Winterthur
Museum and Country Estate
Winterthur, Delaware
June 2011
This 1,000 acre estate is the
former home of Henry Francis du Pont. It officially opened to the
public in 1951. The site is a naturalistic garden with a few
features surrounded by rolling hills and
forests.
The paths through the woods are beautiful and well-maintained and a
joy to walk, though it is a very hilly site. There is a
thirty-minute, narrated tram ride that will take you around.
One of the spectacular garden features is the Sundial Garden. A
beautifully elaborate sundial is surrounded by beds of flowering
shrubs, set in a grassy meadow surrounded by forest. It is a really
idyllic scene.
Another great feature is the Enchanted Woods, a children’s garden
set in the woods.
These and other features are like presents that open before you as
you wander through the woods. Depending on the season, highlights
would include Azalea Woods, the Quarry Garden, the Winter Hazel
Garden or the Reflecting Pool. There are also two museums, a gift
shop, a restaurant, picnic areas and a well-stocked library. This
would be a wonderful garden to spend a full day exploring.
Click here to see more photos of Winterthur.
To visit the official Winterthur website, click here.