A Garden-Lover's Guide to Lancaster County, PA

When the weather warms and everything starts to bloom, Lancaster County becomes a dream destination for anyone who loves gardens. If you’re staying at B.F. Hiestand House Bed & Breakfast in Marietta, along the Susquehanna River, you’re perfectly positioned to explore some of the most beautiful and unique gardens in Pennsylvania. From sprawling botanical wonders to serene wildflower preserves, this area offers a little something for every kind of nature lover.

Let’s dig into some of the can’t-miss gardens that make this region such a joy to explore.

Hershey Gardens | Hershey, PA
Perched on a hilltop with sweeping views of the town of Hershey, Hershey Gardens is a 23-acre botanical sanctuary with a romantic origin story. What began as a rose garden dream for Milton and Catherine Hershey has bloomed into a vibrant destination.

The Historic Rose Garden steals the show with over 3,000 rose bushes, spanning 115 varieties—from elegant climbers to old-fashioned blooms in lush reds, pinks, and creamy whites. Paths wind through the roses, creating a dreamy, perfumed atmosphere perfect for a leisurely stroll.

But there’s more to explore: 12 additional themed gardens offer seasonal beauty, including the constantly changing Seasonal Display Garden. In spring, it overflows with daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths that dance in the breeze. Inside the grand Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory, temperatures hover around 80 degrees, creating a tropical haven filled with vibrant foliage, a calming water feature, and one of only 25 indoor butterfly atriums in the United States. Watching butterflies flutter among the blooms adds a magical element to your visit.

Longwood Gardens | Kennett Square, PA
Just a 45-minute drive through the rolling hills and serene farmlands of Amish country will bring you to Longwood Gardens, a world-renowned horticultural display in Kennett Square. More than 1,000 acres await, featuring formal gardens, serene woodlands, vibrant meadows, and a massive conservatory.

In the spring, the Flower Garden Walk erupts with over 100,000 tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths in soft pinks, rich purples, and golden yellows. Every step offers a new color palette and an intoxicating fragrance. The Idea Garden brims with clever planting techniques and 60,000 additional blooms designed to spark your inner gardener.

Inside the elegant Conservatory, nearly five acres of climate-controlled glasshouse transport you to lush, tropical environments. Here you’ll discover 4,600 plant varieties, from fragrant freesia to vibrant azaleas, all set against the backdrop of sculpted fountains and grand glass architecture. Visiting during the Festival of Fountains, which begins on Mother’s Day weekend, adds an extra layer of spectacle, with water displays choreographed to music in Longwood’s famed Main Fountain Garden.

Conestoga House and Gardens | Lancaster, PA
Tucked away in Lancaster city, Conestoga House and Gardens is a peaceful retreat that beautifully blends history with horticulture. Once a Colonial-era tavern and later a private estate, the mansion is surrounded by 7.8 meticulously maintained acres that open to the public from May through October.

Over 3,300 annuals bloom in cheerful arrangements, while 400 tropical plants and 160 varieties of perennials add texture, height, and drama to the garden beds. Topiary animals, bonsai collections, and herb displays with edible cultivars create an engaging and whimsical experience. A rose garden anchors the space with old-world charm, and terraced lawns provide breathtaking views of carefully sculpted landscapes.

The experience becomes even more special during their monthly Music on the Lawn events. Bring a picnic or pre-order a charcuterie board and settle in under the stars while live jazz, soul, or folk music plays. It’s a serene setting that invites both quiet reflection and joyful celebration of nature’s beauty.

Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve | Conestoga, PA
A little off the beaten path but well worth the detour, Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve is a 90-acre gem managed by the Lancaster Conservancy in the river hills of southern Lancaster County. The preserve is world-famous for its spring ephemeral wildflowers—plants that bloom in early spring and complete their life cycle before the forest canopy fills in.

From March through May, the forest floor becomes a patchwork quilt of delicate color: pink spring beauties, purple woodland phlox, blue Virginia waterleaf, and white trilliums cover the ground in a stunning natural mosaic. The 1.5-mile out-and-back trail winds gently through the preserve, offering peaceful immersion in the sights and sounds of spring. It’s a place where you can feel the season’s energy rising from the earth itself.

Bird enthusiasts will appreciate the avian activity, too. Owls, hawks, woodpeckers—including the striking pileated woodpecker—and colorful songbirds make their home here. The ravine carved by Grubb Run provides the perfect acoustic backdrop for birdsong, rushing water, and the crunch of leaves beneath your feet.

The Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum | Lancaster, PA
For a quieter, contemplative experience, the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum, located on the grounds of LancasterHistory, offers 11 acres of thoughtfully curated trees and shrubs. It’s a sanctuary for those who appreciate the quiet majesty of a towering oak or the elegance of a rare conifer.

Named for its founder, the arboretum hosts more than 140 species, including two Pennsylvania Champion Trees—a rare Black Maple and a Himalayan Pine. Self-guided tours take visitors through Native Plant Pollinator Gardens, a Dwarf Conifer Garden, and well-labeled paths that make learning feel effortless.

Though it’s located within city limits, the arboretum feels like a woodland escape. Events throughout the year, such as the Nature Series and the early autumn Wine & Cheese and A Walk in the Trees, offer opportunities to learn more about local flora, sustainable gardening practices, and native wildlife.

From world-famous displays to hidden natural preserves, the gardens near B.F. Hiestand House offer a stunning variety of ways to enjoy Lancaster County in bloom. Spend your days among roses, fountains, butterflies, and wildflowers—then come back to relax and reflect on it all. These are more than just gardens; they’re unforgettable experiences rooted in beauty, history, and a deep love of nature.