With flowers starting to blossom, the beautiful sound of birdsong in the air, and longer hours of sunlight, people cannot help but look forward to the splendor of spring.
For many the season of spring is a time to either visit a beautiful garden or to get their hands dirty and create a garden of their own. Fortunately, Philadelphia is America’s garden capital, and our area boasts a variety of spectacular gardens to visit.
One popular garden in our area is Longwood Gardens, a 1,077-acre botanical garden in Kennett Square.
Last year alone 1.61 million visited. This record-breaking number made Longwood one of the state’s top tourist destinations according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“Public gardens are wonderful places to visit, but Longwood is truly extraordinary. We have the most significant collection of fountains in North America, we have one of the largest and grandest conservatories in the world, and we have hundreds of acres outdoors for guests to enjoy,” shared Patricia Evans, public relations officer and associate vice president of marketing and communications at Longwood.
“I also think Longwood is a great experience for all generations . . . even if you do not consider yourself a ‘flower’ person, you will be wowed by our fountains displays, enjoy a performance in our outdoor settings, or relax with family and friends in our Beer Garden. There really is something for everyone,” stated Evans.
Regarding the honor of being the most visited paid public garden in America, Evans shared “We love that so many people find Longwood a wonderful place to visit and want to return again and again.”
These record-breaking numbers may grow even larger after Longwood’s recent announcement that they will acquire and operate the 505-acre property of the Granogue Estate, former home of former DuPont president Irénée du Pont, located in New Castle County, Delaware.
The du Pont family has had a long connection with Longwood. Irénée du Pont Jr.'s uncle was Longwood Gardens founder Pierre S. du Pont, who in 1906 purchased Longwood's original 202 acres to save a public arboretum the community adored.
“GRLLC began discussions in 2016 with Longwood Gardens and The Conservation Fund about the 1923 estate’s future. A preliminary study assessing current site conditions and encompassing site master planning was developed in 2018-2019, with a commitment for Granogue to remain a pastoral cultural landscape” according to Evans.
Longwood will own and operate the property thanks to the generous support of the Mt. Cuba Center, the Longwood Foundation and members of the du Pont family.
The only plans for the property now include conserving the land, but that does not stop visitors from sharing their excitement and hopes of what is to come.
“I am excited to see what they will do with the new land. Longwood's existing property is a beautiful place to spend the day, and I am looking forward to visiting the Delaware grounds once they open” shared visitor Nicole DeOrzio “Although I don't know much about the land they acquired, I am hoping that Longwood incorporates many displays of flowers that take the life of objects”
“I’d like to visit the new grounds. I enjoy visiting Longwood Gardens, and I would like to see the DuPont family home if it will be open to the public,” stated visitor Margie Saunders.
In terms of how they would use the property Saunders shared, “I would expect that Longwood Gardens would preserve, protect, and ensure that it remains an open space for future generations to enjoy.”
Whatever Longwood decides to do with the property is sure to align with their values “Preservation and conservation of open space is important to the mission of Longwood. Saving these 500 acres from being developed aligns with our mission and will be beneficial to the larger community and region as well” shared Evans.
The Granogue Estate is not the only thing Longwood lovers must look forward to. In fact, Longwood’s grounds are undergoing expansion and come 2024 there will be many new experiences for visitors to enjoy. including a new 32,000-square-foot conservatory, new education building, new restaurant and event space, and a new display area for the bonsai and waterlily collections.
Besides grand scale gardens, our area also holds some hidden gems such as Taylor Arboretum and Scott Arboretum. Taylor can be found near Widener University and Scott can be found on Swarthmore College’s campus.
Taylor was acquired by Widener in 2016. The 30-acre reserve offers plants, trails, meadows, and more.
All are welcome to explore the flora and fauna at the arboretum year-round, free of charge. Taylor allows visitors to enjoy the outdoors as they stroll through the scenic place filled with natural beauty and wildlife.
The arboretum has also become an outdoor classroom for students at Widener University and the greater community. This outdoor laboratory offers expansive opportunities for hands-on learning. It is common to find faculty and students on the grounds conducting research or taking samples.
The 425-acre Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College is often named one of the most beautiful in the country.
The arboretum’s rolling hills, flowering trees, and hiking trails offer a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Like Taylor arboretum, Scott offers a variety of programs that give both novice and advanced horticulturists the chance to gain hands-on experience.
Scott also prides itself on being free of charge. “It's important for everyone to have beautiful outdoor spaces to visit” shared Sue MacQueen, campus engagement coordinator of Scott Arboretum.
When asked what advice she would give to gardeners looking to create their own space, MacQueen shared this tip: “Start to look at nature more closely and see what excites you. Go to arboreta and look at plants that are labeled, which will help you find out more about them.”
One more college campus garden deserves mention.
When Meghan Glass, a former student, started her position as a GA at the Chiara Honors House, she was missing the garden that she had planted at home during the summer. “It was my first-time growing sunflowers, and it had been just an incredible feeling to grow something from a small seed and watch it reach such great heights,” she said. “I wanted to bring a little bit of that with me into this position at Neumann.”
Glass got to work and planted a small garden behind and alongside the house, growing flowers, fruit, and vegetables.
“I have always loved gardening and plants. I would say that gardening has not been a formal hobby for me until 2020, but I can remember helping my mom and grandma plant and tend to flowers since I was a child,” she said.
For Glass choosing a favorite plant is like choosing a favorite child.
“I have liked everything I have grown in different ways,” she stated. “However, I would say my favorite plant I have ever grown outdoors has been the sunflowers. The cucamelons I planted in the Chiara Garden are a very close runner up. I had never heard of them before, so for me, they were a very unique plant to grow.”
Glass loves every aspect of gardening, even sweating under the sun and carrying heavy bags of soil. Her favorite part though is watching the plants transform. “I love being able to see the changes, especially in instances where they are flourishing after an initial struggle. It really is something that brings me joy and hope,” she shared.
When it comes to advice Glass has two points that she holds true “First, everyone is capable of gardening. I know plenty of people with “green thumbs” and plenty of people without, but I truly think gardening is one of those skills that anyone can learn to some degree. Second, have fun with it. Gardening can involve hard work, but it should also be fun. Things do not need to be by the book. They should be what works for you and your plants.”
As one can see, gardens help bring people together, foster a sense of community, spark joy and give peace of mind.
“Gardens are important to have because they showcase so many aspects of the beauty of nature in one location,” shared DeOrzio.
Evans shared a similar sentiment stating, “Beauty is essential to the human spirit and to our well-being and mindset, so ensuring that there are places for people to connect with nature and beauty is important.”