This summer, visitors may explore 13 whimsical garden follies displayed throughout the estate for Winterthur’s first garden exhibition and enjoy the awe-inspiring fountain display at Longwood Gardens using just one admission ticket. Until Friday, Aug. 31, visitors will be delighted by two glorious du Pont gardens, located only minutes apart in the historic Brandywine Valley just outside of Philadelphia. For $34, visitors can see both Longwood Gardens and Winterthur, as well as take a guided tour of the Winterthur mansion, at a 20 percent savings.
Follies at Winterthur
From the 22-foot tall Needle’s Eye floating in a pond to the Chinese Pavilion, from the pagoda-topped Latimeria Summerhouse to the Faerie Cottage with a thatched roof, Winterthur’s first garden exhibition, “Follies: Architectural Whimsy in the Garden” will delight visitors this summer. Thirteen fantastic structures are located throughout the estate for visitors to explore and enjoy.
A folly is an architectural construction, such as a gazebo or summerhouse, often extravagant or picturesque, placed within the landscape to amuse, frame a view, or pique curiosity.
Some of the follies at Winterthur are newly built structures based on classic and contemporary examples at estates elsewhere. These include the Gothic Tower, inspired by sham castles and fake ruins that were very popular in European landscapes in the 1700s and 1800s. Others, such as the Latimeria Summerhouse, are historic structures currently in the garden that visitors have enjoyed for years. Together they form a delightful, entertaining, and fresh way for visitors to discover and experience the Winterthur Garden.
The Follies exhibition can be enjoyed on foot or from the garden tram. A one-mile walking loop takes approximately 45 minutes at a leisurely pace. The main path through the garden is wheelchair and stroller accessible. During the exhibition, the garden will be open until dusk. All admission tickets include Enchanted Woods, a three-acre garden for children, and an introductory tour of the mansion.
Fountains at Longwood
Longwood Gardens is not only one of the world’s great display gardens, but is also home to the most significant fountain collection in North America. The jewel of the fountain collection is the Main Fountain Garden. The culmination of the legacy and vision of Longwood founder Pierre S. du Pont, the Main Fountain Garden combines classic landscape design with stunning architecture, innovative technology, and extraordinary fountains.
A hallmark of the Longwood experience since its debut in 1931, the Main Fountain Garden completed an extensive two-year revitalization in 2017. Today, guests can experience the five-acre garden’s generous lawns, shaded alleés, sculpted plantings, and explore its unique garden follies, including the hidden grotto, elaborate sculptures, and Love Temple in the adjacent Carpinus Allée.
The dazzling fountain performances are a feat of design and engineering that combine the garden’s original fountain features with a new suite of awe-inspiring effects, including 1,719 swirling jets that can reach as high as 175 feet and 30 jets that combine water and flame. The fountains perform 12-minute shows set to music daily at 11:15 a.m., 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, and 7:15 p.m. through Oct. 28. On Thursday through Saturday evenings, spectacular 30-minute illuminated performances set to a variety of musical genres delight at 9:15 p.m. (May to July) and at 8:15 p.m. (August to October).
In addition to the Main Fountain Garden, Longwood is also home to the enchanting Italian Water Garden and Open Air Theatre fountains, which also perform daily. For a complete schedule of all fountain performances, garden features, and programs, visit www.longwoodgardens.org.
About Longwood Gardens
In 1906, industrialist Pierre du Pont (1870–1954) purchased a small farm near Kennett Square, Pa., to save a collection of historic trees from being sold for lumber. Today, Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great horticultural displays and home to the most significant fountain collection in North America, encompassing 1,083 acres of dazzling gardens, woodlands, meadows, fountains, 10,010-pipe Aeolian organ, and 4.5-acre conservatory. Longwood continues the mission set forth by Mr. du Pont to inspire people through excellence in garden design, horticulture, education and the performing arts. Longwood Gardens is on U.S. Route 1. For more information, call 610-388-1000.
About Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
The former country estate of Henry Francis du Pont (1880–1969), Winterthur offers tours of his home and collection of American antiques and decorative arts. The 60-acre garden, nestled in the nearly 1,000 acre estate, features the choicest plants from around the world selected by du Pont to enhance the natural setting, arranged in lyrical color combinations and carefully orchestrated in a succession of bloom from late January to November. Winterthur is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday and is located on Route 52, six miles northwest of Wilmington, Del., and five miles south of U.S. Route 1. It is closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
Images courtesy of Winterthur.