Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania is an intriguing blend of history and nature. The land has long been inhabited as indicated by Lenni Lenape spears that have been discovered on the property. Centuries after the first settlers inhabited the area, Pierre du Pont purchased the land and soon began cultivating incredible gardens which would be the foundations of what we see today.
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| Stunning blue display in the conservatory |
We visited Longwood on a relatively cold day. Good thing Longwood has some conservatory! In fact, Longwood has the largest conservatory I have visited. We could have spent the entire chilly and grey day there admiring the curated collections of blooms and greenery.
Du Pont was inspired by grand gardens that he discovered throughout the world. He began the conservatory in 1916. I find it so remarkable that Du Pont created something so amazing and it still exists today. While there have been changes, du Pont's dream is still a treasure for the world to enjoy. Thanks to du Pont, the public can enjoy the tropics in the winter.
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| Bananas in winter |
Or we can enjoy a bonsai garden even when it rains outside.
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| Bonsai creations at Longwood Gardens |
There is nothing like enjoying the tranquility of a waterfall ensconced with yellow blooms in winter!
With du Pont's forward thinking, Longwood Gardens became a center for research, a place of learning and a garden of wonders for the public.
Organ and Ballroom
In 1929, du Pont added a ballroom to the conservatory. The ballroom is kind of an interesting find in the conservatory and one that gives pause.
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| Longwood Gardens Ballroom with a stunning chandelier |
Part Garden, Part Castle
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| Bubbling cauldron in the children's play castle |
Water features throughout the children's garden beckon.
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| The combination between foliage and play elements creates such a wonderland! |
I would love to return some time when the outdoor gardens are in bloom. We did venture out to see the treehouses which were explored top to bottom by my nieces and nephews.
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| Climbing up treehouses is an automatic delight for kids. |
Unfortunately, the tree house that felt the most magical to me was not open. But, it was a delight to view.
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| Alpine treehouse -- adorable! |
Another favorite discovery is the Peirce-du Pont House. The brick home was initially constructed in 1730 and expanded periodically afterwards.
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| The historic Peirce-du Pont House with original portions from 1730. |
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| A little tropical delight on a cold day. |
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| Original cornerstone from one of the additions to the home. |
As you can see, there is an incredible amount to explore at Longwood Gardens. The nature haven is one that you can explore again and again enjoying different discoveries each time. I love that history and nature are truly blended into one here. We hope to return and see the nature splendor in a different season!
To know:
- There are a variety of events throughout the year including concerts and a Christmas light show.
- There are daily fountain shows during the warmer months.
- Several nights feature a spectacular firework and fountain show.
- The cafe has a wide variety of food. Everything we ate was of great quality.
- The gift shop has locally made items for purchase, so take a peek.
**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.
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