Visiting a public garden is a great way to unplug and relax. These grand Mid-Atlantic gardens are waiting for you to experience nature.

At one of my favorite Mid-Atlantic gardens, visitors gawk at the fountain show that rivals the Bellagio’s fountains in Las Vegas, while some prefer the serene conservatory. Kids love the tree houses, indoor children’s garden, and the 1,010-pipe Aeolian organ. Not far from this Pennsylvania garden is a former estate that features nature at its best, eschewing formal gardens for a natural setting.

Whatever type of garden experience you love, you’ll likely find one of the great Mid-Atlantic gardens to call your favorite. I’ve spent the last 13 years exploring the region encompassing Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia. Throughout my travels in the area, I’ve found some of the most enjoyable public gardens, arboretums, and botanical gardens anywhere.

All but one of these special places charge to enter the gates, but some are more affordable than others. The best time of year to visit varies, as some are open year-round, with warm conservatories beckoning in winter to escape the cold. Come along for a ride while I share my favorite Mid-Atlantic gardens to visit.

Ladew Topiary Gardens, Jarrettsville, MD

Ladew Topiary Gardens is in the countryside, about 30 minutes north of Baltimore. What was once the home of an American bachelor, Harvey Ladew is now a whimsical topiary garden open to the public. I love the topiary fox hunt scene near the entrance, along with the Woodland Garden, the nature walk, the Butterfly House, and just about everything else at Ladew Gardens.

The oval pool in the center of the 2-acre, bowl-shaped lawn was originally Mr. Ladew’s swimming pool. Photo by BushelOcrabs1814 via Wikimedia

The Great Bowl is a focal point at Ladew. From the bowl, I recommend seeing the Keyhole Garden, Garden of Eden, and the Portico Garden, where frogs croak hello in the pond.

This topiary garden includes many reasons to visit from April 1 through October 31. In the spring, I like strolling the Iris garden and then hiking the nature walk in hopes of finding a turtle or harmless garter snake on the trail.

Take a nice walk in the woods at Ladew Topiary Gardens. Photo by Kurt Jacobson

When July arrives, I can’t wait to get into the Butterfly House to see one of the many types of native butterflies and moths fluttering about.

See native butterflies at Ladew’s Butterfly House. Photo by Kurt Jacobson

Plan on spending 1 to 2 hours, or add an hour to your visit for an excellent lunch at the café. Much (but not all) of Ladew is ADA accessible, including the renovated Woodland Garden near the manor house. Check the Ladew website for educational offerings for adults and children throughout the season.

Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA

The big one on this list of great Mid-Atlantic gardens is Longwood Gardens. Longwood was once a part-time home of Pierre S. du Pont, former chairman of the board of General Motors and a leader of the Du Pont Company. Du Pont saved Peirce’s Park from the lumber mill in 1906. He then set about turning the property into one of the most fabulous gardens in the world.

Longwood lilies near the conservatory. Photo by Kurt Jacobson

Fountains were an area of interest initially as Longwood took shape. Du Pont built the Italian Water Gardens, Main Fountain Garden, Open Air Theater fountains, and other water features like the Eye of Water that feeds the waterfall near the Chimes Tower to fulfill his dream garden.

Tickets to enter Longwood are not cheap. Prices for adults 19 and older cost $25, seniors 62+ pay $22, children 5-18 cost $13, and children under 5 are free. Longwood Gardens is open year-round, but my favorite time to visit is when the heat and humidity are tolerable in the fall.

For a long walk, my wife and I like to hike the Meadow Garden and then meander through the woods towards the two treehouses near Peirce-du Pont House. The combination of meadow and forest walk offers the best of Longwood’s natural landscapes and provides a contrast to the formal gardens.

One of three treehouses at Longwood Gardens. Photo by Kurt Jacobson

Don’t Miss Mt Cuba Center, Mid-Atlantic Garden in Hockessin, DE

The Du Pont family has provided several gardens for the public to enjoy in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Though Longwood Gardens is probably the most famous, Winterthur, Nemours, Hagley, and Mt Cuba are all part of the Du Pont legacy. My favorite natural landscape, which primarily displays native plants, is Mt Cuba.

Mr. and Mrs. Copeland turned an old farm into the 1,000+ acre nature refuge visitors see today. For $15 or less, you can wander around 50 acres of woodlands, meadows, ponds, and the Round Garden near the Copeland’s home.

A pond in the woods provides peace and quiet at Mt Cuba Center. Photo by Kurt Jacobson

On any given day, April through November, you may encounter numerous birds, butterflies, and mammals. During a recent visit in June, I enjoyed a walk past the Copeland’s home, seeing the flowering dogwoods and early summer flowers in bloom while enjoying the sounds of nature.

Mt. Cuba is far from large towns and highways and is quieter than the other Du Pont gardens. Peace and quiet are reasons I like to visit public gardens; Mt Cuba is one of the quietest gardens on this list of Mid-Atlantic gardens.

Nemours Estate in Wilmington, DE, a Luxurious Mid-Atlantic Garden

For luxury in the house and gardens, Nemours Estate is my choice for a couple of hours spent experiencing how wealthy folks lived in the 20th Century. Alfred I. du Pont built Nemours for his second wife on land he purchased near Wilmington, DE. Named after the du Pont family’s ancestral home in France, Nemours pays homage to French arts and gardens.

One of the most beautiful fountains in the Mid-Atlantic gardens is at Nemours. Photo by Kurt Jacobson

My favorite aspect of Nemours is the artistry on display, indoors and outdoors. The sculptures and ironwork around the house are examples of quality craftsmanship.

I enjoy spending quality time walking in the gardens and fountains. Heading from the house towards the Long Walk, lined with pin oaks and pink flowering chestnuts, is an excellent route to experience Nemours’ gardens. When it’s time to depart, chances are you wished for more time at this masterpiece home and garden. Be aware that the visitor center is now only used for group tours, and the new entrance is at 1600 Rockland Rd, Wilmington, DE, on the Nemours Children’s Hospital campus. Tours are now all self-guided.

Delaware Botanic Gardens, the Newest Addition to the List of Mid-Atlantic Gardens

Another great garden to get away from the crowds and experience nature when exploring Mid-Atlantic gardens is Delaware Botanic Gardens (DBG) near Dagsboro, DE. This newcomer to the public garden world was founded in 2012 and opened in September 2019. Admission is $15 for adults, and children 16 and under are free. What was once a farm is now one of the Mid-Atlantic’s best displays of native perennial plants.

The Folly Garden in the springtime. Photo by Kurt Jacobson

Wander the 37-acre site through the Piet Oudolf Meadow Garden, filled with 160,000 flowering bulbs in spring. Pollinators and birds find food and shelter at DBG, perfect for bird watching. Continue to the Woodland Gardens and find several native holly trees and seven huge, man-made bird nests along the way..4

A short hike to Pepper Creek will open your view to 1,000 feet of shoreline. Here, you might see waterfowl and an occasional American eagle. Check out the DBG website for events like the Director of Horticulture Garden Tours, where Stephen Pryce offers seasonal tours, or take the daily 10 am tour. DBG is open Thursdays through Sundays, from 9 am to 4 pm, and is free on Earth Day and Mother’s Day.

Mill Pond Garden, Lewes, DE

Great things come in small packages, and Mill Pond Garden (MPG) is one of those great things. At just three-quarters of an acre, Mill Pond delivers big. I love that this garden supports bats, pollinators, frogs, turtles, harmless snakes, and beneficial insects.

While walking the gardens on my first visit, I almost stepped on a garter snake. The snakes control rodents and slugs. At MPG, you will likely see Hummingbird Moths, Monarch butterflies, Tiger Swallowtails, bunches of bumblebees, and plenty of flowers.

Late spring flowers in bloom at Mill Pond Garden. Photo by Kurt Jacobson

MPG’s water features include a frog pond, Red Mill Pond frontage, a Koi pond, and a stream with three waterfalls. Tickets are available on their website for the mere 15 open days per year. You can also contact MPG to schedule a group visit.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Richmond, VA

What’s not to love about a public garden with a conservatory, especially in the winter? Lewis Ginter has 50+ acres to wander with wonder. Highlights include the conservatory, Children’s Garden, Asian Valley, Rose Garden, and Cherry Tree Walk—a spring favorite.

I visited in the fall, enjoyed the cooler weather, and immediately spied one of my favorite plants, the scarlet runner bean. I first saw these flashy purple beans at Monticello and planted them in my home garden the following year. Though inedible, the plush, bush-like foliage, and colorful beans make a gorgeous garden plant.

Lily ponds flank the stairs to the conservatory, while inside, the orchid collection caught my attention like a hungry bee to pollen. Check out the tiny English cottage inside for an unusual centerpiece.

Flowers highlight the conservatory in the background at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Photo by Kurt Jacobson

Don’t miss the Children’s Garden, treehouse overlooking the lake, butterfly house full of winged marvels, and the Island Garden with bug-catching plants. A gift shop and café round out the amenities at Lewis Ginter.

Wolf Trap National Park, Vienna, VA

Did you know a US national park is dedicated to the performing arts? If you ever get a chance to visit Wolf Trap National Park, you’ll find a great collection of native gardens, raised planters, a Children’s Theater, and a world-class outdoor stage for concerts.

One of many flower gardens at Wolf Trap National Park. Photo by Kurt Jacobson

Catherine Filene Shouse envisioned a park-like setting for the performing arts. She donated 100 acres of land to fulfill this vision of a national park near Washington, DC. The first show hit the stage in July 1971, and the place has been filled with music and entertainment ever since.

I love the transformation over the last three years as Wolf Trap has added hundreds, maybe thousands, of native plants. In the depression shaped like a bowl near the main gates, find the Dimple, filled with native flowers attracting pollinators, birds, and insects. A walk towards the Children’s Theater will take you past a hillside ablaze with gold-colored Ox Eye sunflowers.

Wolf Trap flowers in the Dimple near the main gates. Photo by Edgar Deskins

An old dump site has been transformed into a woodland garden, supporting turtles, snakes, and insects, typical of a national park. Take a scenic hike on the Wolf Trap TRACK Trail and get about a 1.5-mile look at a Virginia forest. The Wolf Trap Trail is over two miles of natural surroundings, winding through woodlands and wetlands.

Concerts at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center will cost anywhere from $30-$180. For more affordable shows, the Children’s Theater in the Woods has performances for around $10-15. The best deal is walking in the park, which is free. You can also bring a picnic at tables under the trees near the restaurant.

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Mid-Atlantic Gardens Inspire Calm and Relaxation

With our world becoming more noisy and hectic, visiting a public garden is a great way to unplug and relax. One or more of these grand Mid-Atlantic gardens are waiting for you to come and see, smell, and hear nature at its best.

Let Wander inspire you to discover something new when planning your next escape. Whether you’re exploring gardens on the East Coast, taking a road trip out west, or visiting the US national parks, you’ll surely find the perfect adventure.