Vine & Vogue

Over the past weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Despite growing up less than 30 minutes away from this amazing display of art and foliage, I had only been once before in high school.

My mother and I began our journey on a relatively overcast and cold Sunday morning. I was mostly excited to explore during the Winter Wonder Season, which took place in the new West Conservatory. It was Longwood Garden’s first winter in the West Conservatory, and inside resided the Cascade Garden, a stunning curation of tropical plants and Mediterranean architecture.

Yet, before I get into the plants, I have to talk about the food.

Hidden on the lower level of the Main Conservatory is 1906, a breathtaking fine-dining restaurant that emulates “seasonality and sustainability”. Most of the dishes use ingredients that were grown on-site, and the ingredients pay homage to the local community.

The atmosphere is as fresh as it is stimulating, with plants surrounding you on every side and large glass windows to let in the natural light.

Once seated, my mother and I quickly realized that the menu was like none other that we had seen. At first, it was relatively confusing to follow. There were no descriptions of items, no differentiation between appetizer and entree, and the meals were separated into seemingly arbitrary categories: Fauna, Flora, and Funga. After precise explanation from our very knowledgeable waitress, it was explained that Fauna would include any types of meat, Flora would be vegetable options, and Funga would specifically include mushrooms given Kennett Square’s “Mushroom Capital of the World” title.

We decided to split three items, each from a different section of the menu. To begin, the Beef Carpaccio. Next, the Sunflower Seed “Risotto”. And lastly, the Mushroom Wellington.

Overall, the food was amazing. My mother and I’s favorite dish was the “Risotto”, a playful twist on the classic dish which was absent of any cheese and instead had a base of sunflower seeds. Nevertheless, the texture was crunchy, creamy, and the artistic inclusion of a fruity gelatinous puree on top balanced out the dish. The Mushroom Wellington was also a delight. We both weren’t the biggest fans of the plated sauce (it was VERY mushroom heavy) but the Wellington itself was flaky and stuffed with just the right amount of mushrooms. I was surprised to not notice the absence of beef, especially because my mother and I particularly love Beef Wellington. Being the most expensive item we got, a downside to the meal was that it was a relatively small dish. Luckily, we were splitting dishes, but it would not be enough to fill most people as a dinner option. The Beef Carpaccio was nothing riveting. We neither loved nor hated it. The beef was tender and the burrata on top helped balance the meaty flavor, but the overall dish felt lacking. The service was exceptionally fast and knowledgeable, and felt experienced enough to answer a few of our questions. I can’t wait to come back.

To walk off our meal, the indoor garden was our next stop. I have never been so amazed by the sheer number and size of the plants included in the various sections. Everywhere I turned, there was a new collection of thriving foliage. The walkways winded through section upon section of plants, some even growing up the wall and onto the ceiling.

I saw some of my favorite plants: Begonias, Philodendrons, Alocasias, and Monsteras. And many more I couldn’t even recognize. The air was humid and warm in the greenhouses, and it was clear that these plants were flourishing.

Some plants were flourishing almost a little too well. I was shocked to see that a Bird of Paradise palm tree was located in the center of one of the displays, and that it had reached well over a height I thought possible.

I hadn’t realized how large a plant could truly grow when given its most favorable conditions. While a Bird of Paradise may only grow a few feet in one’s home, the ones at Longwood soared 10 to 20 feet into the air at their highest points. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Reflecting back, it hammers home the notion that although we plant parents can cultivate our green thumb as much as possible and grow our plants year after year, we will never be able to allow them to grow to their full potential.

My personal favorite part of the day was discovering a hidden secret. I wanted to make sure I covered every inch of the space, soaking in as much plant life as possible. Therefore, at one point, I had dragged my mom down a hallway and back into a corner for fear of missing a plant. And there, behind a group of other plants, was a plant that had been on my mind almost nonstop as of late.

Against a window and behind rows of foliage sat a beautiful, and very mature, Monstera Deliciosa Thai Constellation. A couple years ago, this plant was extremely sought after in the plant community and was going for hundreds of dollars just for a young plant. I had been on the hunt to find one to add to my collection that didn’t cost 120 dollars, and instead I found one seemingly abandoned in the back of a greenhouse. The variegated pattern on the leaves is stunning, and the fenestrations (the holes in the leaves) were perfectly developed. I sat for a while just staring at the plant. I contemplated if it was possible for me to steal a cutting and somehow walk out of the garden with a 2-3 foot leaf hidden under my jacket. Instead, I left it there and continued my journey. But as my luck would have it, later that weekend, in a Home Depot in the middle of New Jersey, I found a Thai Constellation in store for only 30 dollars. Now big box stores notoriously kill the plants they have in their possession through overwatering, under watering, pests, and customers, but I made it my mission to save this one.

I take it as a sign that my wish for a Thai Constellation was answered after finding one abandoned. I like to think that the plant appreciated my attention and rewarded me with my own little slice of happiness. I plan on revisiting Longwood Gardens soon come the new season, and to visit my new friend.