Longwood Gardens: Nature's Best At Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

A love for precious trees and fountains

Longwood Gardens was once known as Pierce’s Park. The property was bought by multi-millionaire Pierre du Pont in July of 1906 to preserve the trees that were in danger of being cut down for lumber. After saving the trees and adding on to the existing home, du Pont decided the farm and woods would provide an excellent place to entertain his friends and the garden idea was born. Pierre started planting gardens in 1907 near the old farm home on the property and building water features. He loved fountains and built several on the property including the magical Italian Water Garden, the towering Main Fountain Garden and The Open Air Theater complete with fountains and lighting.

By the time Pierre was done, Longwood comprised over 1,000 acres of woods, gardens and meadows that he left for the enjoyment of the public. It’s a staggering gift! Though paired down to 400 acres open to the public, the gardens, meadows and forest still hold many delights. Longwood welcomes 1.3 million visitors each year from all over the world to see the gardens, and performances. Musicians as diverse as Keb Mo, Anoushka Shankar and Buena Vista Social Club have performed there. A summer concert in the outdoor theater is one of the coolest venues in North America. Surrounded by trees and flowers, you are captivated by the place and performances too.

Visitors making their own music

Longwood possesses a massive Aeolian pipe organ that recently underwent a seven year restoration! This monster of music features 10,010 pipes that will soothe or rock you as you enjoy one of many concerts held in the conservatory Ballroom. Kids love the “behind the scenes” organ museum, where they can play with an assortment of bells and whistles in the hands on-please touch display. I too have fallen under the spell of this interactive display and have made many a sound effect with the organ’s music toys. Give it a try and see if you can coax your inner child into a music play session.

Kids and water gardens

There is a children’s garden inside the conservatory that I visit often just to see the kids enjoying a spot designed for them. Here they can play in the water features and run around being kids. Sounds of splashing and children’s laughter can be heard as you approach. If you are over five feet tall be sure to mind your head as it is designed for little people and some of the passage have low clearances.

The glass encased conservatory is full of everything botanical. My favorites are: bonsai, orchids, the East Conservatory, and the Silver Garden with its cacti and other succulents. Just outside the Exhibition Hall is the Waterlily Display. For several months every summer, these water gardens are in bloom with exotic water plants transporting you to another world showcasing brilliant blooms and circular tray-like foliage. It looks like the kind of place a hippo would come up from under the water dangling lily pads from its massive head.

For peace and quiet, you could walk the forest trail or meadow areas where few visit. Spring is the best time to walk the meadow when it is blooming with several kinds of native wildflowers. There are three whimsical tree houses providing something fun and different for visitors of all ages. The best part is visitors are encouraged to get inside them.

Tons of tulips

The Flower Garden Walk explodes in tulips of many colors every spring when some 200,000 plus bulbs greet spring, making it my absolute favorite time to visit. They plant the bulbs in two places (The Flower Garden Walk and The Idea Garden) on opposite sides of the property, so it is best to inquire at the entrance for the whereabouts of these two amazing bulb gardens. A member of the staff is usually right outside the entrance eager to answer questions and provide directions. The Chimes Tower area is mostly closed due to the Main Fountain Garden Revitalization Project, but the music still rings out from the tower. If all goes well, the refurbishing of the main fountains will be completed in the Spring of 2017. When finished, the fountains will be better than ever with miles of new plumbing and updating.