Visiting Longwood Gardens, what you need to know.
Debbie photographs the lights at Longwood Gardens Main Fountain Garden.
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I’ve heard about Longwood Gardens for years but only recently had the opportunity to visit.
The massive garden, located about 45 minutes outside of Philadelphia, received about one and a half million visitors last year so they must be doing something right.
Longwood Gardens has very smartly turned itself into a year-round destination with a vast indoor glass-enclosed conservatory, and light shows - especially its Christmas light show (more info about the Christmas exhibit below)
In 1906 Pierre S. du Pont, of the prominent and rich du Pont family, purchased the land and soon began transforming the gardens into what we know today. When he died in 1954 he left the Gardens with a well-funded endowment and admission was free. Longwood started charging an admission fee in 1973 but it is certainly worth the $25 fee for adults. “Well manicured” does not begin to describe the amazing upkeep of the facility.
Visiting displays at Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens is divided into six districts, each stunning and unique.
Certainly, the focal point of Longwood Gardens is Conservatory District and its 4½ acre glass conservatory. We visited during the annual fall Bonsai Chrysanthemum Festival. The gardeners use grafting techniques that date back more than 400 years to Japan and China to make stunning displays. Every possible variety and color is on display, these are not the Chrysanthemums you’ll see at your local gardening center.
Pierre S. du Pont dreamed of welcoming children to the gardens and there is a children’s garden within the conservatory with interesting plant and water displays.
Longwood maintains 5,000 orchid plants and displays hundreds inside The Orchid House’s floor-to-ceiling displays.
Perhaps the most unexpected display is the Silver Garden with plants native to Mediterranean and desert climates.
That’s some big cactus in the Silver Garden
The Main Fountain Garden District looks like you have been transported to a European castle.
The size and scope of the garden are breathtaking with a rose garden and a topiary garden within the Garden District.
A 15-minute walk from the Fountain Garden District is the Lake District. The highlight here is the Italian Water Garden, with fountains and manicured grass. There are also rolling lawns and a fun “treehouse”.
The Meadow and Forest District is equally beautiful but features only natural hiking trails and not ornate fountains and gardens.
We also visited the House and Theater District featuring the Pierre S. du Pont house. The house is a nice break from the beautiful natural exhibits and features exhibits covering 300 years of the site’s history. Even the house features a glass-roofed display area, today featuring Bonsai trees.
The Field of Lights display at Longwood Gardens.
Longwood Garden Christmas exhibit
The Longwood Garden Holiday Lights exhibit was named top holiday light exhibit in the country by the readers of USA Today, so you know it’s spectacular. More than half a million lights illuminate the hundreds of acres of outdoor gardens and indoor conservatories.
One of the visual highlights is a tunnel illuminated by nearly 20,000 bulbs. If it’s too cold there are numerous firepits to warm up.
The 2023 version of the Longwood holiday lights takes on a retro theme. The main conservatory is decorated in a 1940s- and 1950s-era holiday street scene, with decorated street lamps and retro ornaments.
One of the outdoor highlights is the fountain shows with 750 water jets dancing to holiday music at the Open Air Theatre.
The exhibit is extremely popular so purchasing tickets in advance is a necessity. You can purchase the tickets here.
Viewing light show at Longwood Gardens
We started our visit to Longwood Gardens mid-afternoon so we would not be exhausted by the time the light displays started.
Longwood Garden’s decision to offer light displays was brilliant, it extends the season right through Christmas. The Christmas displays which start mid-November draws enormous crowds and purchasing tickets ahead of time is a must.
Even the regular fall light show is extremely popular. When we were leaving after viewing all the lights, many more people were coming in than were leaving.
The light displays that were featured when we visited were created by artist Bruce Munro. The Field of Lights features 18,000 bulbs. Another favorite is the Fountains lit in various striking colors.
Each display around the facility is unique and innovative.
Other events at Longwood Gardens
Longwood’s calendar is full of music performances of all genres. If you are interested in organs, they have a 10,000-pipe organ and an organ museum.
There are many plants and floral-related classes in addition to a 500-foot miniature railroad in the fall and Christmas time.
You can buy tickets online and advance purchase is strongly recommended.
There are three dining options varying from high-end meals to a beer garden.
There are numerous hotels in the area if you’d like to combine a Longwood Garden visit with a stop in the Lancaster area, Philadelphia, or other nearby attractions.
Some highly rated Philadelphia area tours
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