In addition to being known for cheesesteaks and the Liberty Bell, Philadelphia also has an abundance of lush botanical beauty that has earned it the moniker of ‘America’s Garden Capital,’ writes Anastasia Mills Healy for Islands.
The Philadelphia region has more than 30 destination-worthy gardens. Among them are Winterthur and Longwood Gardens, which top the lists of the most impressive in the world. Many are open throughout the year and are carefully maintained to be gorgeous in all seasons.
The Philadelphia area gets its green thumb from the city’s early days. Many of the original settlers in the region were Quakers, whose religion sees nature as a gift from God. Their interests went beyond growing food to encompass botany and horticulture.
John Bartram, a Quaker farmer who cultivated hundreds of plants in a botanic garden in 1728, was named the Royal Botanist for North America by King George III. Bartram’s Garden in Kingsessing is now the oldest botanic garden in the country and is open daily.
The du Ponts, led by the estate of Pierre du Pont are also responsible for some of the most remarkable gardens in the region, including the aforementioned Winterthur and Longwood Gardens.
Read more about Philadelphia’s stunning gardens in the Islands.
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