What the Camera Saw: Longwood Gardens

I have missed creating these posts! I missed the Fall, Christmas was a blink of the eye, and now here we are in January. We had hoped to go to Longwood Gardens on my birthday in December, but I opted out. If I am truthful, the darkness was impenetrable. My heart waits all day for the phone call that never happens, it creates a swirling mix of emotions trimmed with the anticipation of Christmas.

Disappointment loomed large between sodden weather and unrelenting work schedules, it did not appear that we would get to Longwood to wander through their Christmas gardens. With only three days left of their display, Doug escaped the office late one afternoon and under grey damp clouds we found ourselves at Longwood Gardens.

Magic happens there. As we made our way to the Conservatory, the far-away melodies of Christmas carols caught my ear, and the trees so carefully bedecked with lights made my heart catch and tears filled my eyes. Christmas magic that I had not felt in years, the tears that come from being overwhelmed by beauty. We found ourselves surrounded by the happy laughter of children and the familiar feeling of peace and goodwill that exists there among all the growing things. This is what the camera saw in all the merriment and awe.

The Quintessential Christmas Tree
The Quintessential Christmas Tree
The architecture of the conservatory is awe inspiring.
The architecture of the conservatory is awe inspiring.
A myriad of crystal ornaments were hung with precision care creating pure enchantment.
A myriad of crystal ornaments were hung with precision care creating pure enchantment.
Everything twinkled with light.
Everything twinkled with light.
Discovering miniature worlds in crystal teardrops.
Discovering miniature worlds in crystal teardrops.
Bewitched by the glowing pointsettia reflections.
Bewitched by the glowing pointsettia reflections.

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The air was biting cold, especially after the toasty conservatory, but the still perfection of the lake made every minute worth it.
The air was biting cold, especially after the toasty conservatory, but the still perfection of the lake made every minute worth it.

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It was difficult to call it a night, but what a hauntingly beautiful image to hold close.
It was difficult to call it a night, but what a hauntingly beautiful image to hold close.

 

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Terri Written by:

I am a wife and mother of two sons. Our eldest, Justin, was killed in a car accident September 27, 2010, he was 25 years old.

6 Comments

  1. Anne Madison
    January 15, 2016

    Food for the soul, Terri. A moment of Christmas magic. Thank you!

    • January 15, 2016

      Thank you Anne for taking the time to wander through the gardens with me!

  2. January 16, 2016

    Such beautiful pictures! If you send out Christmas cards, you should use one of these photos next year. I love the ones with the close ups of the ornaments that look like water drops. I’m glad your visit there let some Christmas cheer in.

    • January 16, 2016

      Thank you Susan for the taking the time to visit and write! I love the water drop ones also. I think using one of the photos is a great idea for cards, we didn’t send out cards this year – but planning and creating our own could make it very personal and a fun project. If you are ever in the Philly area, Longwood Gardens is a great place to visit. Maybe it is all the extra oxygen from all the happy growing things, but it is such a place of peace and beauty.

  3. January 18, 2016

    Beautiful! I have so many childhood memories of Longwood Gardens. Haven’t been since I was in middle school – can’t imagine how much it’s changed!

    • January 20, 2016

      Hi Linda,
      Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and write a note. I hope that you get a chance to visit Longwood again. We have only recently discovered its magic!

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