In 1682, William Penn, Philadelphia’s founder, envisioned the city as a “greene countrie towne.” Today, the Philadelphia region has more spectacular public gardens and arboreta than anywhere else in North America. The nation’s oldest botanical garden, antique rose gardens, colonial kitchen gardens and romantic Victorian expanses are just a few of the pleasures this gardener’s paradise offers travelers. Visitors to the city will also find many floral window boxes and “hidden” gardens among the houses and courtyards of its charming Center City neighborhoods. Philadelphia’s original public “squares” (Rittenhouse Square, Washington Square, Franklin Square and Logan Circle) are also beautifully landscaped with sculptures, fountains and garden displays.

In addition to a wealth of gardens, Philadelphia welcomes spring every year with the legendary Philadelphia Flower Show, the world’s largest and most prestigious indoor flower show in the world. Throughout the week, the entire city blooms with magnificent floral displays in hotels, restaurants and shops that feature special events, packages and discounts.

Philadelphia is also host to the “World’s Largest Garden Party” during the month of May, when the area’s gardens, arboretums and historic houses offer special programs, entertainment, performances, children’s activities and more to showcase the magnificent colors of spring. The month-long event is sponsored by the Gardens Collaborative, a collection of 26 of the area’s public gardens.

Some of the most notable gardens include those listed below.

Philadelphia

Fairmount Park - The largest landscaped city park offers 8,900 acres of restful and recreational fun, from tennis, bocci courts and golf courses to 35 miles of paved multi-use trails. Scenic pathways wind along the picturesque banks of the Wissahickon and Schuylkill rivers. Groups can discover the Japanese House and Garden, a Horticultural Center, America’s first zoo, or tour the park’s many historic mansions. In the spring, the area behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art features a beautiful azalea garden, and cherry blossom trees bloom along the banks of the Schuylkill River.

Historic Bartram’s Garden - The oldest botanical garden in the U.S.A., this national historic landmark has been preserved virtually unchanged for two centuries. Overlooking the
Schuylkill River, it features John Bartram’s 18th-century house, native plants, gardens, historic trees, river trail and wetlands.

Morris Arboretum and Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania – Located in Chestnut Hill, the arboretum is a legacy of the Victorian era. Rose gardens, a swan pond, a rustic log cabin, an Italian grotto and America’s only surviving Victorian glass-enclosed fernery are among the garden’s features. Dawn redwoods and many ancient and unusual trees are planted throughout the 92-acre estate, which is Pennsylvania’s official arboretum.

Wyck – This National Historic Landmark was home to nine generations of the same Quaker family from 1690 -1973, and features their family furnishings. Its 2-1/2 acres include a nationally known ornamental garden of old roses, which grow in their 19th-century original plan.

Greater Philadelphia region

Longwood Gardens– The 1,050-acre former summer estate of industrialist Pierre duPont is one of the world’s premier horticultural displays. It features four acres of indoor conservatories, fountain displays and a whimsical children’s garden. The National Geographic Traveler magazine recently named Longwood Gardens as one of the U.S.A.'s "50 Places of a Lifetime."

Valley Forge National Historical Park – This 3,600-acre scenic park mixes history with rolling hillsides. It was here that George Washington and his troops weathered the winter of 1777-78 during the Revolutionary War. The park features tours of Washington’s headquarters, replicas of soldiers’ huts and Revolutionary war cannons. Visitors can also picnic, bicycle, walk, jog, hike and horseback ride in the beautifully landscaped park.

Barnes Foundation Arboretum – A 12-acre arboretum on the grounds of the world-famous Barnes Foundation reflects the color palette of the collection of French Impressionist paintings inside.

Chanticleer Garden – Highlights of this 31-acre pleasure garden are lush courtyards of tropical and perennial plants, a colorful cut-flower and vegetable garden, exotic woodlands and a new, spectacular ruin garden.

Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library – This former duPont country home features 1,000 acres of native and exotic plants, pond, woods and meadowlands. Visitors can also view the museum’s collection of American decorative arts.

Philadelphia was recently designated by Destinations magazine as “one of the hottest up and coming destinations for groups,” and ranked as one the top 10 motorcoach destinations of the past decade” by Byways magazine.