12 WEEKLYPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • JUNE 25, 2014 New 86-Acre Meadow Garden debuts at Longwood Gardens


Garden’s ecological design showcases the important relationship between plants, people, wildlife, and landscape.


L


ongwood Gardens re- cently unveiled its new Meadow Garden, an


iconic American landscape spanning 86 acres that show- cases native plantings and highlights the relationship be- tween the human and natural worlds. Both sustainably man- aged and visually artistic, the Meadow Garden blends bursts of colorful plantings and grand vistas with best prac- tices in land stewardship. The Meadow Garden is actively propagated with herbaceous perennials and includes other interventions to manage inva- sive plants, control trees and shrubs, and promote wildlife. “The new Meadow Garden is an exciting departure from the more formal gardens at Long- wood,” said Director Paul. B. Redman. “In the Meadow Garden, guests will experience a bucolic Brandywine Valley landscape and discover the beauty and variety of native and naturally producing plants and gain an appreciation for the interconnectedness of the plants and wildlife in the Meadow.


In addition to the hundreds of plant varieties already thriv- ing in the Meadow and the surrounding woodland edge,


maintaining the resilience of the existing native plant com- munities.


more than 100 species have been added to create sweeps of color, texture, and biodiversity that permeate the landscape, providing interest and habitat benefit in every season. In spring, woody plants such as Carolina silverbell, Eastern redbud, flowering dogwood and sweet azalea grace the woodland/meadow edge, along with a robust herbaceous layer of species such as wild cranesbill, Indian-physic, and Virginia bluebells. In the summer, meadow species such as black-eyed Su- san, hollow Joe-Pye-weed and various sunflowers and iron- weeds provide visual show and habitat benefit, along with host plants for the declining monarch butterfly, such as common milkweed, butterfly- weed, and swamp milkweed. The fall palette includes numerous native asters and warm-season meadow grasses, along with the foliage of


woodland edge species such as red and sugar maple, and red, white and mossy-cup oaks. In the winter, the dried seed pods of the flowering plants and the various grasses pro- vide more subdued beauty and textural effect, while providing important winter habitat for a variety of native insects and animals.


Built to showcase and inform guests about the beauty of na- tive and naturally producing flora throughout the seasons, the Meadow Garden illustrates how native plants can be used in guests’ own green spaces for both aesthetic and habitat benefit.


The Meadow Garden is an example of ecological design, meaning that the design mini- mizes environmentally de- structive impacts by integrat- ing itself with living processes, and that land stewardship techniques are implemented with the goal of enhancing and


When designing the Meadow Garden, Landscape Architect Jonathan Alderson took inspi- ration from patterns that occur naturally and has accentuated them to create experiences that celebrate the Meadow’s temporal and ever- changing nature. These experiences be- gin to educate the visitor about larger messages, including local land management and its evolution over time. Meadow Garden Features More than three miles of walking and hiking trails lead visitors to the diverse habitats found across the Meadow Gar- den’s terrain. From the forest’s edge, where the woodlands meet the Meadow Garden, to the open, undulating fields, to the lush wetlands surround- ing the Hourglass Lake, the Meadow Garden is a bucolic tapestry of trees, shrubs, ferns, grasses, and wildflowers that showcase the remarkable beauty that native plants bring to a landscape. Each habitat also demonstrates the complex interrelationships of plants, insects, birds, amphibians and many small animals to one another.


In addition to its contem- plative beauty, the Meadow Garden is a place of discovery and learning. The Meadow


Bridge provides a venue for school groups and others to learn about the plants in the Meadow Garden and the birds and insects they sustain. The Hawk Point Pavilion sits proudly at one of the high- est elevations in the Meadow Garden, providing not only an arresting vista with expansive sky, perfect for bird watching, but the opportunity to learn about and identify the birds that call the Meadow Garden home. The Pollination Pavilion explores the important role of pollinators, from bumble bees to butterflies to humming- birds, highlighting the plants that attract each pollinator. The Hourglass Lake Pavilion explores the nearby wetlands, sharing the story of how this habitat is the foundation for a food web that includes insects, amphibians, fish, small mam- mals and numerous birds. Finally, the Forest Edge Pavil- ion shares the story of the sur- rounding woodlands and the plant and wildlife that reside there.


The historic Webb Farm- house, which has stood on the property since the early 1700s, has been restored and will serve as an interpretive center. Inside, guests can explore two galleries, one showcasing photography and art work depicting the beauty of the Meadow throughout the changing seasons; the second shares the story of the people who have inhabited and influ-


university city Dining Days


July 174 to July 274 3 COURSES, 3 PRICES!


$15 $25 $35 ucdiningdays.com


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sponsored by presented by


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enced the land since the Lenni Lenape. John Milner Architects of Chadds Ford, PA, (http:// www.johnmilnerarchitects. com/) led the restoration of the farmhouse.


About Longwood Gardens In 1906, industrialist Pierre du Pont (1870-1954) pur- chased a small farm near Kennett Square, PA, to save a collection of historic trees from being sold for lumber. Throughout his life, Mr. du Pont indulged his passion for gardening, turning his farm into a magnificent horticultural showplace. Today, Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great gardens, encompassing 1,077 acres of gardens, wood- lands, meadows, fountains, and a 4-acre conservatory. Longwood continues the mis- sion set forth by Mr. du Pont to inspire people through excel- lence in garden design, horti- culture, education and the arts, through programming that includes exhibitions, perform- ing arts, renowned horticulture education programs, horticul- ture research, environmental stewardship and cultural and community engagement. Longwood Gardens is on US Route 1 near Kennett Square, PA, 30 miles west of Philadelphia. Admission is $18 for adults; $15 for seniors (age 62+); $8 for students (ages 5–18 or with valid student ID) and free ages 4 and under. Group rates available. Details at www.longwoodgardens.org.


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