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A Grand Conservatory:
Pierre du Pont built the Conservatory between 1919 and 1921 "to exploit the sentiments and ideas associated with plants and flowers in a large way," as he wrote in a 1918 letter. He dedicated much of the space to growing fruits and vegetables in addition to flowers.
The Estate Fruit House:
Indoor fruit production was an important part of the horticulture operations when Longwood was Pierre du Pont's private estate.
This was a luxury in the years before efficient transportation and refrigeration made diverse, out-of-season fruit common in grocery stores.
Heated greenhouses created spring-like temperatures in winter, forcing plants to bloom and fruit earlier than they would outdoors.
Today, Longwood staff employ the same growing techniques Mr. du Pont's gardeners used.
Mr. du Pont's original goal was to produce edible fruit. Today's planting design emphasizes the beauty of the plant forms, an aesthetic derived from meticulous growing and pruning techniques.
The bold structure of the trees and vines created intriguing and continually changing patterns of light and shadow throughout the day. |