Longwood Gardens Chrysanthemum Festival

Longwood Gardens, October 20 and 21, 2013:

Judy had a five day break from work, so we decided to take a mini road trip.  We wanted to visit my son Matt and his family in West Virginia.  I haven't seen them since August, and Judy has never met them.  So, we combined a visit to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA and followed that with a visit to West Virginia.

I have visited Longwood several times.  When I was teaching, I used to take students there on field trips.  I also got to take a three day behind the scenes workshop there several years ago, along with a group of fellow North Country Ag Teachers.  While I have been to Longwood many times, I have never visited in the Fall, and besides, Judy has never been there at all.  At this time of the year, the Annual Chrysanthemum Festival is on display, and it was spectacular!

History of the Festival

Over 1,000 blooms on a single Mum plant.

It takes two years to grow this plant.

100 different Mum varieties grafted on a single plant.

Indoor garden pathway.

Stunning orange colored Coleus.

Desert Garden

Wall of Orchids

And more Orchids

We decided to spurge for lunch, and ate at the 1906 Fine Dinning Room.  The emphasis is on locally produced food, and wow, what an experience.  It was probably one of the finest lunches I have ever eaten.

I had crab cakes and cole slaw.

Judy had grilled trout with red cabbage.

A carrot cake to die for.

From Longwood, we drove to West Virginia.  We stopped and shopped at an Amish store along the way, and picked up some Christmas gifts.

We spent two wonderful days at Matt and Jaime's home in West Virginia.  I got to get my Grandpa fix and Judy got to meet more of my family.  We had a great time.

Chasen teaching Judy how to play Angry Birds.

The crib that I slept in as a baby and then my sons slept in,
now holding a stuffed toy collection.

The trip home was uneventful, although we had to dodge some Lake Effect snow along the way, both along I-79 near Erie, PA and then along I-81 north of Syracuse.  

We had a great time, and are ready to go back to West Virginia soon.  Who knows, maybe we will incorporate another stop at Longwood Gardens and catch a different seasonal display.