Visiting a friend in Pennsylvania in late April, we took advantage of the warm spring weather to explore Longwood Gardens. I had only recently learned of these gardens, and while I knew they’d be full of springtime loveliness, I wasn’t prepared for the dazzling beauty we found. What began as a 400-acre farmstead for the Pierce family in the early 1700s is now one of the premier botanical gardens in the country. Covering nearly 1,100 acres, Longwood Gardens includes 20 different outdoor gardens, an elaborate system of fountains and the most extraordinary conservatory I’ve ever seen.
We strolled the vast grounds, taking in the whimsical topiary and Renaissance-style main fountain. The sound of ringing bells drew us to the Chimes Tower, an early 20th-century structure that houses a 62-bell carillon. The Tower stands beside a waterfall and reflective pool, next to which a girl was having her sure-to-be stunning quinceañera photos taken. And then we came to the tulips. So many flowers swayed in the breeze and glistened from intermittent showers that for a minute I thought I’d fallen through a looking glass and emerged in Holland!
Reluctantly moving on from the tulip bonanza, we climbed some nondescript stairs hoping for a better view of the fountains. Little did we know that a four-acre conservatory would open before us at the top. We quite literally gasped with astonishment walking through the glass doors into the so-called Orangery! Before us stood manicured lawns, ivy-covered columns and a fantastic array of plants and flowers, many I had never seen before. There were beds of guzmania and pansies, hydrangeas and calla lilies interspersed with towering delphiniums and foxgloves and countless other varieties in a multitude of hues. Everywhere you looked there was something new to discover!
Eager to see what other botanical treats the gardens contained, we headed towards the Flower Garden Walk which sounded promising. A fountain divides the walkway, which stretches the length of two football fields. During out visit it was lined with beds of poppies, grape hyacinth, columbine, bleeding hearts and tulips galore, with purple and white foxgloves standing sentry. We left through the Rose Arbor, which was lovely even not in bloom.
Longwood Gardens is located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles from Philadelphia. I can’t think of a better day trip!
Visitor Information for Longwood Gardens
Timed tickets are required for admission, meaning that you’ll have a set day and time for entry into the gardens. The reason for this is to allow only a pre-determined number of visitors into the garden every hour, which is meant to reducing crowding. Tickets cost US$18 and can be purchased online or at the Visitor Center, though you might have to wait for the next available time slot.
The gardens are open every day of the year from 9 am – 6 pm, with longer hours during the summer months and over the Christmas holiday. Special events can sometimes cause the gardens to close early so check the website beforehand.
A reasonably-priced on-site restaurant serves a range of options from soups and sandwiches to chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese. Ice cream and freshly baked pastries are also available. I recommend the fruit tart.
Which gardens around the world have delighted you?
Oh how pretty – I LOVE tulips!
Aren’t they beautiful?! I had no idea they came in so many colors and styles!
I hate to be repetitive but those tulips are stunning and tulips are my favorite flowers ever. Simply stunning colors and so well maintained, lovely! 🙂
It was hard for me not to be repetitive when I was writing this, Franca 🙂 Walking around the gardens, I just couldn’t get over how beautiful everything was!
What an amazingly beautiful place. I think I liked the look of the conservatory best. The perfect place for an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party, I’d say. Thanks for sharing these lovely and colourful photos!
The conservatory would be the PERFECT place for an Alice in Wonderland tea party!! I may write to them to suggest it 🙂
That cat is enjoying the good life! It’s great to learn about this place, especially because Philadelphia left a lasting impression on me and I’m always dreaming about returning, so this place is perfect to add to the itinerary! It’s so beautiful Heather!
Thanks, Shing! Apparently there are seven or eight cats on the property to keep the rodents away. Pretty clever! I hope you make it back to Philadelphia some day!
OMG!!!!! I want to move in!!!! I really, really, really need to go here. I think these gardens are prettier than the one we went to in Holland and that was gorgeous. Your pictures are marvelous. What a great little vacation you had. Love it!!!!
Yes, you definitely need to go to these gardens! I can hear your squeals of delight now 🙂
For obvious reasons, this garden reminds me of Holland! I’ve been pretty obsessed with spring and flowers which make my day and make me feel so happy. Love is in the air and I wish I could do some yoga there!!! 🙂
That would be a perfect place for yoga, Agness! So beautiful and peaceful. If only I’d thought to take my mat and yoga clothes! 🙂
Love your outfit (and the gardens, too, of course!;-) My favorite garden I have explored was outside of Rome…Villa De Etse, I believe it was called. We went in February so positively nothing was in bloom, but the gorgeous water fixtures and fountains and vista views were stunning…I would love to return when it’s in bloom!
Thanks, Jess! Wow, if that garden was the prettiest you’ve seen and it was winter, I can’t imagine how gorgeous it must be in the spring! Rome is in our travel plans so I’ll have to make sure we visit that garden!!
Wow, what gorgeous spring flowers! I love the snap you captured of the cat in the tulips (I have quite a soft spot for cats).
I have a soft spot for cats, too 🙂 Apparently there are several cats working at the gardens, but I only found the one!
Such a beautiful post! <3 I grew up not far from Longwood Gardens so I've been lucky to visit this enchanted place during each season. You're right that it's a perfect day trip from Philly!
Lucky you! I’d love to see how the gardens change throughout the seasons! I bet it’s spectacular in the fall when the leaves are changing!
Such pretty pictures! I didn’t realize how much I love Spring until this year when we are in South America experiencing their autumn. Tulips are high up on my list of favourites!
Emily, I know just what you mean! I didn’t realize how much I loved Spring until after this absolutely brutal winter! And tulips are among my favorites as well 🙂
Longwood looks absolutely gorgeous in the summer! I work 20 miles from there and we go for the Christmas spectacular, but haven’t been in the warm weather. Thanks for sharing!
How lucky you are, Lance, to be able to stop by the gardens whenever you want! I bet it’s breathtaking at Christmas.