The best reason of all to explore Longwood now is to see spring in bloom inside the Conservatory. In fact, one of the neatest things about visiting as a home gardener is that you still have time to re-create many of the looks you see inside the Conservatory in your own garden this spring. Their displays inside are six or so weeks ahead of what you could do outside.

Longwood Gardens: 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348; www.longwoodgardens.org or (610) 388-1000.

above: The Exhibition Hall connects the Main Conservatory to the newly renovated East Conservatory. The floor is flooded with a thin layer of water to look like a sheet of glass.