Nothing says spring like the first blush of flowers ushering in the season, but winter or no, they’re already blooming at Longwood Gardens. Once a wealthy industrialist’s summer estate and before that, a Quaker farm, this Pennsylvania retreat has grown over centuries into the showplace we see today: more than 1,000 acres of trees, topiaries, fountains, and flowers.
Even in dour weather, Longwood recreates Eden in its 20 indoor gardens. From room to room, climates vary from tropical South American to arid Mediterranean, sometimes with sharp juxtaposition that lends a touch of unreality. Sounds of water and distant cathedral notes from the ballroom organ mingle with the scents, a backdrop to the visual pageant.
Each Conservatory garden offers something different. The Orangery is elegant and formal with broad leaves, bright colors, and symmetrical plantings flanking manicured lawns. The Silver Garden is more subtle, dealing in shades of dusky blues and rock-studded greens.
Some of Longwood’s treasures here are unexpected, such as the rare, palm-like Encephalartos woodii, whose ancestors fed the dinosaurs in the Jurassic period. Or the largest green wall on the continent that leads to award-winning restrooms. And don’t skip the whimsical fountains of the Children’s Garden. Give yourself at least three hours to see it all.
Enjoy Orchids and Other Greenhouse Gems
Most of the plants used in the displays are grown in production greenhouses on site.
Expecting rainy weather? Don’t worry. Longwood has a maze of indoor gardens and conservatories. Inside, you’ll find an array of dogwoods, poppies, hydrangeas, and jasmine. There’s even a new 32,000-square-foot Mediterranean-inspired garden.
And, of course, the orchids: They have around 6,200 in total with only a few hundred of the best on display. That changes each March during Orchid Extravaganza when Longwood imports thousands of orchids from around the world.
There are hanging baskets dripping with orchids. There are towers with orchids. They fill two ponds in the East Conservatory like orchid meadows.
See the Fountains and Outdoor Gardens
Outdoors, witch hazel and winterberry add color to less floral scenery, but the stripped-down landscape lets you glimpse the bones of the garden, which lays claim to the most champion trees in Pennsylvania. Early blossoms start showing themselves in March: purple crocuses, yellow winter aconites, blue squill, and glory-of-the-snow.
In the summertime, the Main Fountain Garden uses 1,719 hydraulic jets to spray thousands of gallons of water into the air daily for the Festival of Fountains. Go at night when they up the ante with synchronized lights, music, and even fire.
Check Out the Peirce-du Pont House
Just past the conservatories, you’ll find the Peirce-du Pont house, the oldest building on the property. It’s not a grand château but a Quaker-built farmhouse from 1730, now wrapped in ivy and wisteria. Inside, you won’t find chandeliers or velvet settees — just a bright conservatory brimming with tropical plants.
Not all of the history is gone, though. Step further in and you’ll find small exhibits with photographs, videos, and early plans that trace Longwood’s beginnings. If you’re feeling warm or just need a quiet spot to pause, the House makes a perfect place to rest a spell.
Enjoy the Holidays at Longwood Gardens
It’s a peaceful time of year, late January through March. The season leading up to it, however, is their busiest with the fiercely popular A Longwood Christmas. The spectacle includes more than 50 lavishly decorated Christmas trees. Though most of Longwood’s outdoor fountains, including its five-acre Main Fountain Garden restored this year, remain closed October through April, the water curtain at the Open Air Theatre dances to sound and light throughout the holiday season. Flower lovers won’t be disappointed, either.
The event runs in conjunction with Christmas in Kennett, a town-wide festival that includes a shuttle on Saturdays from downtown Kennett Square where travelers can enjoy strolling carolers, dining, and a holiday market.
If you go, visit closer to Thanksgiving to avoid the thickest crowds. If you want to have the place to yourself, go after New Year’s weekend. It’s serene, especially after a new snowfall. You can enjoy the quietness of your thoughts.
