Gardens

Adkins Arboretum, 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely, (410) 634-2847, adkinsarboretum.org. Located on the Eastern shore, this 400-acre preserve holds a massive collection of plants native to Maryland. Walk miles of paths lined with local flowers and shrubs, and go bird/butterfly watching should you grow bored of all the greenery. Plus, they’ve got a ton of programs for kids and adults alike, so you can hang out with other nature-minded folks.

Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, (301) 962-1400, montgomeryparks.org/brookside. Tucked within Wheaton Regional Park, this 50-acre garden holds a wide array of displays for your enjoyment. Check out their aquatic garden, explore their woodland walk, or see what’s the smell at their fragrance garden. And after all the time outdoors, you can nerd-out at their horticultural reference library.

Chanticleer, 786 Church Road, Wayne, Pa., (610) 687-4163, chanticleergarden.org. With 35 acres open to the public, Chanticleer Garden offers guests the opportunity to saunter through an orchard, wooded paths, and overwhelming-yet-carefully-crafted landscapes.

Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Ave., (410) 367-2217, cylburnassociation.org. This is located right here in the city, so if you need a little nature in your life, you don’t have to go too far. Their many gardens provide a vast array of sensory experiences, from their manicured rose garden to their assortment of wildflowers.

Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 3100 Swann Drive in Druid Hill Park, (410) 396-0008, baltimoreconservatory.org. Boasting a broad spectrum of plant life, the Conservatory provides the chance to check out blooms from all over the world. They also have classes to educate the public, like one on succulents gardens, and free guided tours.

Dumbarton Oaks, 1703 32nd St. N.W., Washington, D.C., (202) 339-6401, doaks.org. Surrounding a research library, the grounds were designed in the early ’20s by landscape gardener Beatrix Ferrand, who worked closely with the owners to plot out every detail. Herbaceous borders blossom in soft hues, while the Lilac Circle flaunts brightly-colored spring bulbs, annuals, and perennials.

Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, (410) 557-9466, ladewgardens.com. Created by a wealthy artist/fox hunter (who palled around with the likes of Charlie Chaplin and T.E. Lawrence aka Lawrence of Arabia), Ladew Gardens features topiaries that reflect the off-kilter tastes of its designer. In addition to the topiaries, there are other varieties of gardens, including a “cutting garden,” where flowers are grown exclusively for the manor’s personal floral arrangements. Fancy.

Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, Pa., (610) 388-1000, longwoodgardens.org. With over 1000 acres of space, Longwood Gardens has multiple conservatories, sprawling outdoor gardens, and a whole lotta fountains. Yeah, it’s kind of a trek, but considering all the beauty they crammed into an enormous piece of property, you could really make a day of it.