New children’s garden at Longwood

A gigantic drooling dragon, a spitting fish, a shooting jet that rings a bell, a pond with rising steam, and a cave with dripping walls are just a few of the 30 unique and amazing water wonders awaiting young visitors at Longwood Gardens’ new Indoor Children’s Garden.

Opening October 27th, this new horticultural wonderland will offer spectacular water features, kid-friendly plants and an imaginative group of garden residents at Pennsylvania’s major garden attraction. The new 3,700 square-foot Indoor Children’s Garden is three times larger than Longwood’s previous indoor children’s garden.

“Longwood’s new Children’s Garden will offer young visitors fun and adventure at every turn with its innovative design and creative use of flora and fauna,” said Paul Redman, Longwood Gardens Director. “The water features and artistic elements combine to create a world of horticultural wonder. The garden will spark the imaginations of both young and old.”

One-of-a-kind, handcrafted artisan elements hold court throughout the garden. Meet the Drooling Dragon, Spitting Fish, the Salamander, Ibis, Pelican, Turtle and Hummingbird while seven distinct yet integrated experiences will engage the mind and body through touch, smell, sight and sound:

The Central Cove features a tree-covered seating area, a central pool with flower-shaped water jets and jewel-like mosaics, and three spitting animal sculptures shooting streams of water from overhead into the pool. Children will move from the Central Cove into the Rain Pavilion, which features water curtains on two sides. Look up and you will see the glass ceiling allowing a view of water running overhead.

The Secret Room is home to the Drooling Dragon and a balcony that overlooks the Central Cove.

The Square Maze, with the Obelisk Tower in the centre, is made up of moss and slate covered walls topped with seasonal displays in containers. The Square Maze of plants is accented by story tiles and shooting jets of water.

The Ramp, accented by an ever-changing Water Curtain and animated by the leaping water “glow worm,” leads children to the Tower overlooking the Bamboo Maze.

The Grotto Cave and Tunnel, underneath the Tower, contains a shallow fog-covered pool activated by water dripping from sculpted snakes coiled overhead.

The Bamboo Maze offers a jungle of tree-size bamboos for children to explore. The Maze contains five visitor-activated water features accented with ornate bird sculptures.

The garden will be handicap accessible. A surrounding walkway allows “grown” children to enjoy the garden as well as keep an eye on the action. Timed entrance to the Children’s Garden may be provided during peak times.

For more information on the Children’s Garden, visit Longwoodgardens.org.