Travel

FAVE MOTHER’S DAY TRIP: LONGWOOD GARDENS

“Idea Garden at Longwood Garden.” Courtesy of Longwood Gardens. Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

LONGWOOD GARDENS

One of our favorite most beautiful places in the world to celebrate Mother’s Day -- or any day -- is Longwood Gardens.

Image: by Daderot. “Wisteria - Longwood Gardens.” Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

One of the world’s great horticultural display gardens, Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square, PA, is a celebration of Mother Nature in collaboration with garden designers, whose artistry is in full bloom right when Mother’s Day rolls around.

Pink climbing roses in full bloom at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: by Tom Mayhew. “American Pillar Rose at Longwood Gardens.” American Rose Society Photography Contest Winner. Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

While this incredible garden is gorgeous at every time of year, at Mother’s Day, its +1000 acres are in high spring regalia.

Red, yellow, orange tulips bloom at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: “Tulips in Full Bloom.” Courtesy of Longwood Gardens. Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

See more than a quarter million tulips blooming in every shade you can imagine. Cascading purple and white wisteria, massive mounds of rhododendrons and azaleas, voluptuous peonies all dance in the warm May breeze.

Dogwood, magnolia, and Chinese princess trees are in peak pink and white blossom.

Spring flower beds in full bloom with fountain at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: Longwood Gardens. Courtesy of Longwood Gardens. Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

Swaths of papery Iceland poppies and the sweetest Spanish bluebells form floral carpets along the garden and woodland walks and meadows, while foxgloves send up tall spikes of mottled trumpet flowers.

Yellow and white flowers bloom around fountain at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: “Spring Blooms.” Courtesy of Longwood Gardens. Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

Longwood Gardens sits on land once tended by the native Lenni Lenape tribe. It was taken over by George Peirce, a Quaker farmer, in 1700, and developed into one of the finest arboretums. In 1906, Pierre S. du Pont, American entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist, purchased the property and began to build it out to its current design.

Pink and white orchids in conservatory at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: “Orchid Extravaganza.” Courtesy of Longwood Gardens. Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

Inside the 4-acre Conservatory, over 4,600 types of plants and trees tout their glory, including orchids, blossoming pomegranate bonsai trees, flowering maples, tropicals, and other exotics.

White and purple flowers in conservatory at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: by Peter Miller. “Longwood Gardens.” Conservatory. Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

Hanging hydrangea billow with lush petaled pom-poms overhead at the Conservatory’s Exhibition Hall. The sunken marble floor below, once used by the du Ponts for parties, is flooded with a few inches of water to beautifully reflect the flowers. The floor is periodically drained throughout the year when Longwood hosts musical performances and events in this space.

White orchids and purple flowers bloom at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: by Daniel Traub. “Orchid Extravaganza.” Courtesy of Longwood Gardens. Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

Gilding the lily, on Mother’s Day, live music and champagne flows in the Conservatory and on the historic garden terrace.

Purple flowers with silver balls at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: by Christian Tauber. “Longwood Gardens.” Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

Longwood has a legacy of innovation, and stewardship. From the intricate fountain systems to the meticulous gardens to the architectural grandeur, awe-inspiring discoveries await at every turn.

Trees with oranges in Estate Fruit House at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: “Estate Fruit House - Christmas.” Courtesy of Longwood Gardens. Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

In the Estate Fruit House, trained nectarine trees and nasturtiums are blossoming, while grape vines, melons, lemons, tomatoes, figs, and other fruits are beginning to leaf out and set buds.

Formal fountains at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: by Kathryn Yengel. “Longwood Gardens.” Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

Check out the magnificent Italian Water Garden.

Explore beds bursting with innovative pairings of colors, textures, and regional plant varieties in Longwood’s inspiring and educational Idea Garden.

Hanging flower baskets bloom at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: by Peter Miller. “Longwood Gardens.” Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

A visit to Longwood Gardens is my favorite Mother’s Day tradition. Once you visit, it will likely become a favorite of yours as well.

Pink blossoms and yellow leaves hang at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: “Rose Grape. Acacia Passage.” Courtesy of Longwood Gardens. Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

Read more about Beautiful Mothers all this week on BeautifulNow. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

Purple flowers and green ivy at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: Longwood Gardens Conservatory. Courtesy of Longwood Gardens. Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.

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Topiary trees and hedges at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Image: “The Rose Garden.” Courtesy of Treehouser. Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, PA.