WEEKENDER: Longwood Gardens

If you believe that nature’s beauty is reserved for warmer seasons, you haven’t been to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Located in a picturesque setting northwest of Wilmington, DE this vast botanical wonderland occupies a spectacular slice of nature that is central to the du Pont family legacy.

During a stunning seasonal display that runs from mid-January through late March, Old Man Winter will put on his finest attire at the historic site, with every detail meticulously arranged by Mother Nature—accompanied, of course, by a band of talented landscape artisans and technological wizards. Aptly titled “Winter Wonder,” the transformative theme is designed to showcase the exquisite cold weather surroundings with a unique sensory experience that will feature stirring music, impressive light displays, and the familiar scents of fresh pine, sweet honeysuckle, and more. In addition to this seasonal spectacle, the entire venue will be dressed up in holiday style for “A Longwood Christmas” from mid November through early January.

A trip to Longwood is sure to make you look at winter in a whole new way. Yet, after that initial cold-weather visit, you won’t be able to resist a return during each upcoming season to experience how the calendar’s ebb and flow are captured on nature’s canvas with a palette of flowers and foliage. Titled Spring Blooms, the season of rebirth will burst forward with a parade of fresh colors, shapes, and dimensions in April as plants emerge from their winter hideaways. Later in the year, summer will celebrate a Festival of Fountains with myriad pathways that lead visitors past dancing water features, floating islands, and peaceful water lily sanctuaries. Then, fall will arrive in brilliant style with a glorious display of Autumn Colors that elevate our perception of the quintessential hues associated with this invigorating season. As one time of year gives way to another, each season at Longwood Gardens seems to come alive effortlessly inside the greenhouses and throughout the perfectly orchestrated outdoor landscape.

For a truly mesmerizing experience that is sure to chase away the winter blues, plan a day trip or weekend journey to Longwood Gardens and get lost in the history, scope, and scale of this peaceful yet energizing sanctuary. As a recent visitor remarked, “From the massive beauty of the trees to the simplicity of the tiniest flowers, this is nature at its finest. It’s the best garden I’ve seen in my life.”