Through rare early color images and garden ornaments, explore the private, historic gardens of the Brandywine Valley-hidden gems of fleeting beauty, many of which have been lost to time.

On May 16, 1929, more than 1,200 people came from all over the country to view what was described as "one of the chief centers of horticulture in the United States." The great public gardens for which the Brandywine Valley is known today-Winterthur, Longwood, Mt. Cuba, and Nemours-private residences before World War II-were only part of the story. Dozens of smaller, private gardens were opened to the public for this special tour. The names of the houses and their owners ring out from another age: Lammot du Pont's Saint Amour; Eugene du Pont's Owl's Nest; H. H. Haskell's Hillgirt Farm; W. C. Spruance's The Patch.

Gardening is an ephemeral art, and most of these spaces have not survived. The ones that do exist today struggle to balance historic integrity with living plants and the on-going maintenance of garden ornaments. The exhibition tells this story and provides an in-depth look at the conservation measures Winterthur has practiced for the last 20 years.

       Image courtesy of Hagley Museum and Library