Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
Annual Fall ASLA Excursion

Longwood Gardens: Experience a World Apart

Kennett Square, PA

Something very special is in store at Longwood Gardens...

In conjunction with this year’s meeting of the American Society of Landscape Architects in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, TCLF will host a private, curated excursion to the incomparable Longwood Gardens, one of the world’s truly great gardens and horticultural centers.

Join us for a private, curated experience that only Longwood Gardens can offer through their lens of beauty and innovation. Stroll through the grand Conservatory and surrounding gardens with esteemed landscape architects and thought leaders who will provide perspectives on how they are working with Longwood to create a "world apart" experience, never before shared with the public.

Guests will arrive via the Music Room, an entry reserved only for Longwood’s most important guests.  Upon arrival guests will be greeted by Longwood’s Senior Executive Staff led by Paul B. Redman, President & Chief Executive Officer.  In addition, select Longwood design professional partners will be present to interact and welcome guests.

Brief opening remarks will be made by Paul B. Redman and Charles Birnbaum.  Adriaan Geuze, founder and director of West 8, will provide perspective behind Longwood’s master plan philosophy of “Awakening the Sleeping Beauty” followed by remarks by Jim Garland, founder and president of Fluidity Design Consultants, regarding Longwood’s unique standing as one of the greatest water gardens in the world. Landscape architect Kim Wilkie will provide remarks regarding Longwood’s role as an exemplar of design creativity and sustainability within a legacy landscape. Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi, cofounders of WEISS/MANFREDI Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism, will make final remarks about the transformative moment of the Main Fountain Garden Project in setting the stage for future projects to truly awaken the sleeping beauty.

Following remarks, guests will be invited to stroll through and experience the five-acre garden under glass on their own at their own pace. The landscape architects and architects (Kim Wilkie, Isabelle Greene and Marion Weiss & Michael Manfredi) will be stationed in their respective areas to interact with our guests. Large illustrative boards will be placed in each site with historical images (where appropriate) and the original design illustrations of the spaces. The West Conservatory complex will have illustrative boards positioned in approximate locations with views of the future conservatory and administrative complex. This will be an exclusive and private showing of the future conservatory complex.

Music and food will be an important part of the Conservatory experience. The 10,010-pipe Aeolian Organ in the Ballroom will be playing, and we will have small quartets positioned in strategic locations.  Food stations will be placed throughout the conservatories.

At approximately 11:45 a.m., guests will be ushered to the Main Fountain Garden Overlook to observe a twelve-minute choreographed fountain show at 12:00 p.m. Following the show, guests will make their way to the Pump House Museum where a private lunch will be served. After lunch, guests will be invited to tour the tunnels that provide power, water, and climate control for the gardens above before making their way to the West Gate for boarding their bus for return travel to Center City Philadelphia.

Motorcoaches will provide roundtrip transportation from a downtown Philadelphia location to be determined. Cost of ticket: $1,000. Space is limited, and proceeds support TCLF’s educational initiatives.

5.5 LA CES™ professional development hours available.

Following the excursion, attendees will have the opportunity to attend a reception (separate registration required) in honor of landscape architect Harriet Pattison at The Harvey and Irwin Kroiz Gallery at The Architectural Archives of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Design. Ms. Pattison worked with architect Louis Kahn on the Kimbell Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, and Four Freedoms Park in New York City. At the reception, rare original drawings made by Pattison and Kahn for those two projects will be on display.     

The limited spaces are sure to fill quickly!

 


Refund Policy: Cancellations and Refunds will be granted according to the following schedule:

  • Up to two (2) weeks in advance: 90% (Deduction represents administrative processing fees)
  • Less than two (2) weeks in advance but up to seven (7) days prior: 70%
  • No refunds will be made for cancellations seven (7) days prior to event
  • No refunds will be made for “No Shows” (a person who registers for a program but who does not cancel registration or attend the program).
  • Refunds will be processed as they are received or after the conclusion of the program, depending on the program date and when cancellation occurs. Refunds may take five to seven business days to process