Sometimes I just get determined to do something that does not seem like a really good idea.  This happened the other evening when a friend and I decided that that forecast of rain was really just a chance of rain and headed out to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square.We had tickets for the 9:15 fountains and music show, so what could go wrong, right?Then I learned a few things.1. My waterproof jacket was just a giant sponge.2. Hiding under a tree in a rainstorm still means getting wet.3. You can't see much in the garden at night.4. Chili in the cafeteria is a good choice on a rainy night.5. The conservatory takes on a spooky aura at night and they really don't turn on a lot of  lights inside. 6. There are a few plants that literally shine at night and make it almost worth the trip, i.e. t... 09/02/2018

So you are always looking for gifts and souvenirs that are unique remembrances of that cool little town you came upon in Pennsylvania. Well, if that little Borough is Kennett Square, have we got a deal for you!  It's called The Mushroom Cap.They have fresh White, Crimini, Shitake, Oyster, Maitake, Portabella, Royal Trumpet, Pom Poms, Beech Morels and Chanterelles (when in season).  They have marinated, pickled, dried, Snack  Shrooms, chips, powder, pasta and chop sauces, mustard, dips, chowder mix, and soup mix. If you would rather wear your mushrooms, there are socks, t-shirts, baby clothes, plus  dish towels, kitchen implements, books, post cards, and ornaments featuring the shiny mushroom which drops at midnight on New Year's Eve.  Many of these items are also available on their web ... 07/07/2018

Last week, my son was visiting from Tokyo, and we made a day of it at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. He had not been back home in five years, so there had been a lot of changes in that time.It was sunny, but was threatening to rain in the afternoon, so we started out walking the grounds in the morning.  The meadow area had a new path which gave a great vista of the open fields, and Doug enjoyed taking photos there. After lunch in the cafe, which appeared to be undergoing a large construction project that set tables under a heated tent, we entered the Conservatory just as it started to drizzle. The Orchid Exhibit, which runs to May 6, was in full bloom, giving us both a good chance to take photos to our hearts' content.  03/27/2018

Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania is a wonderland at Christmas.I gingerly approached late yesterday afternoon, trying to follow a traffic stream that would lead me to the regular parking lot instead of the remote shuttle lot across the street. I thought my parking spot was off in the bushes, but it actually was not far from the visitor center and there were generator fed lights there after dark. (almost dark at Longwood)The first thing I like to do is visit the conservatory before it gets dark out, so that my outdoor walking will cover all the lighted attractions. But hey, the conservatory has plenty of lighted Christmas trees and other spectacular plant displays. There has been some local controversy over the use of hundreds of floating apples and cranberries (see pictur... 12/21/2017

This summer guests to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania get a chance to see the fountains that have been totally rebuilt and that were under construction for a couple of years. I have been watching progress from 2015, when the old fountains had their statuary removed for preservation and the site was bulldozed. What a change last night to see all the new features. You can now walk around the upper plaza and fountains and go down into where the old pumps are on display that once powered the water display. A new grotto has been built with water cascading down from a sunlit opening. The lighted fountain display has all kinds of tricks including a total of 1700 jets and  some that are able to do  a basketweave pattern. When the upper fountains shoot as far as 175 feet into th... 07/08/2017

I was just reading a neat article in the Chester County Press about thankfulness.  You can click here to read it too.  The headline is The Power of 'Thank You' and it started with one woman's wish to adopt an attitude of thankfulness.I think it's obvious that a thankful heart will always be a happier heart.  Out of that desire is now an invitation for everyone in Kennett Square to join in!!  What a cool thing!  There's even a Facebook Page!People are using things around the house or in the garden , or wherever to spell out the words Thank you.  Take a look at the page here.   I like this idea so much that I joined in.  I don't live in Kennett Square and chances are, you do not either but why not join!    My younger son Max was home for spring break this week and I got to have dinner wit... 03/16/2017

I remember back in the 1980's that we would drive up to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania to drive through and see the Christmas lights. It was free of charge and cars would line up on Baltimore Pike and slowly crawl through a loop and see the decorated trees. How times have changed. Now November 27 through January 8, you won't see much from the highway, and you might even have to park on the other side of the highway and take a bus to the visitors' center at Longwood. Not only that, but you may see an electronic sign informing you that no tickets are available for that night. If you are not a member, you have to get timed tickets which attempt to spread out the thousands of people arriving daily.(Wreath in center is kalanchoe and spleenwort ferns)I am fortunate enough to... 12/29/2016

New Year’s Eve at Longwood Gardens near Kennett Square, PA was the place to be. Friends and I went out to dinner at the nearby Mendenhall Inn in Mendenhall PA and drove up the road to see the lights at Longwood.  One friend had never been there during the holidays and was amazed by the proliferation of lights in various forms. (Those are floating snowflakes over the lake on the right).Every year brings changes in emphasis and centers of creative ideas. I didn’t remember seeing icicle like cascades of light at the entrance to the gardens, but I do remember how they used lights shaped like bunches of grapes in the past. This year it was tiny bushes with lights shaped like the catkins of a pussywillow. Outside the Pierce-DuPont house, the tree trunks were wrapped in bright colors. The fanc... 01/01/2016

So what happens after dark at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania?  Some call it psychedelic, some call it a wonder, I call it brilliant.  With eerie eclectronic music playing, Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience” by Klip Collective transforms the landscape by projecting images onto the plants and trees. Running through the end of October, it uses both indoor and outdoor areas for its artistry, although I must say, it is the open air creations that are the most spectacular. Above the large lake, dragonflies and fish cavort, with one giant dragonfly seemingly flying right at the viewer. The topiary garden with its precise forms is the most fascinating, with the topiaries doing a wooden soldier-like dance. Sorry folks, the pictures don’t do it justice, you will just have... 09/03/2015

The Fountain Displays across from the Conservatory at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania are currently undergoing a total renovation and upgrade, to be completed in 2017, with new digital controls and features.  When I saw the current state of affairs, I thought it looked like Pompeii (have seen pictures but never have been there) with a couple of stone arches about all that remained of the 1930's and 1950's work. One of the problems has been the "health and safety" issue of whether the balustrades retain their original spacing or if they will be forced to put plantings or guard rails between the 12' wide pathway of the balustrades at the top of the  "Italian Villa" behind and above the fountains. It would be a shame if the total effect was spoiled by construction of guard... 05/14/2015

Happy New Year!!! There's still time to visit Longwood Gardens Christmas Display with thousands of lights, fountain displays set to music, and illuminated tree houses and even an outdoor railway decorated for the season.  Above is a photo our daughter, Sarah Luca, took last night at Longwood Gardens.  Here is a link to Longwood Gardens Hours of Operation.    The area surrounding Longwood Gardens is a beautiful place to live, yet very convenient access for commuting, country clubs, museums, parks and shopping.  If you are interesting in viewing homes for sale near Longwood Gardens click this link: http://www.maryluca.com/Longwood_Gardens_Homes_for_Sale_Nearby_Real_Estate/Real_Estate/?id=36936     Or call John & Mary Luca at 302-740-5872 to discuss your preferences, and we'll find the ho... 12/31/2014

I could say Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square has a Christmas display that is for the birds, and I would be telling the truth. Not only is there a “bird” theme, but it is one of the few events that does not say it is a “Holiday” display, but actually says it is for CHRISTMAS!  Since it features lots of Christmas trees, it is entirely appropriate. Even the lighting fixtures in the ballroom have been turned into birds. This is the room with the organ console and the place where periodically the house organist leads Christmas carols sung by the assembled visitors. Not only is the conservatory decked out for the season, but the grounds feature lighted trees both on the ground and on the water features, and a lighted garden railway chugs along. This special yearly creation will be open to t... 12/21/2014

What a lovely evening it was this last Sunday for the Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, Candlelight Tour. The only sad thing was that the Chalfant House on Union Street, which was to be on the tour, suffered major fire damage several weeks ago. Said to have been designed by Philadelphia architect Frank Furness, it was a landmark in town. Luckily, the Robinson family next door (owners of Mrs. Robinson’s Tea Room in town) volunteered their home, which was lovely.       Homeowners had fires blazing in their fireplaces and tables gaily arranged as for a party. Trees were decorated and Santas in place. Even the owners’ dogs were patiently watching the crowds (were they offered a reward if they were good little doggies?). Congrats to the folks at Kennett Square Historical Commission, and especial... 12/18/2014

Kennett Square PA 19375 Real Estate Homes for Sale listed by Subdivisions Neighborhoods Click any of the Kennett Square Subdivisions below to view Kennett Square PA real estate listings for sale in the respective Subdivision.  Then contact John Luca to answer any questions or for a tour at 302-740-5872 Bancroft WoodsBayard Ests @ LgwdBellefieldBelroseBeversredeBucktoe HillsCedar CroftCedar MillCedarcroftDalkeith FarmDavenport MdwsFalcons LairFox HollowFox Lee ManorGlenelg FarmHadleys MillHartefeldHessian HillsIndian SpringsKenlin VillageKennett SqLa ReserveLongwood CrossingLongwood MeadowsMerrymet FarmsNewlin GreeneOrchard ValleyOsborne PlacePennock GreenePenns ManorPocopson CreekPonds Of WoodwardRed Clay CrossingSavery MillSchoolhouse LaneSmithridgeSouthridgeSouthviewStenning HillsSton... 12/14/2014

Happy Thanksgiving!       Relax, Eat, Shop, and Enjoy all your family and friends!   David HenkeLong & Foster Real Estate Inc – Devon, PA/Wilmington, DEOffice: 610-225-7400/Direct: 610-618-0808www.DelawarePAHomes.com   11/26/2014

    Through November 23, you can visit Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania to see the Chrysanthemum Festival. Every year at this time, the flowers which have been started from cuttings emerge in fantastical forms inspired by the Japanese art of artificially training mums through little hoops and forming shapes such as mounds and shields.   The stars of this type of cultivation are the white Thousand Bloom (with over 1500 blooms) displays carefully trained into mound shapes. Another "oddity" is the creation with different varieties and colors popping out of their little hoops called the "Hundred Cultivar" grafted chrysanthemum (each variety named with its own ribbon).   To my mind, less artificial floral stars are the Yofire mum, with its fiery petals, and  the little yellow... 11/17/2014

The Orchid Extravaganza is on view from January 25–March 30. You don’t have to travel a world away to escape the cold of winter…all you have to do is step through the doors of Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (although the grounds outside the Conservatory were snow-covered today on my visit).       Living plants become works of art inside the lush, 4-acre Conservatory . Nearly 5,000 colorful orchids hang from baskets, create inspiring arrangements, adorn unique forms, and there is even an orchid meadow (bottom right) featured in Orchid Extravaganza. Discover what's blooming throughout the Gardens during Orchid Extravaganza.And learn a little history about this century old garden and conservatory founded by P. S. duPont. OrKID Days are filled with fun and wonder for the ... 02/10/2014

         Bromiads are beautiful at Longwood Gardens Conservatory. Hundreds of visitors spread out on the grounds of Longwood Gardens near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania this Memorial Day. The grounds were lovely, the weather was beautiful, but inside the conservatory these stunning bromeliads quietly acknowledged their superstar status. 05/27/2013

If yoy have been intending to see the Christmas display at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, you only have until January 6, 2013 to see this floral spectacular.  Whether in the conservatory, where a festive banquet table recalls past feasts held during P.S. duPont's residence on the property and all sorts of plants take the form of Christmas trees, outside strolling the grounds with trees bedecked with lights, or in the gift shop, where the shelves are emptying at a jolly pace, you will leave wondering how they will be able to top this next year. We paused for a while in the ballroom of the conservatory, where Longwood's organist was leading the crowd in singing Christmas carols--lending an even more festive mood to our visit to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsy... 12/28/2012

     Last night was not ideal weather, what with the mist and drizzle, for a walking tour, but my friends and I braved it, walking part of the way, although the houses were sometimes blocks apart in the historic Borough of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania for the annual Candlelight Tour. One of the two biggest surprises, and shining stars, was the historic Borough Hall (above center and clockwise from the left top, the first 4 pictures). It is housed in a Victorian structure built by a German family and later divided into 4 apartments, then later restored by a family which found it to be too much upkeep, then sold to the Borough for offices. The spindle trim in the reception area and all the mantels are stunning and somehow avoided destruction over the years (the historic home fairy must ha... 12/10/2012