So Wednesday is the big day! I hope you’re ready. I’m almost, but I always have that nagging feeling like I’ve forgotten something, or someone. I’ve found that one of the nice things about Christmas being over is that it’s still Christmas time in most places. Local places have festive events that sometimes run well into January, and often they are less crowded after the big day. This picture was taken at Longwood Gardens last year and their fountain show occurs multiple times nightly through January 12th 2014. So get out there and soak up the holiday spirit even after the presents have been opened and Santa is back home warming his toes by the fire. Merry Christmas.

Nikon D800 Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 @ 40mm f/2.8 ISO 6400 1/250 sec

Longwood Gardens is located in Kennett Square PA roughly 45 minutes west of Philadelphia. The gardens began their long history when the Peirce family bought the land from William Penn in 1700 and turned it into a working farm. In 1798 Samuel and Joshua Peirce started planting an arboretum and in 1906 Pierre du Pont purchase the grounds to preserve them. Over the next twenty five years much of the gardens we enjoy today were created. In 1946 the first fountains were installed. From then until now the Longwood Gardens has blossomed into a world class setting of nature and education.

My wife and I have been members for the past few years and enjoy visits through the seasons. We look forward to the Christmas lighting exhibit every year. My daughter and I have enjoyed a few long afternoons strolling in and out of amazing flowers and watching the fountain shows. During the summer there are firework displays that burst into the sky above the fountains that visitors ogle over. They watch intently from the terrace overlooking topiary wonders.

Spend a Spring morning, a Summer evening, an Autumn afternoon or a Winter night at Longwood Gardens for an enjoyable time. Bring the kids and prepare to walk in amazement in this botanical wonder.

This past summer the Italian Fountains were lit for the first time. We were visiting with our parents for father’s day and (of course) I had my camera.

Nikon D5100 Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 @ 11.5mm f/11 ISO 100 5 image HDR

Image not for purchase, Longwood Gardens has somewhat restrictive photo policies.

Christmas Time

#TravelTuesday Longwood Gardens