America’s Garden Capital: Top Gardens to Visit in Southeastern PA, DE, & NJ

Tour the Best Gardens Near Philadelphia

Did you know that southeastern PA, northern Delaware, and a sliver of eastern NJ are considered the Garden Capital of the USA?

In the Philadelphia area alone, you can visit over 30 different gardens! I love flowers, and I’m thrilled to have so many garden gems within a day trip’s distance.

What’s really neat is that there’s an America’s Garden Capital Passport you can get when you visit one of these spots. Pick it up and discover over all the gardens to add to your must see list! You cane also check out all of the gardens at https://americasgardencapital.org/.

Here are my top three picks so far—I hope to explore more of these gardens in the coming months and years. Let’s take a look at Longwood Gardens, Chanticleer, and the Morris Arboretum!

Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens is located in Kennett Square, PA, and as you all know, it’s one of my favorite places in the world to visit. They are currently undergoing renovations and an expansion, and I cannot wait to see how they enhance their gardens. There’s truly no wrong time to visit, as there are always stunning seasonal displays.

Not only are the gardens magnificent, but the fountain shows during the summertime are simply awe-inspiring and well worth the wait. Longwood also has numerous outdoor spaces and a large conservatory where you can explore a vast variety of plants and flowers. You can easily spend a whole day or weekend enjoying everything Longwood has to offer. In my opinion, it’s the Disney World of botanical gardens. I’m not sure if there’s a more beautiful botanical garden in the world.

Longwood Gardens is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. They are closed on Tuesdays. To book your timed ticket, visit Longwood Gardens’ website. Hours do change depending on the season so make sure to check their website before your visit.

Chanticleer Garden

Chanticleer Garden is located in Wayne, PA, and it’s a truly unique experience. As you explore, it feels like you’re in someone’s backyard who has an incredible green thumb. There are seven distinct areas in the garden, each one unique and as enchanting as the next. It’s the kind of place where I’d love to bring a book and sit on a bench reading all afternoon, or if I knew how to paint, spend the day capturing the beauty around me.

What I loved about Chanticleer were the many different benches scattered throughout the gardens, perfect for taking a moment to relax and enjoy the surroundings. When we visited, the water lilies were in bloom, and it was breathtaking—I had never seen such tall or large water lilies before! As a bonus, downtown Wayne, PA, is charming, with many restaurants and shops to explore after your visit.

Chanticleer is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Hours do change after Labor Day, so be sure to check their website. You must make a parking reservation to visit. For more information, visit Chanticleer Garden’s website.

Morris Arboretum

Morris Arboretum is located in the Chestnut Hill area of Philadelphia, PA, and is operated by the University of Pennsylvania. It’s truly a fantastic place to take a stroll. Highlights include the rose garden, fernery, miniature trains, and log cabin.

This summer, they have a dinosaur theme, and the Morris Arboretum website says, “Morris goes Mesozoic.” It was so much fun trying to spot all the different dinosaurs across the grounds when we visited. Justin grew up in this area, and his dad has a membership, so it was a great way to spend the afternoon.

The Garden Railway, where the miniature trains are, is a sight to see. Almost all of the structures around the railway are made from natural materials. The railway also continued the dinosaur theme and even featured famous Philadelphia buildings made from these natural materials. My personal favorite spot is the rose garden—it’s absolutely fantastic.

Morris Arboretum’s dinosaur theme continues until September 30. The Arboretum is open weekdays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and weekends from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Last entry each day is at 4:00 pm. Hours may change in the fall, so be sure to check their website at Morris Arboretum’s website.

Have you visited a garden in the Garden Capital? Which one was your favorite garden? I can’t wait to check out more of the gardens listed in the passport!

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