Today, Growing for Good hopped on the bus bright and early for a visit to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. We started with a tour by one of the staff, who taught us about the history of the land, which was once inhabited and cared for by the Lenni Lenape, an Indigenous people from the northeast.
When the du Pont family purchased the land in the 1800s, Pierre du Pont began collecting and planting interesting tree species. Over time, his property became home to Longwood Gardens as we know it, complete with a lush Conservatory filled with exotic flowers, trees, and shrubs.
Our tour continued inside this Conservatory, where we focused on nature’s calming benefits. We did a breathing exercise by a bubbling fountain, made scent sachets out of lavender and peppermint, and practiced mindfulness by noticing stones.
After we said goodbye to our guide, we headed to the dining tent for lunch and stopped by Longwood’s award-winning (look it up!) bathrooms. Before getting on the bus to return to MFS, students were able to roam the botanical gardens and observe their beautiful surroundings.
