There are several different parks in Philadelphia ranging in size.
If you are interested in a more thorough listing of parks, gardens,
and
arboreta in Pennsylvania (or in any state for that matter) try the huge
GardenNet Page.
The following information was collected in the
Philadelphia Gardens Link.
Cliveden's six-acre grounds include 18th and 19th century demonstration gardens, a 20th century garden maintained by "The Weeder's" Garden Club, and the landscaped park which surrounds the house.
Type of Garden: Public Garden
Established: 1985
Average time to walk through: 10 minutes
Hours: Daily, 10:00am to 4:00pm except Monday
Closed: Thanksgiving Day, December 25 January 1, Mondays, and major holidays (Easter, July 4th etc.)
Best season: Spring, Summer,
Gardens: Historic building: Cliveden, Inc. c. 1763-1767, scene of battle of GermanTown, residence until 1972,
Wheelchair access: Partial
(1167 - 3/8/95)
This is an 18th century garden specializing in the American native plants that were discovered and propagated by John and William Bartram, this country's first naturalists and botanists. The garden includes the Bartram House and outbuildings and a 15-acre wildflower meadow overlooking the Schuylkill River.
Type of Garden: Public Garden
Established: 1728
Size: 45 acres
Average time to walk through: 30 minutes
Hours: Daily, Dawn to dusk (grounds only)
Closed:
Best season:
Gardens: Herb, 18th century period flower garden, Historic building: 18th century stone Bartram House, a National Historic Landmark, Special collections: American native plants
Wheelchair access: Partial
(1184 - 2/15/95)
Internet address: http://www.libertynet.org/~jhg
17th century "Momoyama" style garden, designed by Sano Tansai, surrounding the Pine Breeze Villa, a re-creation of a Shoin-style dwelling of the 16th/17th century. The garden features Japanese and native plants, a pond and waterfall, Shakkei (borrowed view) and roji (ten ceremony garden) sections, a formal and informal walkways.
Type of Garden: Public Garden
Established: 1958
Size: 1.7 acres
Average time to walk through: 15 minutes
Hours: Daily, 11:00am to 4:00pm
Closed: Thanksgiving Day, December 25 January 1, Nov 1 - May 1, and Monday's
Best season: Spring, Fall,
Gardens: Japanese, Pond featuring Koi carp; "borrowed views", Historic building: 17th century Shoin style mansion, Special landscaping: Tea ceremony garden (roji),
Wheelchair access: No
(1171 - 3/22/95)
Email address: baldwin@ben.dev.upenn.edu
This is the official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It contains a 92-acre romantic Victorian garden with special areas: parterre rose garden, Japanese garden, swan pond and a newly restored Fernery - the only freestanding estate glass house in the US devoted to ferns. This small jewel contains a waterfall, ponds, an overlook, even a rustic bridge.
Type of Garden: Arboretum
Established: 1898
Size: 92 (another 74 acres for research) acres
Average time to walk through: 60-90 minutes
Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 am to 4pm. Weekends 9 am to 5pm, April through October
Closed: Thanksgiving Day, December 25 January 1, The week between Christmas and New Year's Day.
Best season: All seasons
Gardens: Rose, Rock, Japanese, English cottage, Conservatory, Victorian garden, Victorian Fernery in unique glass building for ferns, Special landscaping: Parking lot is one of our exhibits - designed to be ecologically sound., Special collections: Extensive oriental collection, both from the time of the founders and from recent plant exploration expeditions. Other features: A Victorian garden experience
Wheelchair access: Complete
(1164 - 1/21/95)
Type of Garden: Public Garden
Established: 1976
Hours: Daily, Dawn to dusk
Closed:
Best season: All seasons
Gardens: Herb, Special collections: Physic garden
Wheelchair access: No
(1180 - 3/22/95)