54th St. and Lindbergh Blvd., 215/729-5281,
www.bartramsgarden.org [1]
HOURS: Garden: daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Museum Shop and House
Tours: daily except Mon. noon–4 p.m. Mar.–mid-Dec.
COST: Gardens free, tours of house and gardens $5 adult,
$4 senior and student, free child under 12
Bartram’s Garden, the nation’s earliest botanical garden, is alive and well in southwest Philadelphia [2]. Founded in 1728 by John Bartram, a devout Quaker, the gardens and the adjacent Bartram family home are both National Historic Landmarks.
The 44-acre area straddling the Schuylkill River features native plants and flower gardens, ancient trees, a water garden and a river trail. The oldest gingko tree in the country and the Franklinia alatamaha, a tree named for John Bartram’s friend Benjamin Franklin, are just two of the notable flora found here.
Explore Bartram’s Garden for free on your own or pay for a 45-minute guided tour of the home and garden. History, science, and nature programs are also often offered.
The Schuylkill Banks River Tours [3] offer scenic guided boat tours from the Schuylkill River Bike Path to Bartram’s Garden.
Links:
[1] http://www.bartramsgarden.org
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/philadelphia/discover-philadelphia
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/philadelphia/arts-and-leisure/recreation/other-recreation/water-activities/schuylkill-banks-river-tours