I was introduced to Longwood Gardens for the first time last fall. It’s a beautiful, (I think, magical), place not too far from my home in Pennsylvania. Then I was blessed with another trip to Longwood Gardens this year in the spring because my oldest son wanted to do something as a special surprise for my birthday near the end of April.

Longwood Gardens is a wonderful place where you stroll through lovely gardens filled with greens, flowers, water fountains, and more. There are also a few indoor places, like the Conservatory where you see beautiful indoor plants, and the mansion, where you learn about the history of Longwood Gardens, and see more plants.

The photo at the top of this post is one of my favorite outdoor areas at Longwood. It’s the bell tower and it reminds me of medieval times with kings, queens, knights, and castles.

My favorite color is purple, and the spring flowers this year at Longwood Gardens offered lots of flowers in many beautiful shades of purple.

Tulips abounded all over the outside grounds in bright colors, dark colors, and pastels.

Above, bright tulips surround the perimeter of a small pond with a center fountain. An exterior evergreen border and some tall trees add to the beauty of this area.

The Conservatory also held lovely flowers in shades of purple.

The above flowers were my favorite flower of all the ones we saw that day. I don’t know what they are but I love the purple shades and the combination of flowers with petals and the tiny clusters that reminded me of stardust or far off galaxies.

The above flower is an orchid. I love the combination of colors. This orchid was in a room in the Conservatory that was filled with orchids of many types and colors.

This lovely plant filled with purple blooms came home with me from Longwood Gardens, thanks to my son. I was looking at it in the gift shop and he came up behind me and asked if I liked it. I said, “Yes, but I asked a lady who works here about it, and she said it’s an indoor plant that will only last for the summer.” He insisted I bring it home to enjoy anyway.

I’m sorry to say that during the past week, it has begun to droop and look unhealthy, so I transplanted it into a large pot and set it where it can receive more sunlight. I’m really hoping to be able to keep it as an indoor plant for a long time. I’m not a great plant caretaker, but I have had plants gifted to me that I have managed to keep indoors that are thriving. A friend gave me a geranium about eight years ago and I have transplanted it and it keeps growing and it blooms every year, even though most people plant geraniums outdoors. So, I have hopes for my little purple blooms.

I hope you have enjoyed this little taste of Longwood Gardens, and the beautiful spring flowers.