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Longwood Gardens offers prelude to major expansion with summer season

Paul B. Redman

Guest Columnist

Without change, a garden would have no life, no vibrancy, no connection to Nature herself. Change is what keeps a garden growing, evolving and thriving — and the same holds true for Longwood Gardens.

At Longwood, change, innovation and improvement are our constant guides. With the Nov. 22 debut of "Longwood Reimagined' ' — the largest expansion in Longwood’s modern history — just around the corner, our "Festival of Fountains'' summer season serves as a beautiful prelude to this much-anticipated debut. And what a prelude it is — with the opening of our new Conservatory Overlook, to the return of our Fireworks & Fountains Shows, to our enhanced Beer Garden, to spectacular (and ever-changing) beauty at every turn, there’s much in our Gardens for you to enjoy now and throughout the summer.

Illuminated Fountain performances will be paired with a variety of music, from country to classical and contemporary pop, as part of Longwood Gardens' Festival of Fountains this summer.

Our iconic Main Fountain Garden awoke from its seasonal slumber just days ago to delight with its exhilarating fountain performances once again — and you can experience our Main Fountain Garden a whole new way this season from our just-opened Conservatory Overlook.

As part of our "Longwood Reimagined'' progress, the Conservatory Overlook helps form part of a beautiful new east-west promenade that unites buildings and landscapes, from lush formal gardens to views over open meadows — and with a new allée of Yellowwood and elm trees, as well as broad stone tiers for sitting and viewing our Main Fountain Garden performances, the Conservatory Overlook is a destination all its own.

Crews put the finishing touches on Longwood’s new Conservatory Overlook in this late April photo. Helping form a beautiful new east-west promenade as part of the Longwood Reimagined project, the Conservatory Overlook is a destination all its own, offering spectacular views onto the Main Fountain Garden.

We are thrilled by this summer’s return of our "Fireworks & Fountains Shows,'' back and better than ever. Complete with imaginative new shows, an enhanced sound system, new reserved seating throughout the entire venue, and new vistas — including our new Conservatory Overlook — to take in the splendor, we have evolved and reimagined the "Fireworks & Fountains Shows'' experience for you during these special summer evenings (for which tickets are on sale now).

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Speaking of special summer evenings, our "Festive Friday'' theme nights return this year, and with them many opportunities for quality time spent in the beauty of our Gardens. With vibrant fountain performances, fun family activities and entertainment, live music and new amenities in our Beer Garden, and more, we’ve designed these special evenings to not only connect all ages with all our Gardens have to offer, but also with one another. Evenings like these are the perfect way to rediscover summer at Longwood.

Paul B. Redman is president and chief executive officer of Longwood Gardens.

As one of the world’s great gardens, we are dedicated to sharing extraordinary experiences that bring pleasure, foster well-being, and spark imagination — all for you.

While we celebrate summer and all it brings in our Gardens, and as we look to the future with our fall debut of "Longwood Reimagined'' and new West Conservatory, new landscapes, new 1906 restaurant and more, we are proud to continue our legacy of innovation and to create new worlds of possibility.

We are delighted to welcome you to new experiences beyond your imagination. And we are honored to change, to evolve and to reimagine with you and for you. See you in our Gardens.

Paul B. Redman is the president and chief executive officer of Longwood Gardens.