CONTAINER AND POT inspirations From LONGWOOD GARDENS

 

 

One of my favorite parts of visiting Longwood Gardens is exploring the incredible container displays scattered throughout the grounds. Each one is a masterclass in combining color, texture, and plant forms to create eye-catching designs that change with the seasons. While many of these displays are grand enough for a public garden, the ideas behind them can easily be adapted for your own porch, patio, deck, or front entrance. In this post, I've shared some of my favorite container photos from my visit. I hope that you get inspired to create a little bit of Longwood's magic at home—no matter the size of your garden.

 

A Closer Look at Celia Thaxter's Garden

 In my last post, we took a wide-angle look at the Celia Thaxter garden in Prescott Park. This time, I thought we'd slow down and wander through the flower beds together. After all, it's the individual flowers, colors, and little surprises that give the garden its personality.

                                            First up, we have a bed of dwarf sunflowers

                                  This is a Mexican Sunflower, specifically "Torch" variety

                                              Blue and White Salvia and Sunflowers

                                     A bed of Red Rocktrumpet, Blue Salvia and Zinneas

                          Flowering succulent bed of Goldmoss Stonecrop and Wishbone Flower

                             This bed of  Gooseneck Loosestrife was humming with polinators!

                              Rose Mallow, Pink and White Shirley Poppies, California Poppies

One of the nicest things about visiting gardens is bringing a little inspiration home with you. We hope you've enjoyed strolling through Celia Thaxter's garden with us, and perhaps one or two of these flowers will find their way into your own garden someday.

A Walk Through Celia Thaxter's Garden at Prescott Park

 While we were spending the day in Portsmouth recently, one stop was the recreated garden of Celia Thaxter in Prescott Park. I'd read her wonderful book, An Island Garden, so seeing the garden in person felt a bit like stepping into the pages. 

The original garden has been lovingly recreated on Appledore Island by volunteers working with the Shoals Marine Laboratory, but for those of us who don't happen to catch a boat to the Isles of Shoals, there's a wonderful bonus. Each summer, a recreated version blooms in Prescott Park, giving visitors the chance to experience something close to what Celia herself would have enjoyed.

If you're not familiar with Celia Thaxter, she was one of New England's best-loved poets and writers. Born in 1835, she grew up on Appledore Island in the Isles of Shoals, where her family operated the famous Appledore House hotel. During the late 1800s, artists, writers, musicians, and other creative souls escaped the cities each summer to visit the islands. While Celia became well known for her poetry, she was equally admired for the spectacular flower garden she created beside the hotel.

In fact, her garden became almost legendary. American Impressionist Childe Hassam painted it over and over again, capturing its joyful mix of old-fashioned flowers spilling across the beds. Later, Celia shared her love of gardening in An Island Garden, a little book filled with her observations about seeds, flowers, birds, and the simple happiness of watching a garden come to life. If you enjoy old gardening books, it's well worth reading.

I ended up taking far more wide-angle photos than close-ups because I wanted to capture the feeling of the entire garden. Of course, I couldn't resist photographing plenty of individual flowers, too! 

 I'll share closeup photos in my next post, along with a look at some of the beautiful heirloom plants that make this historic garden such a treasure.

If You'd Like to Learn More

If Celia Thaxter's garden captured your imagination as much as it did mine, here are a few wonderful places to continue exploring.

• An Island Garden by Celia Thaxter. You can read this charming classic online for free through the University of Pennsylvania's Digital Library. It's filled with her thoughts on gardening, flowers, and life on Appledore Island. Read An Island Garden 
• Shoals Marine Laboratory maintains the original recreated garden on Appledore Island. Their website includes information about the restoration and seasonal tours. Shoals Marine Laboratory
• Prescott Park Arts Festival is home to the mainland recreation of Celia Thaxter's garden each summer, making it easy to experience a bit of Appledore without taking a boat.  FestivalPrescott Park Arts
• If you'd like to learn more about the Isles of Shoals themselves, Celia's Among the Isles of Shoals is another fascinating read, blending history, local stories, and her love for the islands. Read Among the Isles of Shoals

Note to Michele: Peter Rabbit in Celia Thaxter's Garden

Michele, 

It has been some time since my last update. I enjoyed seeing your patio flowers. Interestingly, we both chose the same color impatiens.  You've come a long way since your gardening days in Portland, Oregon. You are truly a coast-to-coast gardener now! How do you like the East Coast?

This summer has been full of activities, visiting family, and daily life. I will give you a full garden tour soon, but for now, here is a sneak peek of my deck, where I am growing annuals. As you can see, I have some house plants mixed in with petunias, impatiens, geraniums, coleus, nasturtiums, begonias, and argeratum. I am growing some herbs, but no vegetables this year. 

When I saw this little bunny on a recent excursion to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to visit the gardens in Prescott Park, I thought of you and your love of rabbits. Do you think your Louie and Pepper would like to play with this tiny fellow? Reminds me of Peter Rabbit after he’s lost his jacket and shoes! But there is no Mr. McGregor here. You are safe from angry farmers, wee one! 

I will be posting photos from my trip to Portsmouth soon. I visited the formal Josie Prescott Garden at Prescott Park as well as the nearby Celia Thaxter Garden, a re-creation of the poet's garden. Both are on the shore of the Piscataqua River that separates Maine from New Hampshire. More about that to come. 

I’ll also update you soon on my own garden, as well as my parents’ cottage garden, which I’ve featured in the past on "Sprouts." 

Cheers! 

Caroline 

Note to Caroline-4th of July, 2026

Hi Caroline,

As I was putting together this post about Longwood Gardens, I found myself reflecting on how much my gardening life has changed over the years for me. Getting older and dealing with a progressive disorder that effects my mobility, and energy level has definitely changed the way I will  garden going forward. There are some things I simply can't do anymore, such as spending hours digging, hauling heavy bags of soil, or maintaining large garden beds. I miss some of those activities, but I'm learning how to adapt.

One thing I love about living in Maryland is the abundance of beautiful public gardens. Visiting places like Longwood Gardens allows me to continue learning, finding inspiration, and sharing gardening experiences with our readers, even when my own physical gardening is more limited than it once was.

I'm also still learning how to garden in Maryland. The climate is quite different from Maine, and every season brings new lessons. My gardening space has changed dramatically as well. Instead of large garden, space, I now have a small patio container garden.

Much of what I grow as far as produce will be for  rabbits, including herbs and greens, along with a few vegetables and flowers for myself.

Like many people  these days, I find myself paying closer attention to costs. Gardening on a budget has become important, and I'm always looking for creative ways to grow more while spending less.

How are things going with you? I know you're helping in your parents' garden this season. You mentioned cleaning up the pond area. I can't wait to see the post. I always enjoy hearing what's happening in your corner of  Coastal Maine. I have enclosed a few photos from my patio garden, but its not really blog ready yet. 

 Michele 

 

The Orchid Room at Longwood Gardens, PA

 

The Orchid Room at Longwood Gardens is filled with stunning blooms in every color imaginable. There were delicate white orchids, vibrant pink varieties, rich purple flowers, and unusual orchids with fascinating shapes and patterns. Everywhere I looked, there was something new to admire. It was definitely a popular exhibit with a line of people waiting for more space that they could get in to view the spectacular blooms.

What always amazes me about orchids is how different they are from most flowering plants. Some flowers looked almost like butterflies, while others resembled tiny works of art. It is easy to see why orchids are among the most popular houseplants in the world. They were my Mothers and Grandmothers favorite plant. 

  

If you are like me you have wondered are they easy to grow? For home gardeners, orchids can sometimes seem intimidating, but many varieties are easier to grow than people realize. Most orchids prefer bright, indirect light and should be watered only when their growing medium begins to dry. Good air circulation is also important. With a little patience, they can reward gardeners with spectacular blooms year after year.

 

As I walked through the Orchid House, I found myself stopping often to take photos and appreciate the incredible diversity of these plants. Each orchid seemed to have its own unique personality and charm. Longwood Gardens never disappoints, and the Orchid House was no exception. Whether you are an experienced gardener or simply enjoy beautiful flowers, this display is well worth seeing. It was a wonderful reminder of the beauty and variety that the plant world has to offer.

In future posts I will share another favorite areas from my visit that served as garden inspiration I brought home with me. My next post is on container gardening ideas.

🌿 THESE WATER LILIES TOOK MY BREATH AWAY! | Longwood Gardens Tour

 Last Friday I visited the famous Longwood Gardens with family. We spent a delightful couple of hours exploring one of the most beautiful public gardens I have ever seen. Located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, Longwood Gardens is famous for its spectacular gardens, fountains, conservatories, and seasonal displays.

 

 

During our visit, we toured many of the greenhouse exhibits and outdoor gardens. The water lily garden is located between two of the large glass buildings, outside  and the they were among several of the highlights of my visit. When you view the photos, you will notice their colorful blooms floating  gracefully across the water, creating a peaceful and almost magical scene. From delicate pinks and whites to vibrant yellows and purples, each variety seemed more beautiful than the last.

 Water lilies are much more than attractive pond plants. Their floating leaves, often called lily pads, help shade the water, reducing algae growth and providing shelter for fish and other aquatic creatures. They also attract pollinators and contribute to a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

 

 

I have done some research on waterlilies and have found that there are two main types of water lilies: hardy and tropical. Hardy varieties can survive cold winters and return year after year, while tropical water lilies are known for their larger blooms and striking colors. Most water lilies thrive in full sun and prefer calm water conditions.

 

 

Many gardeners assume they need a large pond to grow water lilies, but that isn't the case. Dwarf and miniature varieties can be grown successfully in large containers, tubs, or half-barrels. With a sunny location and the right container, even gardeners with limited space can enjoy these beautiful aquatic plants.

 

 

Seeing the magnificent water lilies at Longwood Gardens reminded me that some of the most beautiful plants in the gardening world are surprisingly accessible to home gardeners. Whether grown in a grand botanical garden or a simple backyard water feature, water lilies bring a sense of beauty, elegance, and tranquility wherever they are planted.

 

 My visit to Longwood Gardens was filled with inspiration, and the water lilies were just the beginning. Next week, I'll share another part of our adventure as we explore the stunning orchid room at Longwood Gardens and discover what makes these fascinating plants so special.