By Marie-Louise Meyers

And everyone else who comes to Longwood resplendent in its diamond- studded and jewel-bedecked Christmas theme.  Once again Longwood proves Its ability to envision another perspective and tactile approach to the season as you round every corner with your mouth perpetually open in anticipation.  The East Conservatory does not disappoint with stunning jewels embedded in trees and hanging stars.  The spectacular 24 foot central tree is bejeweled in ruby gems with a garland of red and gold as the tree slowly rotates amidst ferns and poinsettias, the kind you only dream of ever seeing, hardly believing as if royalty was embossed from the very roots of its inception.     

The ingenuity of hand crafters are made visible in the Community Trees

ornate with their 3-D effects, and all the gems associated with the holiday season you ever relished embellished with jewels.  Even the “Mighty Writers” have achieved such soft perfection with their felted ornamental animals, while the ingenuity of the Christmas Card Tree creators  encompasses everything you ever wanted to do with precious cards you put away for safe keeping.  Organ music provides the sounds of Christmas  in your joyful anticipation of the Christmas season to come. 

Suspended in the Exhibition Hall, a Solitaire, reflecting all the color tints 

imaginable in a gigantic diamond-shaped mobile from ceiling to floor. 

The Music Room affords you everything you desire, but can’t afford in this

dramatically licensed Jewelry Store with an 18 foot tree emerging from a music box while a dining table is set with candelabras with gilded mirrors.

How astounding to see hot pink rollers on the ceiling as you proceed to the Orchid House with glittering chandeliers filled with their exotic presence.  

In the West Conservatory, quiet reigns as the sublime flow of water leads

you to a room filled with Mediterranean plants and embellished with jewel-toned and shimmering trees in an ever-changing palette as if floating,

artfully inspired by amethyst caves. 

The Wildlife Tree always an eye-catcher but more for the satiated birds

and other wildlife that flock to the see how the gilded coconut and oyster

shells furnish both respite and seeds.  

Don’t forget to see the Tree Houses, they don’t disappoint with their filigree

as if anointed by the stars above settling down with pronouncements of Love as with every exhibit including perennial Trains with new additions  ever-present with its replica of the West Conservatory.    

It takes both Know-How and a year of dedicated devotion and incubation for these ingenious and talented horticulturists to come up with such startling perfection.