Meadow & Forest District

When visiting the Meadow and Forest District, it’s not uncommon to get lost—in the moment, that is. While immersed in this expansive landscape, all of your senses will come alive, from the rhythmic sounds of the resident insects to the fleeting flash of a swooping bird. Wander miles of trails that traverse sunny fields and shaded forest alike, taking in carefully choreographed grand vistas of managed ecosystems, home to hundreds of flora and fauna that play a vital role in the overall health of our gardens and beyond.

About This District

The Meadow and Forest District is a large-scale landscape shaped over time and reflecting thousands of years of human cultivation. From the eastern deciduous woodlands where the indigenous Lenni-Lenape lived, hunted, and planted crops, to the European-style livestock pastures of the 18th and 19th centuries, to the principles of garden design and science-based land management that guide us today, this land takes guests not only on a journey through diverse habitats, but also time.

Gardens in this District

Forest Walk

Forest Walk

Wander paths in a realm of scenic, intimate woodland beauty, shaded by soaring tulip-trees and the canopy of other deciduous hardwoods. Don’t miss two of our famed treehouses for a squirrel’s eye view into sylvan serenity.
Meadow Garden

Meadow Garden

Enjoy expansive vistas, sweeps of stunning native plants, and a tapestry of texture as you wander miles of trails past carefully managed wetlands, ponds, open fields, and the forest’s edge, set to the hum of busy insects and rustling plants.

Explore Our Natural Lands

Approximately 65 percent of our 1,100-acre property consists of natural lands—meadows, forest, wetlands, and agricultural fields—that provide an oasis for migratory birds and native wildlife while creating a buffer between the Gardens and neighboring properties. The Meadow and Forest District represents 120 acres of these managed lands that are open to our guests for exploration, learning, meditation, and beauty. Our legacy of conservation, preservation, and restoration continues here in the richly biodiverse habitats that can only thrive where they are given the proper care and space. We continue to shape this land with the same spirit of beauty, innovation, and stewardship that has led a century of progress at Longwood.

In the Meadow and Forest District, we harmonize the best practices in ecological restoration with garden design—allowing us to showcase horticultural excellence and amplify beauty for our guests while prioritizing plant and animal communities. By following this approach, we preserve and improve the quality of the entirety of Longwood’s ecosystems, and biodiversity, from water to soil to air—while celebrating the human connections along the way.

District Highlights

Two small children run down a dirt path through a field of green and yellow plants at sunset

A small stone house with red shutters sits beside a tall tree behind an area of meadow plants under a blue sky

The Webb Farmhouse provides a space to warm up on a winter hike. Stop by to learn about the history and ecosystem of the Meadow Garden.

A small blue bird sits atop a wooden bird house in the middle of a light gold meadow bed of plants

A set of stairs leads up to a tall wooden and metal tree house sitting among green trees

A long bridge over a body of water leads into the distance with a wooden arching side railing

A long tin blue insect hovers mid-air next to a brown prickly plant

During the summer months, the common blue damselfly is one of the many beneficial insects that call the Meadow home.

A wooden path leads to a large treehouse surrounded by tall green trees

What’s in Bloom

Late Boneset

Eupatorium serotinum
- Meadow Garden
Aromatic Aster

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ′October Skies′

Asters, Latin for stars, bring the growing season to a close in spectacular fashion. These native perennials come in a dazzling variety of shapes and colors, and are one of the last major food sources for bees and other pollinators before the advent of winter.
Goldenrod

Solidago sphacelata ′Golden Fleece′

Goldenrod has been called by some the single most important plant for North American pollinator biodiversity. It is considered a keystone species and is the host plant for approximately 104 species of butterflies and moths. Many bees are goldenrod specialists, meaning that about 42 species of bees will visit only goldenrod for a food source. Although abundantly important in its native range, it is considered an invasive species in introduced areas due to its ability to rapidly spread and thrive in a variety of conditions.
Tall Tickseed

Coreopsis tripteris

Coreopsis tripteris is an upright perennial with strongly branched stems and grows from rhizomes. It grows naturally in sandy loamy soils, boggy meadows, woodland edges, fields, and along streams. It prefers full sun to part shade with moist to average well-drained soil. It has nice lemon yellow flowers, and the fact that it is long lived and easy to grow make it an exceptional plant. Tall tickseed can be found growing natively in the southeastern and western portions of Pennsylvania.
- Idea Garden
- Meadow Garden