LONGWOOD SPECTACULAR

New fountain display scheduled to go public next week

On May 27, visitors to Longwood Gardens will be able to see a water show unlike any in the world. But on May 18, the fountains debuted with a private showing to municipal officials, foundation sponsors and select others.

The spectacular water show was choreographed to several Beatles songs. The water seemed to dance, with jets lifting the water more than 125 feet in the air. The show even featured fire atop the water.

The $90 million project encompasses two years and $90 million in renovations that involved more than 3,000 workers and more than 9,000 cubic yards of concrete.

“The main water fountain is the most significant water garden in North America,” said Paul Redman, CEO of Longwood Gardens. “We have the largest collection of fountains in any garden in North America. The only way you can experience something like this is if you go to Versailles (in France) or Villa d’Este (near Rome), to find a garden on this scale and of this quality.”

The fountain features: 1,340 jets and streams; 30 flame features; 1,389 LEDs and thousands of attractive plants from all over the world.

Among the other renovations at the world-renowned Longwood Gardens, which last year had more than 1.3 million visitors, will be much larger grounds, with more than 5,700 feet of new paths and walkways for greater accessibility, including new stairs on the east and west side of the garden. An elevator will allow guests to access the Fountain

Overlook, and a Pumphouse Plaza has been added, café-style seating for up to 80, with spectacular views of the pumps.

Longwood’s “Summer of Spectacle” season runs from May 27 to Sept. 30, and features Main Fountain Garden shows set to choreographed music daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m., with additional evening shows at 7 and 9:15 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Hours at Longwood Gardens are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday for illuminated fountain shows. Admission is by timed ticket only. Tickets are $23 for adults, $20 for ages 62 and older, $12 for students, and free for children 4 and younger. Tickets for “Summer of Spectacle” go on sale April 3. For tickets and reservations, visit www. longwoodgardens.org.

FRAN MAYE – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The $90 million Longwood Gardens Main Fountain Garden got its first public test May 18 with a spectacular water show.

FRAN MAYE – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Breathtaking is one word to describe the new water show at Longwood Gardens. The Main Fountain Garden opens to the public next weekend.

FRAN MAYE – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA LED lights provide millions of colors at the $90 million Main Fountain Garden at Longwood Gardens, which opens to the public next weekend.

FRAN MAYE – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA A private showing of the $90 million main water fountain Thursday night at Longwood Gardens went without a hitch.

FRAN MAYE – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Some of the new fountains at Longwood Gardens feature fire atop water.