Lakes District

The Italian Water Garden fountains have been turned off for the season. Fountains will return April 2026, weather permitting.
Aerial view of green areas with a small lake to the left and a larger lake to the right

The Lakes District, with its postcard-perfect scenery, is known to spark a distinct state of serenity. Open vistas, rolling green lawns, sparkling water, and splashing fountains recall a Victorian holiday from days gone by, reminding us of the joy of fresh air, a nice walk, and an exquisite view.

About This District

This area, which includes the Italian Water Garden and the Large and Small Lakes, reflects two of our founder Pierre S. du Pont’s passions: the beauty of water, and his delight in providing spaces for public enjoyment. Soon after he purchased the property in 1906 he began restorations to this area. The Large and Small Lakes provide open, spacious views, which serve as a welcome moment of decompression after leaving the more intimate pathways of Peirce’s Woods and Peirce’s Park. In 1925 Pierre embarked upon the construction of the Italian Water Garden, which added contrasting elements of formal design to the more naturalistic setting of the surrounding landscapes. In 2008, we added a new surprise for guests to enjoy–the Canopy Cathedral Treehouse.

Gardens in this District

  • Italian Water Garden
    A long rectangular water garden of five pools and multiple fountains extends out in a large area surrounded by green trees under a blue sky

    Italian Water Garden

    Enclosed by pristine allées of littleleaf lindens and mature evergreens, this formal space, with its symmetrical blue-tiled pools and splashing fountains, offers the allure of a secret garden.

  • Large & Small Lake
    A small stone decorative structure is seen across a large lake surrounded by green trees

    Large & Small Lake

    Take in the expansive views of rolling green lawns, midnight-blue water, and trees that reach for the sky. Nearby Cathedral Canopy Treehouse offers a chance for inspired exploration and new-found vistas.

District Highlights

A stone decorative gazebo stands tall under green trees
A wooden two-story treehouse sits among a large area of trees with green and orange leaves
Four rectangular pools of water with fountains in the middle surrounded a small circular fountain with green grass surrounding them all
Two people look out a large wooden with a wood lattice out at an area of green grass and trees
A row of green trees is reflected below in a large calm lake
A stone decorative structure stands on the edge of a large lake with dormant winter trees surrounding
Small water fountains arch over a larger pool of water in the ground surrounded by green grass

What’s in Bloom

  • A graceful, pyramidal tree with lacy, dark green needles that have two pale bands on the underside, and small, pendant cones that hang from twig tips.

    Canada Hemlock

    Tsuga canadensis

    Tsuga canadensis, the Eastern (or Canadian) hemlock remains a cornerstone of the landscape at Longwood. Many of the massive hemlocks shading the Hillside Garden and Chimes Tower District date back to the days when founder Pierre S. du Pont planted them, creating a mature canopy that still shapes the character of the garden today. As a native evergreen of eastern North America and the Pennsylvania state tree, Eastern Hemlock is valued for its shade-tolerant, long-lived growth and its ability to support forest wildlife, provide cool, moist habitat, and create structural diversity in landscapes. Today, however, hemlocks face grave threats: the invasive sap-sucking insect Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) helped by warmer winters due to climate change has devastated hemlock populations across eastern Pennsylvania and beyond. Preserving the hemlocks at Longwood is not just about history or beauty, it’s about protecting a living legacy Its presence at Longwood Gardens thus reflects both horticultural heritage and ecological importance, helping preserve a species that once dominated eastern woodlands.

From Our Blog

See more on our blog
Bent into Shape

Bent into Shape

By Derek Miller, on July 3, 2019
A Longwood Gardens Trail Guide
walking trail path of the Forest Walk at Longwood Gardens with sun rays shining through the tall trees

A Longwood Gardens Trail Guide

By Katie Mobley, on October 5, 2018
A Flourish of Fountains

A Flourish of Fountains

By Lynn Schuessler, on June 9, 2017
Fountain Technology in the Jazz Age

Fountain Technology in the Jazz Age

By Colvin Randall, on December 9, 2015