These simple interactive touches, mixed with some hands-on group events, draw all ages to Longwood. Children's maps highlight places to see butterflies and birds and turtles, while special programs such as Story Time and Garden Adventure bring children together to sing, play, and plant with garden staffers. A Family Ice Cream Series draws youth performances to the gardens, and garden exploration tours teach youngsters about the beauty of Longwood.

Mary Luca, in between chasing her little ones through the Children's Garden, sums up the appeal. "I've been coming here since I was a child," she says. "They give you a different reason to visit all the time."

above: Paths wind through dozens of out-of-the-way spots, such as the Wisteria Garden, with its violet blooms.