Best Time to visit Longwood Gardens

Best Time to visit Longwood Gardens

The sun was setting and we were in our seats. We had deliberately remained extra-long at Longwood Gardens for this second, and I was skipping in my seat. My kids weren’t even with me, however I was energized. I was at last getting to see the Illuminated Fountain Show, a fascination that had been redesigned and restored in 2017, yet I presently couldn’t seem to encounter.

Basically any warm day during spring or fall is a perfect day and fall being more colorful. During summer it’s really warm but you can spend some outdoors. Christmas time is very cold to be there for long but the lights are worth a visit.

My Experience With Longwood Gardens

Assuming that you have never been to Longwood Gardens, only 25 minutes beyond Wilmington DE, you have missed the enchantment of one of the nation’s best gardens. This is a unique spot for the majority of us who experienced childhood in Philadelphia and the mid-Atlantic district.

Many children went during special times of year or as an extraordinary trip in the spring or late spring a long time to see the nurseries in blossom. Just individuals got to go consistently; most of us possibly visited on more than one occasion as children in the event that our folks could bear the cost of it.

Best Time to visit Longwood Gardens

At the point when I was more youthful, Longwood Gardens was a legendary land, one I just experienced under a small bunch of times. For my significant other, who grew up 20 minutes not too far off, it was a yearly custom. His folks performed there as region artists, his sister met her better half there while he was in school.

As a grown-up, it has started to wind around its enchantment on my own little family. I demand visiting each Christmas Eve. We don’t have numerous practices as we are generally running starting with one relative’s home then onto the next. This is one we can stay with however for all intents and purposes between houses. My young men can see the Christmas lights and Conservatory spruced up. It carries somewhat sorcery to the Christmas season.

Longwood Gardens is important for our family, as it is numerous families, however everything began with the du Pont family, back in the mid 1900s.

Longwood’s Du Pont History

While Pierre S. du Pont was brought into the world in a DuPont Company house north of Wilmington in 1870, he would later claim perhaps of the most sublime nursery in the country. Du Pont’s adoration for plant and scene configuration was vigorously impacted by his movements, bringing planes of water, French and Italian plan together all through his nurseries not long after he purchased what was then the Peirce Farm.

Best Time to visit Longwood Gardens

In contrast to other relatives and rich men of his time, du Pont didn’t hush up about his cherished Longwood. In 1921, he assembled the huge Conservatory, adding on the Music Room in 1923 for his 3650-pipe Aeolian organ. He opened the Conservatory and Music Room to the general population, facilitating community and instructive gatherings as soon as 1923.

Most loved Longwood Garden

Over the last 100 years, from the time du Pont purchased the Peirce ranch to the current day, Longwood Gardens has developed and changed into a top notch plant show. Scene architects and green understudies come to review and test out plant hypothesis in the Idea Garden. The Conservatory and open air gardens keep on flaunting what can fill in a Mid-Atlantic blossom garden all through the late spring, yet additionally in a nursery in winter.

While meandering the property, missing a great deal of the more modest gardens or secret gardens is simple. It isn’t so much that they are little, there are simply so many. Take not of a couple of our top choices so you don’t skirt them when you visit.

Knoll Garden

The Meadow Garden was set up and opened to general society in 2014 to flaunt the historical backdrop of the land. It outfits natural scene plan and supportability practices to safeguard the open spaces and valley around the nurseries.

Best Time to visit Longwood Gardens

You can leave to the eighteenth century Webb farmhouse, in the event that your feet can convey you, to get a more profound comprehension of the historical backdrop of the land. This is one of the many nurseries that will change over time and merits a look. If you would rather not make the walk, you can in any case get a decent view from the entry that investigates the field.

Tolls Tower in Longwood Gardens

Anybody can feel like Rapunzel when they climb Chimes Tower close to a flowing cascade at Longwood Gardens. Simply behind the Main Fountain Garden, you will find kids approaching the pinnacle, while guardians walk the way. Couples will relax on the grass in front or strolling the scaffold over the cascade to look at the perspectives from a higher place.

You can right now climb mostly to the highest point of the pinnacle. Guardians be cautioned there are windows and you ought to watch out for kids. We needn’t bother with any climbers or jumpers.

Bloom Garden Walk

The Flower Garden Walk, alongside the Peony Garden and Wisteria Garden, are barely noticeable in the event that you don’t be aware to go up the way on your way as well or from the Theater Garden, Italian Water Garden or Large Lake. Continuously follow the little ways so you can see what botanical fortunes are concealed inside.

Best Time to visit Longwood Gardens

The staff likes to put seats and seats so you can consider the magnificence that is within these nurseries. Carry your sketchbooks to draw the sprouts, or simply sit and appreciate. All styles of perception are energized.


Best Fountains in Longwood


Pierre du Pont was fixated on wellsprings. While he has a few fixed wellsprings across the nursery, the Main Fountain Garden and the Open Air Theater flaunt his energy for designing when it came to his affection for water and cultivation. He likewise felt weak at the knees over vain behaviors when it came to his water shows.

Outside Theater Fountain Shows

The Open Air Theater was quite possibly the earliest “attractions” to be placed into the nurseries. Roused by an outside auditorium close to Siena, Italy, Du Pont concealed wellsprings in the floors of the theater to amaze his nieces and nephews. That cool sprinkle was a welcome rest from the intensity on mid year days.

Wellspring shows are presently a proceeded with custom at the 1,500 seat Theater, as well as show exhibitions and talks that occur on the foundation of the stage. In any event, during special times of year (through about the principal seven day stretch of January), you can see a wellspring light show during the night hours, planned to music.

Fountain Gardens

After the Main Fountain Garden finished redesigns in 2017, the public cheered as the wellsprings were walked out on by and by. The staff more than any other individual was excited to see the Illuminated Fountain Performances become fully awake however, as in excess of 1700 planes and wellsprings burst to life. Theater, music and cultivating met up to wind around a mind blowing story in a manner you can’t see elsewhere (that we are aware of).

When du Pont visited the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and in the wake of seeing the wellsprings of Europe, he realize that he needed to carry something particularly amazing to Longwood. With stream hydrodynamics and a touch of cutting edge plumbing and new electrical functions in the siphon house, the group at Longwood Gardens has proceeded du Pont’s unique vision and ensured it will endure through the 21st Century.

From May to late September, visitors can see the Festival of Fountains, which incorporates day to day shows during light hours and night enlightened shows Thursday through Saturday. Really take a look at the sites for kickoffs, unique programming and topics. There are a few exceptional tagged evenings for Fireworks and Fountains that might cost extra.

Italian Water Garden

Evenness has a significant impact in the Italian Water Garden that du Pont planned in the wake of visiting Villa Gamberaia close to Florence, Italy. Blue, white and green rule the vitally central focuses. You will likewise see purple asters, white hydrangea and lively multi-hued rhododendrons all through the season.

Best Time to visit Longwood Gardens

From the review stage above and to the base right, you can get the best photographs, however don’t limit the side and back sees. The best part is that there is a bathroom simply off the way to one side as you head back up to the Large Lake and one of the tree houses. This is in excess of a welcome help for one parent with a youngster needing a latrine. Nobody needs to request that their youngster hold it for the long stroll back to the Conservatory, The Terrace and the Visitor’s Center. Eek!

Longwood Gardens Conservatory

The feature of your visit must be the Longwood Gardens Conservatory. Essentially it is for myself as well as my loved ones. Regardless of the climate, you realize you can heat up and see a few sprouts in this monstrous nursery. The Conservatory is home to 20 indoor nurseries, a preparing shed, music room, dance hall, pipe organ and exhibition.

You could visit the Conservatory and be totally happy. You wouldn’t see even 33% of Longwood Gardens, yet you would in any case see a ton. Throughout the cold weather months, when the other outside gardens are lethargic, this is the spot to come to restore your soul and recall that the world is as yet alive and sprouting. Spring will come back in the future!

Best Time to visit Longwood Gardens

May through October the Waterlily Display is open in the yard of the Conservatory. In the event that you stay until into the evening, you will see more lilies, as this is the point at which they will generally open. The bullfrogs additionally prefer to emerge to do a show for you, regardless of whether you like to hear them croak.

My #1 nurseries incorporate the Exhibition Hall, as this is where the grounds-keepers flaunt what is in sprout and any celebration top choices (Orchid Festival, Chrysanthemum Festival, and so on.). I generally need to jump into the Silver Garden, Orchid House and Fern Passage. I find motivation for my own planting tests in every one of these rooms, not that there isn’t wherever you look.

Aeolian Organ in Longwood

When du Pont introduced his Aeolian, I don’t know he figured it would be the biggest Aeolian at any point built, or that it would have such a significant influence in Longwood’s set of experiences. Organists from across the globe come to play and experience the American Art Deco organ plan.

Longwood garden timing, address and ticket prices

Longwood Gardens is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The last ticket is sold at 4:00 pm. Longwood Gardens Address: 1001 Longwood Road Kennett Square, PA 19348

Longwood Gardens Ticket Prices:

Ticket TypePrice
Adults (ages 18+)$29
Seniors (ages 62+)$24
Students (ages 13-17)$20
Children (ages 3-12)$16
Free (ages 2 and under)
Longwood Garden Ticket Prices

Export to Sheets

Membership Longwood Gardens also offers a variety of memberships that include free admission, discounts on events and programs, and other benefits.

Special Events Longwood Gardens hosts a variety of special events throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and exhibitions. Additional fees may apply for special events.

Tips for Planning Your Visit

  • Purchase your tickets online in advance to save time and avoid lines.
  • Allow plenty of time to explore the gardens. There are over 1,000 acres of gardens, greenhouses, and displays to see.
  • Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be doing a lot of walking.
  • Bring a water bottle. It can get hot and humid in the gardens.
  • Pack a picnic lunch. There are plenty of places to eat outdoors.
  • Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.

I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Similar Posts