look back at how Longwood entertainment has honored the country’s heritage over the decades. By Colvin Randall

Flags That Tell Our Story A look at the flags that adorn our Gardens. By Katie Testa

A New Chapter The historic Lafayette sycamore finds new life in our Gardens and beyond. By Katie Mobley

Hail to the Chief Longwood has hosted at least three Presidents and as many as five First Ladies. By Colvin Randall

Shaping a Beautiful Future How we are planning for a beautiful future that is more resilient, biodiverse, and alive with possibility. By Lynn Schuessler

End Notes

Tribute to Gerret van S. Copeland 1939–2026 By Paul B. Redman

In Brief

Mowing pattern in the Italian Water Garden celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary, July 2026. Photo by Carol Gross.

Celebrating more than 300 years of horticulture and preservation. By Kelli Stewart

Horticulture

The Peirce Legacy Shortly after Pierre du Pont purchased 402 acres of Chester County farmland in the summer of 1906, he and Charles Stebbins of Omaha, Nebraska, struck up a correspondence. As a descendant of the English Quaker who purchased the land from William Penn in 1700, Stebbins had reached out with stories to tell, and Longwood’s newest landowner responded with gratitude and curiosity. From information about the house to tales of plant-collecting twin brothers, Charles Stebbins wrote letters and answered Pierre’s questions as best he could. In the years following that first correspondence, Pierre—and later, his wife Alice—would continue to gather tangible and intangible evidence of their land's history. They bought furniture and other objects offered for sale by the family, and they even displayed some of their purchases in a glass display cabinet in the library in their home, itself an enlarged version of the Peirce family residence. Since Pierre’s and Alice’s time, the team at Longwood Gardens has continued to deepen our understanding of the Peirces and their work. Using period newspapers, contemporary botanical books, historical records, and a smattering of family papers, we have learned about the Quaker family who purchased land from William Penn in 1700. An English Quaker immigrant, George Peirce led his family in a successful farming operation, joining a large concentration of Quaker families in an area so productive that it became known as the breadbasket of the region. In 1730, the Peirce family constructed the core of the brick house that stands in the middle of our gardens today. By the 1790s, George Peirce’s twin great-grandsons, Samuel and Joshua

Peirce, were overseeing the farm. As Joshua would later tell it, the arboretum for which they are now known was born in a moment of frustration: neighborhood kids kept stealing fruit from their orchard, so they replaced their productive trees with ornamental ones collected from near and far. To a historian, the Peirce twins’ botanical turn is not surprising: the Delaware Valley was overflowing with Quakers and botanists and Quaker botanists. So-called “natural philosophers” abounded in Philadelphia, where organizations like the American Philosophical Society, the Athenaeum, and the Academy of Natural Sciences were energetically founded by intellectually curious merchants, professionals, and farmers. Since the 1720s, the Bartram family of Kingsessing (a neighborhood in southwest Philadelphia) had established famous plant collections on the banks of the Schuylkill River. In Chester County, the Bartrams’ cousin Humphry Marshall was collecting and propagating plants from across the country. Through a blend of Quaker networking and bold correspondence, Marshall connected with plantspeople across Europe, sending boxes of plants and seeds to be planted in notable collections like Kew Gardens. His book Arbustrum Americanum is widely recognized as the first botanical treatise written about American plants by an author born in America. He helped to establish a tradition of botanical publishing in the Philadelphia area, one that would be followed by Chester County physician William Darlington and later by Philadelphia nurseryman Thomas Meehan. The Peirces appeared repeatedly in works by Marshall, Darlington, and Meehan, as well as in botanical magazines like Andrew

Jackson Downing’s The Horticulturist and Journal of Rural Art and Rural Taste. Called out for unusual plants and for the park-like arboretum that their collection became, Samuel and Joshua Peirce were a fixture in the scope of early American botany. Locally, their land became known as a place of natural beauty. “Evergreen Glade” was a frequent picnic destination for local social groups. The Peirce family continued to grow and to steward their forebears’ original parcel of land and its plants for community good. In the second half of the nineteenth century, George Washington Peirce cultivated the land and cared for the arboretum, adding a collection of garden follies noted with amusement and curiosity by visiting journalists. The land known by then as “Peirce’s Park” welcomed guests and picnickers for decades until George Washington Peirce passed away in 1880. In the last decades of the nineteenth century, land ownership passed to a collective of relatives, including Charles Stebbins—Pierre’s eventual correspondent. Because Stebbins shared his stories with Pierre, and then Pierre shared his gardens with the world, Longwood Gardens can continue to preserve the land where they lived and the stories of their work. With a chain of stewardship that has continued almost uninterrupted since the arboretum was planted in 1798, Longwood Gardens is one of the longest continually tended gardens in the United States. We still care for collections of Peirce family objects, preserve rare books that document the Peirces’ early botanical contributions, and care for trees that date back to their lifetimes. As we plant new trees and tend new gardens, we look forward to the future generations who will experience their mature beauty at the United States’ tricentennial and beyond.

Help steward our legacy Help ensure another 300 years of beauty and inspiration by including Longwood Gardens in your estate plans. We invite you to make Longwood Gardens part of your own legacy by joining the Pierre S. and Alice du Pont Founder’s Circle. To learn more about the Founder’s Circle and discuss your options and impact, contact Rebecca Ackerman, Director of Major and Planned Giving at rackerman@longwoodgardens.org or visit longwoodgardens.org/planned-giving.

Legacy

Notable Bells

As America celebrates its 250th birthday this year, bells remain timeless symbols of freedom and independence. Bells will certainly ring out across the nation this summer and we are joining in the fun by celebrating our own unique set of bells as the Longwood Carillon marks its 25th anniversary. Pierre S. du Pont had a long appreciation for bells and chimes, installing a set of tower chimes in the Chimes Tower shortly after construction in 1930. The original 25-note Deagan tubular chimes were replaced with an electronic instrument that played from 1956-1981. After two decades of silence, our 62-bell Longwood Carillon was installed and dedicated in 2001. For the first time, guests and staff were able to experience live music throughout the gardens played by professional carillonneurs from around the world. A carillon is an instrument of at least 23 cast bronze bells, arranged chromatically by pitch. The Longwood Carillon has 62 bells that encompass a range of five octaves. Unlike many other tower bells, carillon bells do not swing or move but are secured to a frame. When a carillonneur plays at the

The Longwood 62-bell Carillon celebrates 25 years. By Scott R. Hummel

baton keyboard, each stroke moves a wire reaching through the ceiling that pulls a metal clapper into the bell and makes the sound. A light touch of a baton will ring softly, and a forceful hit will produce a loud and resonant toll. A carillonneur plays with both hands and feet, and can perform music ranging from classical to pop. Our guests can find the best listening area near the pear-shaped basin or the Hillside Garden. Outside of live performances, the carillon also rings the time and plays recorded songs with a new automatic computer that strikes the bells with electromagnetic hammers. Unlike most instruments, a carillon does not offer musicians any privacy to practice and hone their craft. To allow our guest carillonneurs a chance to practice before a concert, Longwood commissioned the construction of an identical practice keyboard. Tucked away in a nearby studio, the keyboard rings electronic samples of our bells through speakers, providing a realistic experience contained within the rehearsal space. This May, we celebrated the Longwood Carillon’s 25th anniversary with a weekend of exciting performances. Mummers strutted

to the Chimes Tower bringing excitement and festive energy to the celebration. Carillon concerts featured a pops program for families, a traditional solo program, and selections with trumpet and with recorded accompaniment. Guests watched the carillonneurs on a screen near the Chimes Tower, and were also invited to climb the tower and see the bells firsthand. Concerts continue throughout the summer. Live performances take place through September, and the tower is open for guests to climb after each concert or during our summer Fountain Fest Weekends. Every place has a distinct soundscape, an acoustic signature unique to that environment. At Longwood, the carillon is a part of daily life for our guests and staff, chiming the Westminster quarters every 15 minutes – just as Mr. du Pont’s original chimes did. The automatic player also rings songs at the top of each hour, filling our gardens with beautiful music. Whether you encounter our bells during a daily visit, or come to hear a spectacular live concert, you have a chance to experience a tradition dating from Mr. du Pont’s summers here: a garden filled with music.

Opposite: Views from the Longwood Carillon’s 25th Anniversary weekend, including (clockwise, from center) Philadelphia-based Mummers in the Avalon Spring Band perform for guests; Lisa Lonie plays family favorites on the Longwood Carillon; view of the winding Chimes Tower stairwell; Resident Instrument Assistant Scott R. Hummel at the Chimes Tower; detail view of the bell tower. Photos by Holden Barnes.

The historic Lafayette sycamore ﬁnds new life in our Gardens and beyond. By Katie Mobley

Horticulture

A New Chapter In October 2025, we received a welcome email in our Horticulture inbox from Angie Latham Kozlowski, Chair of the FrancoAmerican Memorial Committee, Colonel Thomas Dorsey Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). She had read a May 2019 Longwood Blog post about our planting a new Lafayette sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis) in Peirce’s Park. The tree had quite a story behind it … and Kozlowski wished to add a new chapter in honor of America’s 250th. But first, some backstory. Planted in April 2019 at the east end of Peirce’s Park near the Sylvan Fountain, from the very start the tree has offered much historical significance. It originates from the incredibly massive—and very well-known—tree just a few miles down the road at Brandywine Battlefield State Park in Chadds Ford. Planted around 1730 at the southwest corner of the Gideon Gilpin House, that tree is often called the Lafayette sycamore. Originally the home of a Quaker farmer, the Gideon Gilpin house served as the quarters for the 20-year-old Frenchman Marquis de Lafayette. It was during the September 11, 1777 Battle of Brandywine— his first military engagement in America— that Lafayette was wounded. Revolutionary War lore has told that Lafayette recovered from his wound under the tree; however, that legend has since been disproven. Even though he may not have recovered under the tree, it still holds much significance, serving as a witness to the largest single-day battle of the American Revolution and becoming a symbol of the battlefield itself. It was even featured in Andrew Wyeth’s Pennsylvania Landscape, which depicts the Gideon Gilpin House as seen between the branches of the Lafayette sycamore. In the effort to preserve the original Lafayette sycamore’s genetics, as well as 10

grow our collection, in 2017 Longwood reached out to the Brandywine Battlefield State Park in hopes of propagating it. And that we did, taking cuttings from the original tree that year and propagating it here in our nursery. Through this effort, we successfully preserved the historic tree’s genetics, resulting in the tree here in our Gardens— planted at four feet tall and now at 20 feet tall, with hopes of it ultimately measuring 80 to 100 feet tall—as well as other sycamores throughout our region, including two planted near the springhouse at Brandywine Battlefield State Park and seven others at the Haverford College Arboretum. All those trees serve as genetic matches to the original Brandywine Battlefield sycamore. Fast forward to 2025. As chair of the Colonel Thomas Dorsey Chapter’s FrancoAmerican Memorial Committee, which is “dedicated to honoring the long history America and France have shared in support of liberty and democracy across the world,” Kozlowski inquired if we had additional cuttings in our nursery—and if we would be open to the chapter acquiring one of these historic young trees. As the nation’s 250th anniversary approached, the chapter was working to recognize and commemorate the critical role of French soldiers during the Revolutionary War, particularly the leadership of the Marquis de Lafayette. They wished to plant the seedlings in locations in Howard County, Maryland, that were connected to Lafayette during the Revolutionary War—locations in which he had traversed or encamped with his troops, as “tangible reminders to future generations of our Franco-American alliance,” as shared by Melanie Smith Dzwonchyk, Regent of the Colonel Thomas Dorsey Chapter, NSDAR. Through our Specimen Tree Replacement Plan—which works to ensure that Longwood’s historic trees, as well as those of partnering cultural organizations,

endure—we did have additional cuttings available. Through the plan, we preserve the germplasm, or genetics, of select trees. Working with Kozlowski, we happily donated a Lafayette sycamore seedling to her chapter for immediate planting at the Brumbaugh House in Elkridge, Maryland. Elk Ridge Landing, as it was known then, was a port on the Patapsco River and a land route that was favored by General George Washington for troop and support material transit. The tree was planted on June 3, 2026. “We are thrilled to commemorate America’s 250th with the planting of a historic tree that has roots stretching back before the Revolutionary War, and a connection to Lafayette and the French and American Patriots who fought for our independence,” shares Kozlowski. “This tree will serve as a living memorial that honors Howard County’s revolutionary and patriot history. The Elkridge Heritage Society, which owns and operates the Brumbaugh House, is the perfect steward and caretaker of this historic vestige from America’s founding.” Looking forward, we are coordinating the gift of two additional seedlings with NSDAR Franco-American Memorial Committee Chair Dr. Patti Maclay to the French Embassy in Washington, DC, to commemorate the semiquincentennial. One is intended to be planted on the embassy grounds and the second on the grounds of the ambassador’s residence. We are proud to serve as one of the stewards of this historic tree, carrying forward its legacy, story, and enduring significance to so many.

Opposite, bottom row, far left: Longwood Nursery Manager Pat Joyce with Chair of the Franco-American Memorial Committee, Colonel Thomas Dorsey Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Angie Latham Kozlowski at Longwood’s nursery production greenhouse.

Features

Red, white, and blue filled the sky on July 3, 2025 during the Fireworks & Fountains Show in the Main Fountain Garden. Photo by Hank Davis.

The Arts

A look back at how Longwood entertainment has honored the country’s heritage over the decades. By Colvin Randall

Star-Spangled Entertainment

Opposite: The afternoon Marine Band concert in the Open Air Theatre in 1957. Right: Pierre du Pont and John Philip Sousa outside the Conservatory, 1928 or 1930.

It was indeed a beautiful setting, the soft lights and shadows cast by the plants and trees within the building, the murmur of hushed voices and the music. The band sat on the stage in the far end of the building surrounded by plants and tropical foliage. The members of the band were all clad in the full dress uniform of the Marine Corps. It is impossible to describe the music. Spectators sat on the edge of their chairs, some with eyes closed and others frankly agape at the magnificence of the performance…. Society was out in force. Mrs. Pierre S. du Pont was a very busy woman trying to look after everything and see that there was no hitch in the arrangements. —1922 newspaper review of United States Marine Band concert at Longwood Gardens

Sousa and His Band on the Exhibition Hall floor, probably 1923 when the Music Room and stage were under construction.

As America marks 250 years, it is fitting to look back at how Longwood has honored the country’s heritage over the decades. Patriotism has become more complex in recent years, but in the previous century, Longwood and the surrounding community went all out to celebrate. Music provided by military bands was the earliest manifestation, starting with Pierre du Pont’s first Garden Party in 1909 which welcomed the First Regiment Infantry Band of Wilmington, who played again in 1914. They were followed by Kendle’s First Regiment Band and Orchestra from Philadelphia in 1910 through 1912. As the parties became more elaborate, so did the entertainment. For the 1922 soirée, Pierre inquired about procuring the United States Marine Band. Unfortunately, the Marines were “prohibited from playing engagements that in any way compete with civilian musicians.” Moreover, it would require an official order from the Secretary of the Navy for the band to play privately outside Washington. T. Coleman du Pont, Pierre’s cousin and at that time a United States Senator from Delaware, met with President Warren G. Harding to appeal for permission. Harding had recently refused similar requests from three different senators, and he would not make an exception for Pierre. 16

But by July a contract had been signed to have the Band give a free concert in Rodney Square in downtown Wilmington from 4 to 5 pm on Tuesday, September 19, then travel to Longwood to give a ticketed concert in the Conservatory from 8 to 10 pm. Pierre paid $1,500 for the combined concerts plus expenses including meals; proceeds went to three Wilmington hospitals. Pierre bought 175 tickets to give to local Wilmington union musicians and 87 for Longwood employees. The programs were different but both solidly classical, following a tradition of playing marches only as encores. At Longwood there were six encores, two of which were Sousa marches. The newspaper reviews were ecstatic. Attendance at the afternoon free concert was estimated at 10,000, and it was “the most successful of its kind ever held in the city.” At Longwood, 2,100 tickets were made available to be sold, with at least 800 seated indoors and the rest just outside, “the largest throng in the history of the estate.” The Marines were engaged again for two concerts at Longwood on Tuesday, September 25, 1923, to benefit the Wilmington Music Commission. Tickets were $1.50 for assured inside seating for 1,000, and 75 cents for outdoor seating for 700 (in the future Waterlily Court), refundable if it rained. A bus company ran

The 1923 promotional poster for John Philip Sousa and His Band’s performance at Longwood.

Sousa and His Band on the Exhibition Hall stage, 1924, in front of the new Music Room.

special buses from Wilmington for 80 cents roundtrip. Perfect weather and inspired playing made for memorable concerts. One thousand dollars of the $1,837 proceeds from 1923 were used to establish the Wilmington Music School in Old Town Hall in 1924. The Marine Band returned for afternoon (581 guests) and evening (1,375 guests) concerts on September 20, 1927. Marine Band concerts would continue off and on at Longwood through 1986, in later years in the Open Air Theatre to benefit the Longwood Fire Company. Pierre hoped to get John Philip Sousa (1854–1932) to play for the 1922 Garden Party but the band was unavailable in June. They were booked at Longwood for two November 4, 1922, indoor concerts, just seven weeks after the Marine Band debut. Sousa’s fee was $1,925, a bit pricier than the Marines. Tickets were $2 with all proceeds to benefit West Chester’s two hospitals. The programs were lighter in mood than the Marines, and the band was very generous with encores, the most popular being The Stars and Stripes Forever. Sousa returned on July 21, 1923, to benefit the Boy Scouts of Wilmington and West Chester. Tickets were a more reasonable $1.50, which included indoor seating should the concert be moved from

the Conservatory front terrace in case of rain, and 75 cents for outdoor admission, to be refunded in case of bad weather. Pierre wrote a personal note to John Philip: It seems appropriate that I should express in writing my thanks to you and your great organization for the wonderful concerts you gave us at Longwood. Although our audiences cannot compare in size to many you find elsewhere, I am sure that we make up in enthusiasm and appreciation what we lack in numbers. It was a great treat to hear the band again, particularly those selections in which your master hand appears as author as well as interpreter. I hope that you and Mrs. Sousa will favor us again next spring. Sousa responded: It is most kind of you to say the nice things about our concerts at Longwood. It’s an added pleasure in my life to be with you both socially and professionally. I hope we may be with you again in the spring. Will you kindly ask Mrs. du Pont if she received the books of music I ordered sent her? With every good wish for your health and happiness and with great respect for Mrs. du Pont. Believe me, Most Sincerely, John Philip Sousa. Sousa and His Band returned for two concerts on June 24, 1924, to again benefit the Boy Scouts. John Philip and wife Jane accepted Pierre’s invitation to overnight in the Longwood residence. The Band also performed in 1925, 1926, 1928, and 1930.

John Philip Sousa passed away unexpectedly in Reading, Pennsylvania, on March 6, 1932. He and his band had visited Longwood on seven occasions, and their 14 concerts (out of some 15,000 they gave) were among the most memorable Longwood events during Pierre du Pont’s lifetime. Pierre made a rare comment about the economics of band concerts in November 1932, which probably applied to most events he sponsored for charity: The expense is quite considerable and, of course, is not in any way compensated by the number of admissions paid for. In fact, all the band concerts given do not bring in enough money to pay the band. However, it is always a pleasure to have the concerts and to give the proceeds from the sale of tickets to deserving charities. The celebration of Americana at Longwood reached its zenith during the American Legion pageants held in the Open Air Theatre from 1930 through 1959. Historical pageants were an American phenomenon in the early 20th century, when thousands joined in civic celebrations to act out local history. Kennett Square’s local American Legion William H. Fahey Post 491 staged Historic Chester County as a pageant fund raiser in Longwood’s Open Air Theatre on June 19, 20, and 21, 1930, using the John B. Rogers Producing 17

Left: Program from the 1932 production of Building a Nation,which included 10 scenes highlighting the life of George Washington in honor of his 200th birthday. Right: Scene from the 1933 production of The Story of Kennett (based on the 1866 novel by Bayard Taylor) in the Open Air Theatre.

Company from Fostoria, Ohio, which was hugely successful at staging amateur shows, supplying scripts, music, costumes, and directorial and technical expertise. The show’s storyline was based on an extensive eight-page regional history written by Christian Sanderson that was printed in the program. The pageant featured a Prologue (Miss Chester County, with attendants Beauty, Charity, Peace, Faith, Hope, Health, Liberty, and Thrift, greeting Miss Columbia and 48 state ladies) and 9 Episodes of 18 scenes, broken up by seven Interludes spoken by Father Time in flowing robes, white beard, scythe, and hourglass. Episodes were The Dawn of Creation, The Coming of the Indians, The Dance of the Wilderness Spirits and Conquering the Barriers, Early Settlements, The Revolution, Harriet Beecher Stowe at Kennett Square, Bayard Taylor, and Tabloid of the Veterans with a drum and bugle corps. The final 97-person Masque of the Nations was “a mammoth spectacle symbolizing the spirit and growth of America, the melting pot of nations, where people from every corner of the earth are joined in a Union, one and inseparable. Character dances of many nations will be presented with correct dance for each, from

the smallest to the mightiest—AMERICA.” Dozens of local residents participated, including many Longwood employees and their families. The pageant was a great success, making a profit of $4,555 (today $70,000), most of which went towards the Legion Building’s mortgage. Success bears repeating, which the Legion did with some 82 additional performances of 24 more pageants through 1959 (except 1942–1945 and 1957). Total attendance was probably about 170,000. The rewards were substantial: from 1930 through 1938 for which records exist, profits totaled $53,166 (today $966,000). Pierre was greatly pleased with these efforts. Pageants in 1930, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1940, 1941, and 1946 had particularly strong historical or national themes. In recent decades, theatrical productions have included the musical 1776 by the Lyceum Players, Gershwin’s political satire Of Thee I Sing by the The Brandywiners, Ltd., and The Story of Kennett, all presented in 1976. Numerous concerts have featured subgroups of the United States Service bands specializing in country music, jazz, and the like. Orchestras such as the Brandywine Valley Symphony frequently include patriotic music on their Longwood programs.

Of course nothing caps the nation’s birthday better than fireworks, for which the du Pont family has had a special fondness. Pierre planned two huge July Fourth displays even before acquiring Longwood. His first Independence Day here in 1907 included pyrotechnic “torches” and “fountains.” Garden parties in 1910, 1911, 1912, and 1922 featured boomers, and there were huge 90-minute Fourth displays in 1924 and 1930 with hundreds of invited guests; in 1930 up to 3,000 cars were parked in the field west of the Conservatory to accommodate the general public, who came in droves. And what could be more appropriate than fountains set to American classics? From 1987 to 2026, Sousa marches marked the beat for daily fountains shows in the Open Air Theatre during the summer months. Since the 1980s American music has always been heard for the annual fireworks displays held just before or on the Fourth in the Main Fountain Garden. Looking back, the history of Longwood and the Brandywine Valley is particularly rich and worthy of celebration at any time, but never more so than during this 250th anniversary of our nation.

Above, left to right: Program from the 1935 production of Historic Delaware, which included 19 scenes, from The Creation to The Civil War to Delaware Today, with four Father Time Interludes; Program from the 1940 production of The Story of Kennett—a repeat of 1933’s production. A fox was trained to run across the Theatre’s upper level stage during the hunt scene. The pageant was last presented at Longwood in 1976.

Below: Scene from the 1941 production of America on Parade, a 12-scene spectacle, from Columbus, the Pilgrims, Washington, Lincoln, the Gay ‘90s, and Roaring ‘20s to the 1940s and a Salute to North and South America.

Above: Program from the 1946 production of Fantasy of the Nations – a 20-scene extravaganza, from Santa’s Workshop, to non-Christmas celebrations in Canada, Holland, India, Russia, England, Mexico, France, China, Hawaii, and the US, with several hundred participants.

A Look Back: 1976 Bicentennial Celebration

Above: Horse-drawn carriages re-created period transportation for 300 invited guests to the opening of the Peirce-du Pont House on April 30, 1976. Left: The Visitor Center flower beds were planted in red, white, and blue, and the official Bicentennial flag joined the Stars and Stripes for the year 1976.

Above: Colonial-style Example Garden in the East Conservatory, 1976.

Longwood celebrated the nation’s Bicentennial a half century ago with several unique offerings. “A Colonial Garden in the Twentieth Century,” by prominent restoration architect Robert Raley, filled the space now occupied by the indoor Garden Path from February through Christmas. Plant varieties were updated for modern times. In April, the Peirce-du Pont House opened for Bicentennial tours. Visits were conducted by newly trained guides, and the emphasis was on furniture and family objects rather than the historical themes now featured in the Heritage Display. Almost 20,000 guests enjoyed the new experience from April through October. Two new historical books were published, Tulip Trees and Quaker Gentlemen by Leslie Spraker and A Man and His Garden by George Thompson, and an improved book display in the

Information Center allowed visitors to browse publications easily. The Bicentennial Wagon Train from the South, with 30 wagons and 60 people on horseback on the road three months since April, stopped at Longwood on their journey north along U.S. Route 1 on July 1, 1976. The wagons formed a circle for lunch on Gardens property on the south side of the highway, where today’s South Parking Lot is. Employees passed out Longwood wildflower bouquets and brochures to each wagon. The group was one of five national wagon trains converging at Valley Forge on July 3 for a total of 200 covered wagons and 3,000 wagoneers and horsemen. Performing Arts celebrated the Bicentennial with special concerts, including Early American music on the Longwood Organ performed by

Clarence Snyder. In the Open Air Theatre, the Lyceum Players scheduled five performances of the musical 1776, including on July 4, while the Brandywiners offered six performances of the Gershwin brothers’ political satire, Of Thee I Sing, and the Kennett Square Merchants Association presented The Story of Kennett in four performances. The summer finished with two outdoor performances by the United States Marine Band in September. In 1976, the pageant tradition was revived by the Kennett Square Merchants Association, which presented The Story of Kennett in June with four performances, produced by community leader Neil Joines who starred as Bayard Taylor. Not surprisingly, the Main Fountain Garden evening displays were frequently red, white, and blue, capping a star-spangled year of celebration!

Right: The Bicentennial Wagon Train arrives at Longwood Gardens, July 1, 1976.

Below, left to right: Summer performance programs from 1976.

Below: Longwood’s 1976 Schedule of Events featured patriotic fountains on the cover. Below: In 1976, the pageant tradition was revived by the Kennett Square Merchants Association, which presented The Story of Kennett in June with four performances, produced by community leader Neil Joines who starred as Bayard Taylor.

Legacy

Throughout Longwood Gardens, flags stand as enduring reminders of the people, places, and traditions that have shaped both our nation and this remarkable garden. From honoring the Peirce and du Pont families and their ancestral roots to commemorating military service and civic contributions, these flags represent stories of heritage, dedication, and belonging. Together, they weave a visual narrative across the Gardens—one that reflects Longwood's place within the larger American story and invites us to consider the many individuals whose vision and service continue to inspire.

FLAGS THAT TELL OUR STORY A look at the ﬂags that adorn our Gardens. By Katie Testa

View from the Rose Arbor of the American flag that greets guests outside the Visitor Center. Illuminated, this flag flies both day and night, welcoming more than 1.7 million guests, from both near and far. Photo by Holden Barnes.

Above: During WWI, the flags of some of the major Allied powers hung in the conservatory inside the Peirce-du Pont House. The flags shown are Belgium, United Kingdom, United States, France, and Italy.

Opposite: Today in the Peirce-du Pont House five flags are still displayed representing (from left to right): the United Kingdom, homeland of the Peirce family; Pennsylvania, the home of Longwood Gardens; the United States; Delaware, where the du Pont family settled in 1700; and France, the ancestral home of the du Ponts. Photo by Daniel Traub.

On the western wall of the Main Conservatory, the flag of Pennsylvania is positioned just beside the flag of the United States. The flags are displayed above a plaque presented to Mr. du Pont on June 1, 1929, from the state of Pennsylvania that reads: ”This tablet is presented by his fellow citizens in appreciation of his generous and unselfish service to the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” Photo by Carol DeGuiseppi.

On the eastern column of the Main Conservatory are the flags of Delaware and the United States, displayed with a plaque from the state of Delaware that reads: “Presented to Pierre Samuel du Pont by his fellow citizens in recognition of his vision and his many distinguished services for the State of Delaware.” The plaque was presented January 24, 1925. Photos by Daniel Traub.

In the Longwood Cemetery—a place that helps tell the story of some of the Brandywine Valley’s most revered, from war heroes to ardent abolitionists—flags carry special meaning. Every year, we place American flags on the graves of veterans as a tribute to those who served. The flags are placed by volunteers prior to Memorial Day and remain until after Veterans Day. Photos by Hank Davis.

Legacy

Hail to the Chief Longwood has hosted at least three Presidents and as many as five First Ladies. As reported here, all were truly moved by the beauty of their experience, although one said nary a word. By Colvin Randall

Calvin Coolidge in the White House, c. 1923. Opposite: Longwood bananas, 1922.

Longwood has hosted its share of dignitaries, including at least three Presidents and as many as five First Ladies. Most subdued, perhaps, were two visits by Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President. He first came to Longwood on December 1, 1922, as Vice President to address the annual convention of Colleges and Preparatory Schools of the Middle States and Maryland, held in the Exhibition Hall. He was on a tight schedule, arriving in Wilmington by train at 2 pm, whisked to Longwood then back to catch the 4:45 train in order not to miss an important dinner in Washington. His hostess was Irene du Pont, wife of Pierre du Pont’s brother Irénée. The Conservatory was filled with hundreds of attendees, so it is likely that he did not have the luxury of touring during such a brief visit. He made a return excursion a few years later as President (in office 1923–1929). Wilmington’s Every Evening newspaper reported on October 17, 1931: “One of the entertaining hosts escorting a group of the visiting South Americans through Longwood Gardens the other evening told of a visit of former President Calvin Coolidge to the beautiful gardens. Mr. Coolidge was taken all through the gardens, and never said a word. He viewed the beautiful trees, plants and various flowers and walked about through the gardens, but still did not speak. His hosts took him to all the beautiful little corners of the gardens and guided him to the finest places. Finally after he had been taken into the conservatory he stopped in

front of a banana tree. It was bearing fruit. Mr. Coolidge stood and looked at the tree for a while. Then turned to his hosts and said, ‘Bananas’.” The story appeared again in the February 21, 1955, issue of TIME magazine, revealing the year: “Visiting Pierre S. du Pont’s fabulous Longwood Gardens near Kennett Square, Pa. in 1926, President Calvin Coolidge passed in Yankee silence among exotic ixora, agapanthus, orchids, vanilla vines and breadfruit, finally spotted a familiar sight. Said the President: ‘Bananas’.” The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle repeated the story in 1961, noting, “It was thought then that it was a great compliment to bananas that it could make our most silent President articulate.” However, no mention of 1926 as the year he visited has been found in Pierre’s files or in any 1926 newspapers. But a 1926 Garden Party program retained by dancer Carlos Peterson, who performed that evening, has scribbled at the bottom “President Coolidge and Cabinet [were] Guests.” So it is likely that this off-the-record visit (perhaps accompanied by the First Lady) would have included a leisurely tour of the Conservatory, eliciting Calvin’s practically mute response. According to Longwood director Everitt Miller in 1981, the President was taken around by John Marx, the Gardens’ assistant superintendent. This story has been Longwood lore for decades. As told by du Pont family members, Mr. Coolidge’s only comment was “Humph, bananas.” On a later occasion, Mr. du Pont’s sister Mary Laird

Mrs. Johnson had an eye for the best in plants and colors, noting that Longwood’s Example Garden “city form” balcony would be extremely suitable in the southwestern United States. She admired the Ivy Leaf directional signs and asked for the source of teakwood benches. 34

made Pierre’s favorite banana ice cream and placed it in the Banana House. When the two came across it on their walk through the Conservatory, Pierre said, “Humph, banana ice cream.” They dipped out cones and, without further comment, proceeded on their way. As a postscript, in August 1937 newspapers across the country reported that Coolidge had once visited Andrew Mellon’s home and “viewed the old paintings [now in the National Gallery of Art], emitting nothing more than an ‘Humph,’ as he was escorted from room to room. Finally they reached the dining room where a huge bowl of fruit sat on a table. ‘Aagh!’ exclaimed Coolidge, ‘Bananas!’ Mellon stood by, mildly astonished.” Herbert Hoover, 31st President (in office 1929–1933) never visited Longwood but congratulated Pierre du Pont for his service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, writing in 1929: “Mr. du Pont has long enjoyed one of the noblest privileges of wealth, which is its enlightened and unselfish distribution in the public service during his own lifetime while he may yet live to enjoy the spectacle of the benefits it has conferred.” Mrs. Lyndon Johnson (First Lady 1963– 1969) visited Longwood on Friday, September 14, 1979, at 5:15 pm and spent about an hour touring. She was the guest of Bayard Sharp, Pierre du Pont’s nephew who had happy childhood memories here and shared them with her. Mrs. Johnson was carefully but tactfully watched over by several carloads of Secret Service agents. Longwood’s design

Claudia Alta Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson is welcomed by Landon Scarlett (left) and Bayard Sharp (right) in the Visitor Center in September 1979. Photo by Dick Keen.

Longwood director Everitt Miller explains the fine points of the old Azalea House (East Conservatory) design to Richard Nixon in 1981.

Near the end of his 1981 visit, when Mr. Nixon signed the Director’s guest book, he wrote that his visit to Longwood Gardens was “a mountaintop experience. A must for all state visitors.”

coordinator Landon Scarlett was the guide for the visit and staff photographer Dick Keen photographed the guests on arrival. Mr. Sharp and Mrs. Johnson watched the slide introduction to the Gardens before going by VIP cart to the Conservatory. It began to rain so the visit was restricted to the Conservatory. Mrs. Johnson had an eye for the best in plants and colors, noting that Longwood’s Example Garden “city form” balcony would be extremely suitable in the southwestern United States. She admired the Ivy Leaf directional signs and asked for the source of teakwood benches. As they were leaving, both she and Bayard were presented with orchids and a Longwood book, inscribed by Everitt Miller. Another presidential wife visited the next year. Patricia Nixon (First Lady 1969–1974) toured in the spring of 1980, along with daughter Julie Eisenhower. Mrs. Nixon wrote a thank-you to Everitt Miller, noting: You were ever so kind to escort us through the fabulous Longwood Gardens. It was an especially happy day for which we are most appreciative. With best wishes for continued success as you create a land of enchantment for the enjoyment of world-wide visitors. Gratefully, Pat Nixon. 36

No doubt her enthusiasm prompted former 37th President Richard M. Nixon (in office 1969–1974) to visit on Sunday, February 8, 1981. Longwood’s in-house employee newsletter described it in detail: On Saturday, February 7, Secret Service agents notified Longwood security officials that former President Richard Nixon would visit Longwood on Sunday morning. With little time for special preparations, a limousine arrived at the Visitor Center the next morning promptly at 10:00 am. There, the former President, his daughter Julie, and his 3-year-old granddaughter Jennie were greeted by Everitt Miller. Five secret service agents accompanied the group into the Visitor Center to begin the tour. The group began by viewing the multi-image presentation which Mr. Nixon thoroughly enjoyed. The former President made his way thru the center shaking hands with Longwood staff members and waving to the few stunned visitors. Mr. Miller then led the group to the VIP cart and began the visit with a look at the Open Air Theatre. The weather was foggy and nearly raining so the next move was straight to the conservatory. As with most visitors, Mr. Nixon was very impressed with his first view of the conservatory

gardens. He was amazed by the beauty and particularly interested in the structural supports of the building itself. The group then proceeded into the Azalea House, which was brilliant yellow with acacias. Mr. Nixon said he was particularly fond of acacias, having seen many in California. He gave his granddaughter some change to throw into the fountain in the Azalea House, and after Mr. Miller explained that the money was used for the Longwood employees contingency fund, Mr. Nixon removed all the silver money from his pocket and tossed it into the fountain also. [A subsequent Associated Press article added that Miller told Nixon, “ ‘Mr. President, that’s the first federal money we’ve ever gotten, and I hope it’s the last.’ He got a good laugh out of that.”] The group next went into the Music Room where Colvin Randall was playing the piano. Mr. Nixon was quite interested in the piano. Colvin also played the Longwood organ and took the former President on a tour of the organ chamber. As the group moved back through the conservatory, Mr. Nixon commented on the beautiful tulips, comparing them with those at the White House. Mr. Miller then took them through the production areas and into the potting shed. Then the group moved into the

Horticulture Building for a look at the Longwood Library. Mr. Miller explained that it was a working library for both the staff and students and went on to describe Longwood’s educational programs. Mr. Nixon seemed quite delighted that young people were being trained in practical aspects of the gardening business. He was most impressed with the Longwood herbarium collection and the fact that it has ties with Cornell University and the Smithsonian Institution. When Mr. Nixon signed the Director’s guest book, he wrote that his visit to Longwood Gardens was “a mountaintop experience. A must for all state visitors.” He told Mr. Miller that he would assist in contacting the Office of Protocol and encourage them to include Longwood Gardens as a regular stop for international dignitaries. Mr. Miller then presented Julie with a box of orchids and after exchanging pleasantries Mr. Nixon, Julie, and Jennie left. Their visit lasted one hour and a half. After his return to New York, Mr. Nixon sent the following letter to Mr. Miller: “Dear Mr. Miller: This just a note to tell you again how much I enjoyed my visit to Longwood Gardens. Your taking the time to give us a personally guided tour added immeasurably to our appreciation and understanding of one of the

most beautiful places in the world. You can be sure incidentally, that when the occasion presents itself, that once the new Chief of Protocol is selected, I shall strongly recommend that State visitors where possible include Longwood Gardens on their schedules. With warm regards, Sincerely, Richard Nixon.” To honor Longwood’s centennial year, President George Bush (in office 2001–2009) sent a congratulatory letter from the White House on January 11, 2006: “I send greetings to those celebrating the centennial of Longwood Gardens. This milestone is an opportunity to take pride in your work and your commitment to helping millions of Americans enjoy the splendor of our natural heritage. Our citizens are blessed to live amid many wonders of nature. For 100 years, these gardens have showcased nature’s beauty and America’s horticultural excellence. Through musical performances and educational programs, Longwood Gardens also helps foster creativity and expression in the local community. I appreciate those involved with Longwood Gardens and all who are dedicated to protecting our natural treasures. Your efforts help enhance our country’s beauty and contribute to a culture of citizenship and good stewardship that makes America strong.

“Thank you for the tour of the magniﬁcent Longwood Gardens. You made a lovely day for Betsy and me and I’m grateful. The terriﬁc garden books describing Longwood and the garden gloves will remind me of you and a happy day. Thank you and best wishes.” —First Lady Laura Bush (2001–2009)

Laura and I send our best wishes for a successful event. Seven years later, Laura Bush (First Lady 2001–2009) visited in person. Mrs. Bush toured the entire garden for more than an hour with horticulture department head Sharon Loving in a large VIP cart, with Secret Service personnel riding along as well as in a second cart following behind. She sent a lovely thank-you dated May 13, 2013: Dear Sharon, You are the fortunate Head of Horticulture at Longwood Gardens and I am the fortunate beneficiary of your generosity! Thank you for the tour of the magnificent Longwood Gardens. You made a lovely day for Betsy and me and I’m grateful. The terrific garden books describing Longwood and the garden gloves will remind me of you and a happy day. Thank you and best wishes. But no presidential family has visited Longwood more than that of Joe and Jill Biden, with Longwood practically in their backyard. Joe moved to Delaware in 1953 at age 10, and in the decades since has no doubt enjoyed Longwood on numerous occasions, most recently while 46th President (in office 2021–2025) on December 31, 2024, and twice since. We look forward to many future visits when his family can take time to smell the roses!

No presidential family has visited Longwood more than that of Joe and Jill Biden, with Longwood practically in their backyard.

Joe and Jill Biden with Associate Director, Display Design Jim Sutton enjoying A Longwood Christmas, December 17, 2025.

President Biden with Longwood Gardens and Restaurant Associates staff, February 17, 2026, left to right: Brad Dolan, Nicholas Lacovelli, Madison Weir, Erin Kennedy, Molly Shane, President Biden, Devin Reed (Bouchaine Vineyards), Christopher Carlson, Ben Goos, and Miriam Hughes.

Sustainability

SHAPING A BEAUTIFUL FUTURE How we are confronting climate change to shape a more beautiful future, one that is more resilient, biodiverse, and alive with possibility. By Lynn Schuessler

Opposite: Canada Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) in Peirce’s Park. Photo by Carlos Alejandro.

At Longwood Gardens, trees are part of our origin story. In 1906, Pierre S. du Pont bought the land that is now Longwood to save trees planted by the Peirce family over the previous century. Since then, trees have lent majesty to our landscapes—pollarded little-leaf lindens colonnade the Italian Water Garden; deep green hemlocks shade Peirce’s Park; broad copper beeches, wrapped in Christmas lights, edge the Cow Lot’s snow-covered lawn.

As we reflect on 250 years as a nation, we challenge ourselves to look ahead to the future landscapes of Longwood, against the backdrop of a changing climate. In 2090, when our great-grandchildren stroll the Gardens with their own young kids, high emissions climate models predict that our southeast Pennsylvania summers will be hotter and more humid, our winters milder and rainier, with a mean annual temperature

“This is a message of hope … we are not just responding to change, we are shaping a beautiful future that is more resilient, biodiverse, and alive with possibility.” —Vice President of Horticulture Chris Cole

Opposite: Bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum), Flower Garden Drive. Below: Vice President of Horticulture Chris Cole, in a grove of Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica) on Oak and Conifer Knoll. Photos by Carlos Alejandro.

increase of about 10°F. None of those trees— linden, hemlock, or beech—is known to grow in temperatures matching our projected future climate. On January 24 of this year, Longwood launched its new Science Strategy, which includes a critical conservation objective: “Prepare for change: Lead the climate resiliency of our landscape.” Chris Cole, Vice President of Horticulture since 2024, brings expertise in climate responsive design from his 14-year tenure as Executive Director of Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) Melbourne, where his team developed the world’s first Landscape Succession Strategy in response to climate change. Tasked with developing a future-focused landscape plan for Longwood, Cole admits that we don’t have all the answers. “Climate change adaptation planning is not absolute; it’s a process of collecting the right data in the right way to manage the resilience of the living collections in public gardens. It’s a collaborative effort among researchers who build on each other’s work to ask better questions and make better predictions.” In 2090, our Longwood climate will more resemble that of the southcentral and southeast United States; the Balkans and southwest Europe; southcentral China,

South Korea, and Japan. These present-day analogues of our future climate can help us imagine what our Gardens could someday look like, thus guiding our plant exploration, conservation, and plant trialing efforts, as well as suggesting partnership opportunities. To help inform plant selection into the future, Longwood is using The Climate Assessment Tool (The CAT), hosted online by Botanic Gardens Conservation International. The CAT allows selection of a garden location, one or more plant taxa, and one of three climate scenarios—present day, 2050 limited emissions, and 2090 high emissions—as defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The CAT then draws on large datasets of known occurrences of plants in the wild, in botanic gardens, and in general cultivation. It compares plant occurrences in the current climate (based on mean annual temperature) to occurrences in the predicted climate, providing a suitability score for growing a given plant in a future climate. “The analysis is a management tool to inform decisions and prioritize actions,” stresses Cole. “It indicates the highest risk species and areas to focus on.” Of course, many factors come into play besides temperature: water scarcity, relative

Climate change adaptation planning is not absolute; it’s a process of collecting the right data in the right way to manage the resilience of the living collections in public gardens. Left: Rendering of the new native Sour-gum (Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire’) allée. Opposite: Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), Peirce’s Woods. Photo by Carlos Alejandro

humidity, soil profile, pests and diseases, and the natural plasticity of plants that allows them to evolve. While we can all individually take action, climate change is a global challenge that requires a cooperative response. To that end, Cole founded the Climate Change Alliance of Botanic Gardens (CCABG) in 2018 while at RBG Melbourne. Now with more than 500 members in 97 countries, this network allows public gardens to share resources and tackle large issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and habitat degradation that would be impossible alone. Longwood has adopted the framework outlined in CCABG’s Landscape Succession Toolkit to develop our own climate change adaptation plan. We are in the first two phases of the five-phase approach, which includes understanding the impacts of climate change and identifying the risks to our Gardens. In the 2090 high emissions scenario, nine percent of our trees are at extreme risk or not known to occur, while 48 percent will be at the edge of their known range. This coming winter, we’ll say goodbye to what remains of our 1950s allée of copper

beeches, now stressed by fungal disease and climate change. In their place we’ll welcome native Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire’ (sour-gum), which beautifully heralds spring with tender red foliage that turns rich summer green before a fall finale of yellow-orange to vibrant scarlet. Its textured bark and red-tinged branches add winter interest, its ornamental black fruit is loved by birds, and it is both Phytophthora-resistant and suited to future climate. “This is a message of hope,” says Cole. “Together, if we confront climate change with knowledge, creativity, and purpose, then we are not just responding to change, we are shaping a beautiful future that is more resilient, biodiverse, and alive with possibility.” Although we might not be able to imagine the exact look of our landscapes at the quincentennial of our nation, our trees will carry on our story. By choosing a successive palette of more climate-resilient species, our intent is to maintain the character and legacy of Longwood so that coming generations—our greatgrandchildren and beyond—can enjoy the future beauty of our Gardens.

Support a sustainable future There are numerous ways in which you can not only support, but also help to expand, this exciting work. For more information about particular funding opportunities within Longwood Gardens’ Science program, please contact Rebecca Ackerman at rackerman@longwoodgardens.org, or (610) 388-5259.

LEARN

Our Gardens are overflowing with artistic, unexpected, and sometimes overlooked water features just waiting to be discovered. Text by Kelli Stewart

WITH US 46

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) in Peirce’s Woods. Photo by Daniel Traub.

Although we might not be able to imagine the exact look of our landscapes at the quincentennial of our nation, our trees will carry on our story. 47

End Notes

Tribute to Gerret van S. Copeland 1939–2026 By Paul B. Redman

The Longwood Gardens community mourns the passing of Gerret van S. Copeland, who died on May 28, 2026, after more than five decades of extraordinary service as a Trustee of Longwood Gardens. Appointed to the Board in 1975, Gerret faithfully carried forward the vision and values of his granduncle, Longwood Founder Pierre S. du Pont, while helping guide the institution through a period of remarkable growth and transformation. As the son of Lammot du Pont and Pamela Copeland, founders of Mt. Cuba Center, Gerret inherited a deep appreciation for nature, beauty, and stewardship—qualities that defined his life’s work and his enduring commitment to Longwood Gardens. Gerret was truly one of a kind. A devoted civic leader and philanthropist, he served his community with distinction through numerous nonprofit boards and charitable endeavors, often in partnership with his beloved wife, Tatiana. At Longwood, he played an instrumental leadership role in virtually every major capital improvement and preservation project undertaken during his tenure. His service spanned an extraordinary chapter in Longwood’s history—from the construction of the Gardens’ first dining facility to the acquisition of the 505-acre property in New Castle County, Delaware, now known as Longwood at Granogue. Through each milestone, Gerret remained a steadfast advocate for preserving the essence of the Longwood experience while ensuring that future generations could continue to enjoy and be inspired by its beauty. Above all, Gerret believed deeply in Longwood’s mission and in the transformative power of gardens to enrich people’s lives. He was a tireless champion for ensuring that every person who passed through Longwood’s gates could experience wonder, beauty, and connection with the natural world. His wisdom, generosity, smile, joie de vivre, and friendship touched countless lives and left an indelible mark on this institution. His leadership legacy continues at Longwood through his daughter, Ann C. Rose, Chair of the Longwood Gardens Board of Trustees, whose service reflects the family’s enduring commitment to the Gardens and to the vision established by Pierre S. du Pont, Gerret’s legacy lives on in the Gardens he helped shape and preserve, and he will be profoundly missed by all of us at Longwood Gardens.

Longwood Chimes

No. 313 Summer 2026

Front Cover A patriotic display in the Ornamental Kitchen Garden. Photo by Becca Mathias. Back Cover Fireworks & Fountains Show in the Main Fountain Garden as seen from the West Conservatory Plaza. Photo by Hank Davis. Inside Front Cover Anemone coronaria ‘Harmony Scarlet’. Photo by Becca Mathias. Inside Back Cover Poppy-flowered Anemone coronaria. Photo by Hank Davis.

Editorial Board Rebecca Ackerman Jourdan Cole Nick D’Addezio Patricia Evans Steve Fenton Timothy Gould Julie Landgrebe Katie Mobley Colvin Randall Kate Santos, Ph.D. Kelli Stewart James S. Sutton

Contributors This Issue Longwood Staff and Volunteer Contributors Kristina Aguilar Plant Collection Information Manager Holden Barnes Volunteer Photographer Hank Davis Volunteer Photographer Carol DeGuisseppi Volunteer Photographer Carol Gross Multimedia Designer Scott R. Hummel Resident Instrument Assistant Katie Testa Communications Associate Other Contributors Larry Albee Photographer Carlos Alejandro Photographer Kelly Giarrocco Photographer Lynn Schuessler Copyeditor Daniel Traub Photographer Katy Moss Warner Photographer

Distribution Longwood Chimes is mailed to Longwood Gardens Staff, Retirees, Volunteers, Gardens Preferred and Premium Level Members, and Innovators and is available electronically to all Longwood Gardens Members via longwoodgardens.org. Longwood Chimes is produced twice annually by and for Longwood Gardens, Inc.

Contact As we went to print, every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of all information contained within this publication. Contact us at chimes@longwoodgardens.org. © 2026 Longwood Gardens. All rights reserved.

Longwood Gardens is the living legacy of Pierre S. du Pont bringing joy and inspiration to everyone through the beauty of nature, conservation, and learning.

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

Longwood Chimes Issue 313