The Peirce-du Pont House at Longwood Gardens

This painting looks across a broad green lawn and beds of red, white, and pink flowers toward the historic Peirce-du Pont House at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The bright gardens and surrounding woods make the house feel very much a part of the landscape.

The house itself predates Longwood Gardens by generations. Joshua Peirce built the original house in 1730, making it the oldest structure at Longwood. Pierre S. du Pont purchased the surrounding 202-acre property in 1906, in large part to preserve its collection of historic trees, and the house became his Longwood residence.

Today, the house contains a heritage exhibit telling the story of the Peirce and du Pont families and the development of Longwood Gardens. Lonnie visited there, and found the scene beautiful enough to paint.