The Ultimate Guide To A Mid-Atlantic Garden Road Trip
20 top gardens from New York to Virginia
This 500-mile road trip from Ringwood, New Jersey (near the border with New York), to Richmond, Virginia, travels through a region rich with public gardens. In fact, the garden epicenter of the journey—the region around Philadelphia—has been nicknamed America’s Garden Capital, with more than 30 public gardens and arboretums within a 30-mile radius of the city. Among them is world-renowned Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, a garden that’s reason enough for a road trip.
The listing here takes you from north to south, but it can be adjusted to suit your starting point and abbreviated to your desired road-trip distance.
Water lilies sit on a reflecting pool, New Jersey Botanical Garden; Photo courtesy of Maja Britton
NEW JERSEY
NEW JERSEY BOTANICAL GARDEN—RINGWOOD
973-962-9534 | njbg.org
Located in Ringwood State Park, the New Jersey Botanical Garden sprawls for 1,100 acres, 96 of which are formal gardens. Some 28 miles of paths and trails wend through the remaining acreage.
This area of the state, some 27 miles from Manhattan, was once the summer escape for Manhattan’s elite (much as the Hamptons is today). The property had been the estate of Francis Lynde Stetson and, later, Clarence McKenzie Lewis—both avid horticulturalists who commissioned many of the gardens seen today.
The formal gardens are arranged into themed garden “rooms”: Magnolia Walk, Azalea Garden, Hosta Garden and so on. Some reflect the different climate zones of the state. So, for example there’s a Wildflower Garden, a Bog Garden and a Pinetum. The gardens are also known for their statuary and their sweeping vistas, which include the half-mile-long Crabapple Allée.
May and June represent a high point, when the gardens explode with the color of forsythias, azaleas, rhododendrons, lilacs and more. But year-round, there are plants of interest and healing nature to enjoy.
New Jersey has a wealth of other gardens that you might want to check out, including the following:
Frelinghuysen Arboretum—Morristown, NJ: 973-326-7600 | morrisparks.net
Greenwood Gardens—Summit, NJ: 973-258-4026 | greenwoodgardens.org
Rutgers Gardens—New Brunswick, NJ: 848-932-7000 | rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu
Willowwood Arboretum—Gladstone, NJ: 973-326-7601 | willowwoodarboretum.org
Daffodil Hill, New York Botanical Garden; Photo courtesy of MarlonCo
NEW YORK
THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN—THE BRONX
718-817-8700 | nybg.org
At 250 acres, The New York Botanical Garden rates as the largest such garden in any US city. Founded in 1891 in New York City’s northern borough, it’s the most comprehensive botanical garden in the world and boasts the world’s most important botanical and horticultural library.
The beauty of the garden begins with its setting in a rock-cut gorge along the Bronx River that boasts a 50-acre old-growth forest. From large to small—from conifers, maples and oaks to daffodils, water lilies and orchids—the gardens delight in all seasons. Spring brings magnolias, cherry blossoms and blooming bulbs. Summer is adorned with lilacs, roses and a profusion of perennials. In autumn, the changing colors of tree leaves serve as backdrop to colorful fall blooms. Winter is the perfect time to take a walk through snow-covered woods or to step into the warmth of the greenhouse and enjoy tropical forests and cactus-filled deserts. A rock garden, wetland trail and herb garden add to the botanical garden’s variety.
NEW YORK
WAVE HILL—THE BRONX
718-549-3200 | wavehill.org
Pair your visit to The New York Botanical Garden with a stop at Wave Hill in the northwest section of the Bronx. Its 28 acres of garden and woodland include a conservatory, seasonal plantings, a naturalistic garden, and views of the Hudson River and the Palisades beyond.
NEW YORK
BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN—BROOKLYN
718-623-7200 | bbg.org
You might also want to head to Brooklyn to stroll through the 52-acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which features more than 30 specialty gardens.
Longwood Gardens; Photo courtesy of Becca Mathias
PENNSYLVANIA
LONGWOOD GARDENS—KENNETT SQUARE
610-388-1000 | LongwoodGardens.org
Longwood Gardens had its genesis in a small farm and historic arboretum purchased in the early 20th century by industrialist Pierre S. du Pont, who lived on the property and devoted his time to building a large conservatory and elaborate gardens. Today, Longwood sprawls for some 1,100 acres, nearly 300 of which are open to the public.
Visitors are awed by the stunning and varied gardens, woodlands and meadows; the nearly 2-acre conservatory (3 acres come fall 2024); and numerous elaborate fountains inspired by the great water gardens of Europe.
A stroll down the 600-foot Flower Garden Walk and beyond brings you to the lake region and the sunken Italian Water Garden. From there, wend your way through naturalistic woodland and tree-shaded paths to the conservatory. Highlights include the ever-changing Main Conservatory, the new Orchid House and the Indoor Children’s Garden. The Main Fountain Garden inspires oohs and aahs as they surge and dance. Don’t tarry too long, however, as there are many, many acres of gardens yet to see. Plan on spending at least half a day here.
PENNSYLVANIA
CHANTICLEER—WAYNE
610-687-4163 | chanticleergarden.org
The main garden attraction in southeastern Pennsylvania is Longwood Gardens, but before you arrive there, consider stopping at Chanticleer in Wayne. Formerly the estate of the Rosengarten family, it now features 35 acres of woodland, lawn and gardens open to the public, accessible via a 1-mile main path.
PENNSYLVANIA
SCOTT ARBORETUM OF SWARTHMORE COLLEGE—SWARTHMORE
610-328-8025 | scottarboretum.org
Also on the way to Longwood is the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, with collections that represent the horticultural diversity of the Delaware Valley.
Winterthur Garden; Photo courtesy of Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
DELAWARE
WINTERTHUR MUSEUM, GARDEN & LIBRARY—WINTERTHUR
302-888-4775 | Winterthur.org
Winterthur owes the beauty of its 60 acres of gardens, which are surrounded by 1,000 acres of meadows and farmland, to Henry Francis du Pont, the last of three generations of du Ponts to live on the estate. (A visit to Winterthur would not be complete without a mansion tour.) Du Pont designed the more formally landscaped gardens near the mansion along with Marian Cruger Coffin, the first woman in the country to own a landscape architecture firm. Away from the home, the naturalistic landscape style was inspired by the Wild Garden design movement of the turn of the 20th century. Winterthur is one of the last remaining Wild Gardens.
H.F. du Pont once told an interviewer that for him “color is the thing that counts more than any other.” Indeed, color and its combinations are defining characteristics of these gardens, which include the March Bank that blooms from winter (snowdrops) through July (hostas), Winterhazel Walk, Azalea Woods, Peony Garden and Sycamore Hill. Don’t miss the Enchanted Woods, a magical garden designed for children that features the Faerie Cottage, the Acorn Tea Room, a tree house, water elements and more.
DELAWARE
MT. CUBA CENTER—HOCKESSIN
302-239-4244 | mtcubacenter.org
Tucked on a hill in a scenic corner of nearby Hockessin, you’ll find Mt. Cuba Center, a garden focused on plants native to the Appalachian Piedmont area that stretches from New York to Alabama.
The Iris Garden Bridge, Ladew Topiary Gardens; Photo courtesy of Helen Norman
MARYLAND
LADEW TOPIARY GARDENS—MONKTON
410-557-9570 | LadewGardens.com
Ladew Topiary Gardens (open April through October) exists thanks to self-taught landscaper Harvey Ladew, who bought a farm here in 1929 and, inspired by gardens he’d toured in England, set about creating his own 22-acre paradise.
A series of paths takes you through 15 garden rooms, each a perfect little immersion in its theme. There are the Pink, Yellow and White gardens; the formal Rose Garden and the Woodland Garden. There’s the Garden of Eden, adorned with a statue of Adam and Eve and combining a variety of fruit trees with pink- and white-blooming azaleas. And the Victorian Garden with its wrought-iron three-tiered fountain surrounded by a variety of purple to blue rhododendrons, a “raging deep purple space” when it blooms in May, says Executive Director Emily Emerick.
The 100 topiaries on the grounds—famously including a fox-hunting scene—merited Mr. Ladew a Garden Club of America award for “creating…the most outstanding topiary garden in the country.” Additions since the gardens opened to the public include several acres of wildflower meadows and a 1.5-mile nature walk that passes through forest and field.
MARYLAND
BROOKSIDE GARDENS—WHEATON
301-495-2595 | montgomeryparks.org
Closer to the Nation’s Capital, in Wheaton, Brookside Gardens beckons. The 50-acre public gardens within Wheaton Regional Park includes some dozen distinct gardens, including an aquatic garden, a Japanese-style garden, a perennial garden and woodland walk.
Hillwood Gardens; Photo courtesy of Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
WASHINGTON, D.C.
HILLWOOD ESTATE, MUSEUM & GARDENS
202-686-5807 | HillwoodMuseum.org
It wasn’t long after Marjorie Merriweather Post bought Hillwood in 1955 that she determined her home would eventually become a museum for her outstanding collection of Russian imperial art and French decorative arts. Beyond the exquisitely furnished mansion lie 25 acres of landscaped gardens and natural woodlands that are as beautiful as anything found inside. Though Post’s gardens were landscaped to be of interest in spring and fall, when she was in residence, today the gardens have year-round interest.
The mansion fronts the tree-accented Lunar Lawn, where Post once hosted receptions. From there, a leisurely walk takes visitors through distinct yet flowing gardens such as the secluded French parterre, a rose garden, and a cutting garden filled with the types of blooms used in Post’s formal arrangements. A Japanese-style garden with American garden features—North American plants juxtaposed with Asian species—is accented with water elements and stone statuary. There’s even a serene garden that served as a cemetery for Post’s beloved dogs.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
DUMBARTON OAKS
202-339-6400 | doaks.org
Similar to Hillwood, Dumbarton Oaks also features a mansion turned museum (of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art) surrounded by exquisite gardens. Located on the highest point of Georgetown, the so-called Green Garden is anchored by an impressive southern red oak tree. There’s also a rose garden—the largest of the formally designed garden rooms,—a French-inspired fountain terrace, woodlands and more.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
US BOTANIC GARDEN
(202) 225-8333 | usbg.gov
The US Botanic Garden features a conservatory and outdoor gardens on the National Mall.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
US NATIONAL ARBORETUM
202-245-4523 | usna.usda.gov
The US National Arboretum is perhaps best known for its grove of 50 state trees.
Central Garden with Sunken Fountain Tulips, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden; Photo courtesy of Tom Hennessy
VIRGINIA
LEWIS GINTER BOTANICAL GARDEN—RICHMOND
804-262-9887 | LewisGinter.org
This year celebrating the 40th anniversary of its founding, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden boasts some 50 acres of developed garden and a classical domed Conservatory, one of the few such conservatories open to the public in the mid-Atlantic.
The Central Garden, the main display area, is a series of intimate garden rooms where the horticultural staff shows off its creativity with different combinations of color, texture and visual interest. It’s particularly beautiful in April with its riot of flowering bulbs. Additional standout gardens include the 3-acre perennial Flagler Garden; the Cochrane Rose Garden overlooking Lake Sydnor, where you can sit amid hundreds of fragrant blooms; and Asian Valley, an Eastern Asian-style garden with trees, shrubs, irises and peonies, rock formations and cascading water.
Inside the 11,000-square-foot Conservatory, you’ll find orchids and other tropical plants; a desert environment with agaves, cacti and succulents; and palm trees that tower up into the 63-foot-high central dome.
For a list of public gardens and arboretums near you, visit the American Public Gardens Association.
Are you inspired to set out on this garden-themed road trip? We’ve mapped it out for you with a AAA TripTik.
PART 1
A: New Jersey Botanical Garden—Ringwood, New Jersey
B: New York Botanical Garden—The Bronx, New York
C: Wave Hill — The Bronx, New York
D: Brooklyn Botanic Garden — Brooklyn, New York
E: Greenwood Gardens — Short Hills, New Jersey
F: The Frelinghuysen Arboretum — Morristown, New Jersey
G: Willowwood Arboretum — Chester Township, New Jersey
H: Rutgers Gardens — North Brunswick Township, New Jersey
I: Chanticleer — Wayne, Pennsylvania
J: Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College — Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
K: Longwood Gardens — Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
L: Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library — Winterthur, Delaware
M: Mt. Cuba Center — Hockessin, Delaware
N: Ladew Topiary Gardens — Monkton, Maryland
Are you inspired to set out on this garden-themed road trip? We’ve mapped it out for you with a AAA TripTik.
PART 2
A: Ladew Topiary Gardens — Monkton, Maryland
B: Brookside Gardens — Wheaton, Maryland
C: Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens — Washington, D.C.
D: Dumbarton Oaks Gardens — Washington, D.C.
E: National Arboretum — Washington, D.C.
F: United States Botanic Garden — Washington, D.C.
G: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden — Henrico, Virginia