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Lovely Attractions at Brandywine, PA
International Magazine
Real Travel Adventures International Magazine
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Lovely Attractions at Brandywine, PA
By Bonnie Neely
Photos by Bill Neely
The name "Brandywine" conjures up fanciful and romantic images, and tourists are not disappointed by the beautiful reality of a stay in the surrounding area, which is just a few minutes from Wilmington, DE, and about an hour from Philadelphia...well worth a week-end away from either city. At any time of year you'll find wonderful places to visit, enjoy, and learn.
Our favorite was the exquisite Longwood Gardens, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2006. Construction of a new Eastend Children's Garden has been underway for months in preparation for the grand celebration. From 1700 - 1905 Samuel and Joshua Pierce collected and planted trees of many species and varieties on their land. In 1850 it became Pierce's Park, but 1906 Pierre du Pont, chairman of DuPont and General Motors Companies, bought the property for $15,500 to prevent the trees from being cut for timber. He preserved the magnificent trees and named the area Pierce's Woods. Mr. du Pont orderred "no tree dead or alive is to be trimmed or removed without the owner's permission." He believed emphatically, "Time or money will rectify most other mistakes, but trees are irreplaceable!"
An avid flower lover, Mr du Pont, encouraged by his wife Alice who also was a horticulture enthusiast, over the years designed and planted over a thousand acres of flower gardens, which now augment and sometimes overshadow the appreciation of the exquisite arboretum. And his Will left the Gardens for the "sole use of the public for purposes of exhibition, instruction, education and enjoyment." Today Longwood Gardens, Inc. is a private not-for-profit organization. Click here for more information.
All the flowering plants are grown from seeds in the greenhouse and Conservatory, where you'll find exquisite orchids, hanging baskets, bonsai, and other magnificent formal plantings which change seasonally.
To emphasize the restfulness and natural beauty of the plantings many formal fountains are throughout Longwood. The Italian Water Gardens were opened for the first water show in 1931 and displayed fountains rhythmically shooting 10,000 gallons of water a minute. Now the Summer Festival of Fountains continues, with the gardens open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings for the lighted displays.
We were there in the spring, when the April bulb festival yields incredible color. But the magnificent landscaping is planned for breath-taking beauty any time of year, and Christmas is one of the favorite times, when hundreds of decorated trees delight guests. From April till late October the outdoor gardens are open 9 am - 6 pm and the Conservatory indoor beauty is 10 am - 6 pm. From late October through March the hours are shortened by one hour earlier closing. However, the Christmas display remains open outdoors from 9 am - 9 pm and in the Conservatory 10 am - 9 pm. Visitors are welcome 365 days a year!
Located on US Route 1 about 3 miles NE of Kennett Square, PA, Longwood offers guided tours for groups by prearrangement (1-610-388-1000, Ext. 512). Educational programs are numerous. Professional Gardener Training program and the Longwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture Administration attract serious gardening students of any age past high school, from all over the country, for in-depth training, sixteen of whom have scholarships which include living quarters. Students gain hands-on learning experience while helping maintain the gardens and share their knowledge as tour docents.
Another place you must visit while in Brandywine area is Winterthur, an elegant 175 mansion which was the home of another du Pont, Henry Francis, the cousin of Pierre. Although it was built in the early 20th century, the home is reminiscent of the 18th and 19th European grand country houses. The great estate, once a thriving and self-supporting farming community, is also beautifully landscaped with horticultural designs in bloom and in the Enchanted Woods. Guests can enjoy it with a Garden Tram tour, and there are special, magical places just for children. 
The home is furnished in period antiques with rare and one-of-a-kind works of great early American and European craftsmen. The entire collection of furnishings contains over 85,000 pieces with 60 sets of china, original Paul Revere silver tankards.
The University of Deleware graduate program in Conservation and American Collections provides docents for the tours, which are fascinating. The mansion, located on Rt. 52 six miles NW of Wilmington, DE I-95, is open Tuesdays - Sundays from 10 am - 5 pm, with the last tour starting promptly at 3:45 pm. For more information Click Here or call 1-800-448-3883.
While in this Brandywine Valley you must also visit the Brandywine River Museum on Rt. 1 in Chadds Ford, PA, just south of the PA Rt. 100. The art museum is best known for its painting collections by the Wyeth family, including those of Andrew Wyeth and his father N.C. Wyeth, an illustrator of many children's books including Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Dark Feather, A Boy's King Arthur, and many more. Chads Ford, which is picturesquely situated on the banks of the Brandywine River, was the location of the famous early 20th century Howard Pyle's School for Illustrators. Artists here were commissioned by Charles Scribner to illustrate over 1,000 books and magazines. The museum features a wonderful collection of these early American illustrations.
The Brandywine River Museum was a Civil War era grist mill which has been converted to this modern art museum which maintains its rustic historical look in a most fascinating architectural style. Opened in 1971 also features flower gardens and now a tour of the farm which Andrew Wyeth painted so frequently. For the nnominal fee of $6 adults, $3 seniors, you will enjoy a half day of education in American art.
Each of these featured special places has an excellent luncheon restaurant and enticing gift shop. Be sure to visit also the Simon Pearce Glass Blowing Shops and Restaurant featured in our Arts & Crafts section to plan an wonderful evening there.
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