Chimes Tower District

Aerial view of large grassy area with a small pond and stone tower surrounded by a forest

About This District

Originally designed as an arresting backdrop for the Main Fountain Garden, the Chimes Tower District is now a series of standout gardens and water features that warrant more than just a passing glance. The Hillside Garden features an enviable roster of rare and unique plants, thriving harmoniously throughout the sun-dappled slopes. At the crest of the hill, Oak and Conifer Knoll boasts an array of celebrated tree specimens, with some planted during founder Pierre S. du Pont’s time. The Eye of Water, Pear-Shaped Basin, and Waterfall—all originally part of the gravity-fed pump and reservoir system that once serviced the Main Fountain Garden—are three unique, and interconnected destinations for your exploration.

Gardens in this District

  • Hillside Garden
    a walkway lined with green trees and shrubs

    Hillside Garden

    Dappled sun flirts with open vistas and shady, intimate perspectives as you wander the paths past beds brimming with a who’s who of rare and unique plants from around the world, set to the occasional tones of the historic Chimes Tower.

  • Oak and Conifer Knoll
    A path winds through a walkway of green trees and bushes

    Oak and Conifer Knoll

    Towering, century-old trees and sun-dappled vistas await in this living gallery of champion specimens with four seasons of stunning highlights. In the early spring, sweeps of colorful geophytes bloom to create a stunning tapestry.

What’s in Bloom

  • Grass with spikelet flowers

    Yellow Prairie Grass

    Sorghastrum nutans
  • Purple flowers against a green background

    Aromatic Aster

    Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ′October Skies′

    Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’ is a compact, aromatic aster cultivar prized for its vibrant fall display. Forming neat mounds about 18–24 inches tall and wide, it features narrow, blue-green leaves with a pleasant fragrance when crushed. From September through October, it bursts into bloom with masses of daisy-like flowers in soft sky-blue to violet-blue, each with a bright yellow center. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, tolerating drought and poor conditions, and adds reliable color to autumn gardens. These native perennials come in a variety of sizes and colors, and are one of the last major food sources for bees and other pollinators before the advent of winter. On a side note, asters, means stars in Latin, referring to the spectacular display of blooms at the end of summer!  

  • Yellow flower inflorescences of the Aster family

    Sunflower

    Helianthus 'Lemon Queen'