Itinerary
Historic Landscapes of Chester County
Chester County outside of Philadelphia is known as the home of wonderful gardens and the landscapes that inspired artists like Andrew Wyeth, but what insiders also know is that these landscapes and gardens are all part of a history dating back to William Penn. In Chester County today are both the landscapes that drew early settlers to the region and served as backdrops to the Revolutionary War and the beautiful gardens that have grown from the seeds sown by those early settlers.
It is this intertwining of history and horticultural excellence that make for a unique tour experience. On the Historic Landscapes of Chester County Tour, plant lovers will delight in discovering nature amidst our nation’s history:
- The herb garden that replicates what 18th century physicians needed to practice their craft located in the ruins of the military hospital commissioned by George Washington during the Revolutionary War
- An arboretum with both a Revolutionary War cabin and a spectacular azalea collection
- A 1750 fur trapper’s home that became a country estate and is now a public garden
- A 1730 two-story brick farmhouse in the midst of the nation’s premier display garden
- A working 18th century grist mill complete with mill pond and stream
- A collection of native plants along the Brandywine River and across from the Brandywine Battlefield of the Revolutionary War
Historic Landscapes of Chester County can be enjoyed either as a self-guided tour or as a group tour that goes beyond the basic itinerary to include experts who bring to life the events that bind the landscapes to their history. Here are some of the sites on the tour:
- Jenkins Arboretum located in a rare remnant of a once continuous hardwood forest with impressive azalea and woodland plant collections
- Valley Forge National Historic Park, the best known of Chester County’s historic landscapes
- Hopewell Furnace, colonial iron plantation that cast cannons and produced shot during the Revolutionary War
- Welkinweir, a 197-acre estate on the National Register of Historic Places
- Binky Lee Preserve, one of the state’s most beautiful natural landscapes
- The Mill at Anselma, a National Historic Landmark and a working gristmill
- Historic Yellow Springs whose history spans 300 years from fashionable 18th century spa to Revolutionary War military hospital to a home for the orphaned children of Civil War soldiers
- Longwood Gardens, named by the Travel Channel as one of the 10 best public gardens in North America and featuring conservatories housing four acres of exotic plants under glass
- Brandywine River Museum, the 19th century grist mill that is home to a spectacular native plant collection and one of the finest collections of the art of Andrew Wyeth, N. C. Wyeth, and Jamie Wyeth
© Plant Lovers’ Itineraries™, 2006
About Plant Lovers’ Itineraries™
Plant Lovers’ Itineraries provides tours designed to combine that special mixture of enjoyment and information that appeals to serious gardeners and plant lovers.
Every tour explores a theme with sites carefully selected to offer a variety of experiences. Included with the tour is a multi-institution admission ticket and a printed itinerary that provides directions and maps, interesting information about the site, its history, important plants at garden sites and their peak bloom times, a description of the garden’s design and evolution, and other places of interest on the tour route. An added bonus for plant lovers on the group tours is the chance to hear the behind-the-scenes stories and to ask questions about growing conditions, plant varieties, and what works best in the home garden. Plant Lovers’ Itineraries group tours can be as short as one day or as long as five and customized to address the interests of the group.
For detailed information about the tour, options and costs, contact Plant Lovers’ Itineraries at slee.associates@comcast.net or call Sharon Lee at 610-543-1024.