From the Gardens

The Longue Vue Gardens are the masterwork of 20th century landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman: a visionary designer, intrepid female entrepreneur, and dear friend to Longue Vue founders Edith and Edgar Stern.

In 1968, Edith opened the gardens of Longue Vue to the public, so the entire community could experience them. Our job today is simple: Continue sharing Shipman’s design legacy with new audiences, from expert horticulturists to local families.

Click here to learn what’s in bloom year-round, featuring monthly highlights!

Upcoming Workshops

Garden Therapy Workshops with Amy Graham

Family Flower Crown Workshop

Saturday, March 4 from 1 PM – 2:30 PM

Family members of all ages will enjoy this fun, hands-on horticultural lesson and workshop, spotlighting flowers and botanicals from our gardens. Learn what’s in bloom – then wear what’s in bloom! Light refreshments will be served, and all-day garden admission is included.

$75 general; $65 annual members; $40 children ages 3-12

TICKETS

Email Amy Graham at agraham@longuevue.com with questions.

Private Flower Arranging Workshops

with Amy Graham

Reserve a private flower arranging workshop with our Director of Gardens, Amy Graham, for you and up to 7 friends!
Amy will give a garden tour to workshop guests and provide tools and materials, including botanicals and florals foraged from Longue Vue grounds. Wine and light refreshments will be included with your private workshop session.

$700 for 2 hour workshop in Longue Vue’s Playhouse (maximum capacity 8 workshop guests)
Available dates:
Friday, June 16 from 1 PM – 3 PM
Friday, July 21 from 1 PM – 3 PM
Friday, August 25 from 1 PM – 3 PM

*Other dates and private workshops available by request. Email Amy Graham at agraham@longuevue.com or call Amy at (504)293-4718 to inquire.

From our January newsletter:

Gardener, Chris, with wagon of grapefruit.

Harvested oranges in Walled Garden.

Gardener, Mario, setting up ladder to harvest citrus high in orange tree.

Working in a garden has many perks, one of which is having the ability to share in or purchase fresh vegetables and fruit. Longue Vue’s winter garden yields an abundance of greens, broccoli, cauliflower, ginger, turmeric, lemons, blood oranges, grapefruit and most any culinary herb you can name. In December, the students of Cultivating Communities had a couple of market day sales, and I purchased some lovely bundles of mustard, arugula, bok choi, mixed peppers and onions. On arriving home the same night, I cooked everything together (I had never cooked arugula but it was good) and saved them in the freezer for later. When the cold temps hit town just before Christmas, I pulled out my big soup pot and made a black bean soup with the mixture.  It was delicious! The gardeners enjoyed the meal together after covering plants for the impending freeze.

-Amy Graham, Director of Gardens

Ask a Gardener

Ask Director of Gardens Amy Graham about the Longue Vue Gardens, or for seasonal tips about your own garden: agraham@longuevue.com.

GARDENING TIPS

Ask About Pest Control

Ask Integrated Plant Care Gardener and Longue Vue newsletter columnist Simeon Benjamin about all of your natural pest control needs: sbenjamin@longuevue.com.

PEST CONTROL

Did you know?  We do insect identification and rescue!

Send photos to our Director of Gardens, Amy Graham at agraham@longuevue.com to get an identification or drop off unwanted specimens at the Gate House.

Garden Volunteers: Give and grow.

Garden Volunteers meet every Thursday from 8:30AM to 10:30AM, and every second Saturday from 9AM to 11AM. Volunteers work alongside the garden staff on large projects which are vital to Longue Vue’s survival!

Projects include weeding, planting, mulching, sweeping, raking, soil building and more.

Please register to volunteer by date using the link below. For additional information including “no stooping” or low impact volunteer opportunities like seed packet stuffing, contact Director of Gardens Amy Graham at agraham@longuevue.com.