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More Travels with Grammy G: Longwood Gardens and Brandywine River Museum, Fall 2025
Another spectacular visit to Longwood Gardens located in Kennett Square, PA; however….this time was extra special since they have “reimagined” this world-respected gem that reopened November 2024. The new West Conservatory building is phenomenal, both architecturally and horticulturally, the new Cascade garden with plantings focused on Brazilian warm climates, extra love spent showcasing aquatic plants in the Waterlily Court, bonsai placed Zen-like in their exceptional new Courtyard, and as Longwood proffers, “amazing new gardens, new glasshouses, new landscapes, and new dining.” I don’t want to give everything away because you MUST experience it yourself! Only 1.5 hours from the Lehigh Valley. Check out: https://longwoodgardens.org/new-garden-experience
We started our Chester County tour with a visit to Brandywine River Museum with an outstanding showcase of Andrew Wyeth’s paintings from Kuerner Farm in Chadds Ford, PA, a special exhibit only shown through September 28, 2025 with several works never publicly displayed before. The Museum also shepherds a Conservancy of land surrounding the venue - another gem to visit! More info at: https://www.brandywine.org/museum .
Grammy G’s Travels
We took an amazing trip this past summer of 2025…returning to one of our favorite places, the Hudson Valley in upstate New York. Our destinations were artsy places associated with the Hudson River School of landscape artists, including the Thomas Cole House (initiator of the Hudson River School) and Frederic Church’s house (his student) called Olana situated across the Hudson. These were both amazing historical homesteads filled with art, artifacts, rich history, and wonderful landscapes and gardens. We explored Cocksakie, a charming town on the Hudson, and drove back roads to experience the area. Thomas Cole and Frederic Church homesteads are a must see! Check out my photos from the Thomas Cole house and gardens, and Olana (F. Church house) and gardens.
Bernard’s Green Valley Farm, June 28, 2025
Grammy G’s Garden partnered with beautiful Bernard’s Green Valley Farm for information on home gardening, with an emphasis on native plants, and of course, blueberry picking by the bushel! Thank you Amy, Jonathan and Lou for hosting us, and for providing an excellent Walk About session to showcase native plants around your farm. Amy noted on her Facebook page, “Thank you to everyone who stopped out to pick and chat. It was a great day with Grammy G! A great day of community building and a great day of picking. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Check out the wonderful Bernard’s Green Valley Farm at:
https://www.facebook.com/p/Bernards-Green-Valley-Farm-100064752244284/.
Grammy G’s Travels
We just returned from Jamaica…immersed in our own paradise within the Wild Orchid Secrets resort on Montego Bay! Highly recommend! The flora and fauna were so unique and different from our Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania zone 7a world, with exotic plants that are well and truly usually found living as houseplants! I continue to research their proper Latin names….in the meanwhile, here is a glimpse of the colors, shapes and magnitude of what we marveled at during our stay. Ya mon, as they say on this beautiful island of Jamaica!
February 18, 2025, Winter Musings
As I look outside my home office window with the last shrouds of snow on the ground and enduring the 20 degree weather, I am longing for the delivery of my Johnny’s Seeds order! Who else has cabin fever?
March 6, 2025, Philadelphia Flower Show
And what a show it was! This year’s Philly Flower Show theme was “Gardens of Tomorrow” with futuristic exhibits incorporating neon, glass, bright colors, and more. Along with the future-forward look, we enjoyed the classic exhibits from massive forest and natural installations, cottage style gardens with whimsical storybook creatures, amazing garden art, unique houseplants, and even a golf course green! The crowds were light on a Wednesday (pro tip to attend mid-week) with lots of opportunities to check out workshops and vendor areas.
Looking forward to the 2026 Show!
