If winter’s chills have got you down and you’re tired of bare trees and perhaps snow, it’s time to find someplace relaxing with lush tropical plants, cascades of running water and such a profusion of orchids that there’s even a hanging curtain made of them.

You don’t have to travel far to find this paradise. In fact, if you live in the Brandywine Valley of southeastern Pennsylvania or northern Delaware, it’s your neighbor — and what a neighbor! Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa. is a place to escape to any time of the year, but wintertime is a great time to explore the ever-changing nature of the gardens. Whether you’re a budding gardener, an experienced horticulturist, a lover of nature or a young child full of imagination, Longwood has something for you. 

Longwood’s history began in 1700 when a Quaker farmer named George Peirce purchased a 402-acre tract of land. His family developed the land for farming, and twin brothers Samuel and Joshua Peirce planted trees they collected in their travels and opened an arboretum, popular in its day, known as Peirce’s Park.

Ironically, in 1906 the farm and arboretum were being sold, and plans were to chop down these incredible trees for lumber. Enter local industrialist and philanthropist Pierre du Pont who purchased 200 acres of the property to save the trees. The farm became his country estate, and he added to the house in 1909 and again in 1914. The house was opened to the public in 1976 and now includes the Heritage Exhibit that tells the story of how the lands were preserved and the property developed into the magnificent gardens that more than 800,000 visitors tour each year. Today there’s over 1,050 acres including tree areas and meadows, 20 outdoor gardens and 20 garden rooms inside an almost five-acre glass conservatory.

More than 5,500 types of plants live inside the conservatory, which was originally built in 1919 and has been expanded and renovated until today there’s 195,668 square feet (over 4.5 acres) to visit. A stroll through the display area takes about 1.5 hours and covers about half a mile. Close your eyes and listen to water falling. It’s tempting to stop and smell, touch or sit and view one area for hours at a time, but if you push yourself, there’s always another delight around the corner or through another door to tempt your spirits.

If you visit in late January or early February, take a stroll down the Acacia Passage where these small trees have been trained to arch over the walkway. During this time and into early February, the Acacia blooms with fluffy yellow flowers and a unique smell. The orchid festival is in February, and the curtain made of hundreds of orchids is just one small piece of this exquisite display. There are over 3,200 different types of orchids at Longwood and at any time of year several hundred are at their peak.

Visitors enter the Conservatory complex through the Orangery, which once was used for growing edible citrus fruits. Today it features an ever-changing array of beautiful flowers, bulbs and foliage. Visit the Exhibition Hall with its original, sunken marble floor that’s usually flooded with a few inches of water that acts as a reflecting pool.

Children will love the new indoor children’s garden that just opened in October. It’s a kid-friendly environment that includes durable plants for little fingers to touch, child-sized mazes to explore, a secret room and drooling dragon, a tower to climb and 17 water features to listen to, watch and touch — including a leaping water worm and a bell that rings when water strikes it. Adults can join in the fun, or walk along the nearby pathway overlooking the Children’s garden.

For the music lovers, be sure to check out the huge Aeolian pipe organ that has 10,010 pipes. DuPont loved music and in 1921 he installed the first Aeolian pipe organ in the Exhibition Hall. In 1929 he ordered the larger 10,010 pipe organ and placed it in the newly constructed ballroom. Currently, the pipe organ is under renovation, but you can see the pipe organ and gallery that includes information on the role music plays at Longwood Gardens.

If you are there on a mild winter day, you might want to stroll in the 20 outside gardens that contain another 5,000 plants, different from those in the conservatory. Or explore the majestic trees that include a Ginkgo tree the Peirce family planted in 1800, making it one of the oldest ginkgos in America.  You also could see a yellow cucumber magnolia that was planted by the Peirce family somewhere around 1800 and is the largest known specimen in the entire country. A walk in the outside gardens takes about two to three hours and covers about two to three miles.

For more information and directions to Longwood Gardens, visit www.longwoodgardens.org or call 610-388-1000. All of the gardens are easily accessible to all and wheelchairs and electric scooters are available at no charge. Handicapped parking spaces are in the front of the parking lot near the visitor center. Children’s strollers are permitted in most areas. Food is available as either self-serve or fine dining at the Terrace Restaurant, adjacent to the conservatory.