There are countless reasons to visit Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.  With over 1,000 acres of carefully manicured grounds, it’s a stunning sight to behold.

The property has gorgeous floral designs, intricate fountains, unbelievable greenhouses, and one of the most jaw-dropping holiday displays in the U.S.

The vision for Longwood Gardens was that of Pierre S. du Pont (from the prominent du Pont family).  He wanted to create a beautiful space to entertain friends and loved ones.  He then turned his passion for horticulture into one the public could share by opening his estate to the masses.  Now, Longwood Gardens serves to captivate and educate over 1 million visitors each year.

The Conservatory

One of the most impressive sights in Longwood Gardens is the conservatory.  Opened in 1921, it’s one of the world’s biggest greenhouses with multiple ecosystems and over 4,600 plants.  It contains walls of orchids, a Mediterranean garden, a tropical terrace, lily ponds, a rose house, a banana room, a fern passage, a desert display, a Children’s garden, and bonsai trees (some of which are hundreds of years old!)

But despite rooms upon rooms of phenomenal floral displays, my favorite part of the conservatory?  The restroom hallway.

Odd?  Not if you’ve seen it!

The hall is lined with one of North America’s largest Green Walls.  It contains 47,000 plants and was voted America’s Best Restroom in 2014.  And it’s easy to see why with such a spectacular entrance to these lovely rooms (complete with individual skylights!)

The Fountains

There are multiple fountains throughout the property, but the most astounding are the Main Fountains just outside the large conservatory.  The 5-acre lawn opened in 1931 and was the last major project before Pierre’s death.

The fountains were made even more grand with a recent renovation, which took three years to complete.  The revitalization project restored over 4,800 pieces of Italian limestone, added 772 extra light fixtures for ambiance and another 350 along the guest paths, planted 164 Littleleaf Linden trees, and installed 1,400 feet of underground tunnels.

The Main Fountains also host a variety of concerts and artistic acts (and are a perfect spot for lunch in the summer!)

The Food

There are a variety of eateries inside Longwood Gardens.  One I can’t recommend highly enough is the 1906 Fine Dining Room.  The dishes here are inventive, unique, and sure to tickle your tastebuds.  Plus, dining outside on the terrace is a zen-like experience you won’t soon forget.

For more casual fare, visit the adjacent Cafe.  Here you can choose from many culinary options and eat inside or out.  And for an even more extraordinary meal, call ahead to reserve a seat at their exclusive summer BBQs.  They’re out of this world!

The Flowers

And the flowers.  Oh, the flowers!  Longwood Gardens has some of the most striking floral displays in the world.

With over 10,000 different species of plants, the blooms are simply exquisite.  Their colorful petals are in flowerbeds, around water features, hanging from walls, and at the base of giant treehouses.  Strolling through the Gardens’ many pathways is like stepping through Alice’s looking glass.

So whether you’re into flowers, fountains, or holiday festivities, a visit to Longwood Gardens has it all!  And no matter what season you come, you’ll leave with a deep appreciation for Pierre S. du Pont’s vision brought to life.

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