Longwood Gardens transforms its majestic conservatory into an Orchid Extravaganza January 23-March 31. The horticultural showplace near Kennett Square, celebrates the “divas” of the plant world with thousands of orchid blooms, displays and special exhibits throughout its famed 4- acre conservatory. The award-winning Orchid Curtain returns, fashioned this year with dazzling purple Phalaenopsis, in addition to stunning displays of orchids in planting beds, containers and innovative exhibits.

Featuring a plethora of colors, sizes and shapes, guests will be amazed by the variety of orchids on display, including Cattleya, Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum and Oncidium, among others. In all, more than 4,000 blooming orchids will delight the senses. In the East Conservatory, giant white Phalaenopsis adorn urns, while Dendrobium ‘Fuller’s Sunset’ are fashioned into vibrant, eight-feet-tall yellow towers on the Patio of Oranges.  Eye-catching Dendrobium topiary line the adjacent Fern Floor.

Throughout the Orchid Extravaganza Longwood is celebrating fragrance in preparation for its exciting new exhibition, Making Scents: The Art & Passion of Fragrance opening at the Gardens on April 10.  Guests will be greeted by an 18-foot-tall perfume bottle in the Main Conservatory surrounded by orchids. When the exhibition officially opens in April, the bottle will be joined by a museum-like exhibition that explores the art, science and history of fragrance. In addition to fragrant orchids guests will encounter other fragrant plants throughout the conservatory, including hyacinths, lilies, narcissus and more.

In early March, Longwood’s famed Blue Poppy (Meconopsis) returns to the Exhibition Hall. Usually, to see masses of blue poppies in bloom, you needed to travel to Scotland, Alaska, or the Himalayas. Not anymore. Longwood Gardens has successfully produced a stunning crop of blue poppies that decorate the Conservatory’s Exhibition Hall with their unique blue blossoms.

Additional indoor highlights include the Acacia Passage, which explodes with masses of yellow blooms in January & February accompanied by fragrant Oncidium orchids. The Mediterranean Garden is a riot of vibrant color January through April with Australian purple coral-pea (Hardenbergia) vines blooming like miniature wisteria; while the Estate Fruit House displays nectarines, melons, and other fruits and vegetables flourishing in the midst of winter.