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

  • Large, shrub covered in light purple flowers

    Gable Hybrid Azalea

    Rhododendron ′Purple Splendor′
  • Small, white, bell-shaped flowers hang down below small, green leaves

    White Enkianthus

    Enkianthus perulatus ′J. L. Pennock′

    A large shrub, reaching seven to ten feet in time, Enkianthus provides multiple points of interest. The overall habit consists of finely branched tiers providing a soft horizontal element to the landscape. Spring flowering, each branch carries a myriad pendant white flowers typical of an ericaceous plant. In autumn, the foliage is quick to change from a medium green to vibrant red and shades of purple. E. perulatus performs best in acidic soils with full sun to part shade, and is hardy to from zones 5 to 7. Also a great choice for its pest and disease resistance.

  • Small tree covered in tiny bring pink buds

    Eastern Redbud

    Cercis canadensis ′Appalachian Red′
  • Dwarf Fothergilla

    Fothergilla gardenii

    Mature at about three feet tall, this native shrub is deer resistant and has fragrant white, bottlebrush blooms in the early spring.  Dwarf fothergilla is relatively low maintenance and is hardy in zones 5 to 8.  It prefers full sun to light shade and moist, well-draining soil.  The shrub has beautiful fall foliage in shades ranging from yellow to dark red and is a good companion to dwarf conifers, rhododendrons and azaleas.

  • Large, yellow flowers opening up along stems

    Magnolia

    Magnolia 'Judy Zuk'
  • Tiny, yellow flowers with cupped petals and big, green leaves

    Upright-wild-ginger

    Saruma henryi