Longwood Gardens- Kennett Square, PA
If you have ever visited the area, it should come as no surprise that the Brandywine Valley is America’s Garden Capital. With over 30 gardens in 30 miles, that translates to a lot of landscape to explore. Widely varied, offerings span the spectrum from modest to sensational, with some of the most spectacular spaces attributed to the prosperous duPont family.Â
Over at Nemours, Alfred I. duPont constructed the country’s grandest French gardens, at Winterthur Henry Francis duPont spent a lifetime perfecting his 1000 acres estate, and at Longwood Gardens, Pierre S. duPont transformed an arboretum into one the country’s finest display gardens. Boasting a variety of landscapes, both natural and built, Longwood almost has the feel of an amusement park. It certainly has the parking lot of one.Â
Although long cultivated by the Lenape tribe, the land was purchased in 1700 by George Peirce from William Penn’s commissioners. In 1730, George’s son Joshua cleared the land and constructed a brick farmhouse on the property. Upon inheriting the property, Joshua’s twin grandsons created a 15 acre arboretum which included specimens from both far and near. By 1850, it was one of the finest such collections in the country.Â
Unfortunately, later generations neglected the property, and in 1906 it was sold to a lumber mill operator, who planned to harvest the trees for timber. Upon hearing of this threat, Pierre S. duPont purchased the property to preserve the trees. Almost immediately, he started to create today’s Longwood Gardens.Â
In 1907, duPont developed a 600 foot long Flower Garden Walk for his friends and family. That was followed by an Open Air Theater, influenced by his European travels. In 1914, duPont built the property’s first conservatory, attached to the original Pierce farmhouse, which he used as a weekend residence.Â
Bitten by the horticulture bug, in 1919 duPont commissioned the construction of a large conservatory, which included an Orangery, Ballroom, and a Pipe Organ. Just a few short years after the organ’s installation, duPont had it replaced with a 10,010 pipe model, which filled fourteen freight cars, and required a 72 horsepower motor to operate. At the time, it was the largest pipe organ ever installed in a private residence.
DuPont then began to introduce water features to the property, including the 1925 Italian Water Garden inspired by his trips to Europe, and the 1931 Main Fountain Garden, inspired by the Chicago World’s Fair. Around this time, duPont also constructed a 61 foot stone Chime Tower, which included twenty five tubular chimes that could be activated from his residence. Â
Although duPont died in 1954, he left a well funded endowment for the gardens. The property opened to the public, and continued to expand, including three treehouses built in 2008. The most elaborate and etheral, the two story Canopy Cathedral, was inspired by a Norwegian church.Â
Given all of the above, Longwood Gardens is extremely popular. Fortunately, its size supports the crowds. In addition to all the formal gardens, there are plenty of natural areas, including a large meadow, home of a restored 18th century farmhouse. With over 1000 acres, you can find your own Eden, just as Pierre duPont did.Â
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