By Gary Bennett
This article appears in the April 11 issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.
Spring is in the air at Longwood Gardens, making it a great time to plan a getaway to this exquisite destination. Longwood Gardens is perhaps the best example of humans and nature working together — and the beauty that is possible if we can do that.
My wife and I recently enjoyed an early March trip, but we’ve visited Longwood Gardens at various times throughout the year, and it has much to offer in any season.
Longwood Gardens is only about three hours from Frederick (125 miles on I-70 and I-95) in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, part of the state’s Brandywine Valley near Philadelphia. It is a robust 1,000-plus-acre botanical garden, woodlands and meadows, all rolled into one, and one of the largest horticultural display gardens in the U.S. Over 1 million guests visit Longwood Gardens each year.
It is open year-round and provides a fascinating glimpse into plant life at all stages and at any time of year. Longwood Gardens employs numerous horticulturalists, scientists and researchers who focus on preservation, education and conservation. There are numerous events and performances to enjoy nearly every day, as well as educational lectures and hands-on workshops. But the star of the show is the more than 1,000 species of magnificently blooming flowers. We go for this unparalleled beauty.
SEASONAL DELIGHTS
There is something wonderful to see and smell any time of year at the Gardens. New life seemingly arises from every corner.
From January to March, your visit will be mostly indoors, under glass and warmly heated. You can wander from greenhouse to greenhouse and enjoy all the creations the master horticulturalists have put on display. Many are standing by to explain what you are seeing and to advise you on your own houseplant exploits.
Spring is prime time there. From March through May, you can enjoy a peaceful walk through unending blankets of color, as flowering trees put on a show along with dazzling tulips, fragrant wisteria and our favorites, the delightfully graceful lilies swaying in the breeze.
Currently in bloom are gorgeous, rare blue poppies and blue and lavender hydrangeas, wisteria and orchids. The horticulturalists explain these temporary beauties only last a week or two, but don’t despair if you miss them; nearly every flowering species is in full bloom this time of year.
From May through September, the Garden’s Festival of Fountains will delight you. The gardens are at their summer best, and towering, colorful, musically-timed fountain jets will enhance your experience.
We also enjoy exploring shady Pierce’s Woods to cool off and enjoy the wildflowers around the Grand Lake and the stunning countryside vistas from the Conservatory Overlook.
If you bring the kids, you won’t want to miss the award-winning and whimsically-themed Children’s Garden and fireworks displays. A summer performance series rounds out the activities. This season’s lineup can be viewed at longwoodgardens.org/events-performances.
In October and November, the aptly-named Chrysanthemum Festival steals the show. I’ve never seen so many breathtaking and creative displays of this old fall favorite. There are three treehouses to explore that provide a bird’s-eye view of the fall color below. There’s even an entire multi-acre meadow filled to capacity with golden mums that provides oohs and ahhs from visitors.
From November through January, A Longwood Christmas will take you back to a simpler time. You can wander the outside paths through hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights. Be sure to visit the historic main conservatory where you can warm up among magnificently decorated live trees, thousands of ruby red poinsettias and fragrant greenhouse-grown flowers of all types.
If you’d like to put off your trip until later this year, Longwood Gardens is working on a major expansion and preservation strategy called Longwood Reimagined that is scheduled to open Nov. 22. They promise “stunning new buildings, wondrous new indoor and outdoor gardens and fantastic new guest experiences.” I think we’ll check that out.
LOGISTICS AND DETAILS
Tickets are priced according to season but are still a good bargain, in my opinion. From roughly Thanksgiving to early May, adult tickets are $25. Seniors 62 and over pay $22. Children 5 to 18 are charged $13, and children under 5 are admitted free.
From mid-May to Thanksgiving, tickets are a few dollars more across the board. Tickets are timed at half-hour intervals to allow a limited number of guests to enter at a time, thereby cutting down on lines. You can stay as long as long as you like, however. I recommend allocating four to five hours to see most of the gardens, catch your breath and get a really good feel for it.
Hours vary, but in the spring (March through May), Longwood Gardens is open from roughly 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Mid-May through September, it is open until 10 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 9 p.m. on other days. It is closed on Tuesdays.
Tickets should be purchased in advance and are “rain or shine.” Refunds are not provided. Parking is free, but it can be a bit of a hike from the parking areas to the gardens. I’d leave about 15 minutes to accomplish this task. There is no tram service, but wheelchairs, scooters and strollers are allowed and available for rent.
Bringing food and drink into the gardens is not allowed, but there’s a picnic area just outside the park for visitors who wish to bring their own food. Pets and smoking/vaping are not permitted.
The Terrace restaurant within the gardens is a leisurely 10-minute walk from the Visitor Center. A self-service cafe and full-service dining room are both available there. Guests can also enjoy the outdoor beer garden at The Terrace, available seasonally and during select special events.
There is also a delightful full-service restaurant called 1906, named in honor of the year Pierre S. du Pont (1870-1954) purchased the grounds that were developed into Longwood Gardens. Reservations are recommended. 1906 offers fresh, American, seasonal cuisine, with a focus on locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. We had a wonderful dining experience there.
Outside the gates, many local restaurants offer discounted pricing for Longwood Gardens guests. I recommend that strategy if you go in the winter, as the restaurants within the gates are sometimes closed for renovation. We have enjoyed Floga Bistro, Sweet Amelias and Hangry Bear Creamery in Kennett Square.
Longwood Gardens is a pleasant day trip — about six hours roundtrip — but if you would prefer to stay over, there is no shortage of accommodations available in Brandywine Valley.
Many hotels, inns and B&Bs offer packages that include tickets to Longwood Gardens. There are close-by budget chains like Best Western, Comfort Inn, Fairfield Inn and Courtyard by Marriott.
But for a more individualistic, adventurous stay, I recommend The Bookhouse Hotel in downtown Kennett Square. It contains more than 5,000 books for your reading pleasure. Or try the historic Brandywine River Hotel in nearby Chadds Ford.
Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.