The Arborists at Longwood Gardens

opposablethumb

opposablethumb

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Mid-Atlantic
Due to a fortunate set of circumstances, i.e.
-a paid week off by my employer
-a trip to the Philadelphia area to visit family for the holidays
-the networking that we are able to do through TreeBuzz...

I got to spend three and a half days working as a volunteer with the arborists at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA, just outside of Philadelphia.

If you don't know much about Longwood, it is one of the premier horticultural display gardens. Period. It was founded by Pierre DuPont who bought the property to save a magnificent collection of trees.

I'm posting just to report in to the rest of the buzz that the arborists there do really fantastic work, and they are cool guys to hang out with and work with to boot. They were very welcoming to me, and were willing to show me all over the gardens to see a truly remarkable collection of trees, and even let me participate in some of their work...I even got to fly a RopeWrench for a minute, and I believe I'm hooked.

I'm a young, green arborist, so getting to see, in one location, so many specimen trees, so many examples of great pruning, cabling (hub&spoke even!), lightning protection, and getting to follow around some arborists who are committed to doing high quality, safe work was a really great opportunity.

The Christmas light displays that these guys string all over they're mature trees are something to write home about too.

If you've never been, visiting is well worth your time.

Thanks again guys for letting me work with you - you set the bar high for me for what it means to do good treework.

Happy New Year
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My cousin lives nearby in Avondale so I got the chance to go there last summer. It is a beautiful spot with some of the most amazing trees. I loved the weeping hemlocks near the main entrance after the visitors' center.

My mom and wife were with me or I would've tracked down the arborists! We got a kick out of their "IPM technicians".
 
Was actually offered a job there 25+ years ago. Definitely a great display garden. The Penn-Del Chapter has held the Eastern TCC there several times. Hershey Gardens is also nice. They have awesome cut leaf weeping Jap Maples. Philly flower show also a great trip.
 
Hey Robert, thanks for the shout out. Super glad you got out to work with us and thanks for helping out for the week. Had fun getting to know you and working along side you. Give us a buzz next time your in the area and come visit again!

-Tyler
 
I've been to Longwood maybe a dozen times. A beautiful place and a great plant collection!
 
I am a member at Longwood and have enjoyed the gardens for almost 30 years ! truely one of our local treasures! just went for the xmas display....a couple of days ago!!
great post!!
 
Next time visit the Morris arb on the NW side of town. Very nice as well.

Is Bob Lyons still director at longwood? He left NCSU for Longwood; great photographer, and good with flowers.

Wait--did I hear the "v" word? As in, you worked for free? No doubt they want you back! JK dude. :)

Longwood....i think there's a blue joke there but I'm too tired to think of it.


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Tyler - right back at you my friend...it was a good time.

Got to visit Morris Arboretum two years ago - beautiful.

And yes, Mr. Guy, you did hear the "v" word. Some guys will do anything just to climb a tree...
 
Thanks again for coming out Rob. We had as much fun as you did, I believe. It is always fun getting together with other professionals in our industry, talking, hanging out, and sharing stories. Im glad we were able to get you up into that Dawn Redwood on friday, I wish we could have done it on Thursday, and then we could have climbed the elm. But thats the way it is. Maybe next time. Thanks again.
The "V" word is very important to Longwood. Robert is now 1 of more than 800 volunteers that spend time at Longwood.

In all Im glad you had fun as we did, next time we will have to get the weather to be a little warmer.

Tony, The A.E. Guys are better.
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Mike, We all do.
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Thanks back at you FS!

That Dawn Redwood was great - They've been a favorite species of mine ever since I first learned about them out in Berkeley, CA, so climbing that specimen will certainly be one climb that will stick in my memory.

And for the record, so the rest of the buzz knows, I smell worse then anyone. The guys at Longwood just couldn't tell because of all my layers to stay warm.

And my Husky chainsaw pants during a Tennessee summer just add to the fun...
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