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Delaware Botanic Gardens reopens for season March 16

More spring bulbs planted, Folly Garden spruced up with new brick fireplace
The Delaware Botanic Gardens is set to reopen for the season Thursday, March 16. Purple, yellow and white crocuses add some early spring color to the Piet Oudolf Meadow Garden. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
March 6, 2023

Story Location:
Delaware Botanic Gardens
30220 Piney Neck Road
Dagsboro, DE 19939
United States

Just in time for the early spring blooms, Delaware Botanic Gardens will reopen for the season Thursday, March 16.

Opened to the public in 2019, the 37-acre gardens are located off Piney Neck Road outside Dagsboro.

The most notable difference in the garden this year will be in the Folly Garden. A new brick fireplace was built, the foundation of the old farmhouse was raised about 12 inches to accentuate the elevated beds, and a host of new succulents were planted.

Nearly 90,000 spring bulbs were planted, which means the gardens now have 200,000 spring bulbs.

In addition to the work completed, staff and board members have been busy at work preparing for the future – a request for proposals is out to build a pavilion next to the welcome center, and work has begun on a new Gateway garden.

Hours of operation for the Delaware Botanic Gardens, 30220 Piney Neck Road, are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, with guided tours available all four days at 10 a.m. only. For more information, including general admission and membership costs, go to delawaregardens.org, email Executive Director Sheryl Swed at sherylswed@delawaregardens.org or call 302-321-9061.

 

Among the most noticeable changes to the gardens this year is in the Folly Garden, where the fireplace was added, the trail outline was better defined and more succulents were added.
Made from things found on the grounds, this turtle was constructed by staff.
A few white crocuses begin to shoot out of the ground.
It will take years to really come to fruition, but 1,500 native saplings were planted on the berm along the road to create a natural barrier.
The buds on this piedmont azalea are getting ready to bloom.
Bordering the Folly Garden and getting ready to bloom are a bunch of hellebores.
It may not be as big as Aragog in Harry Potter, but this spider at one of the learning centers is pretty close.
The trail running along the southern portion of the gardens is closed for a shoreline restoration project, which has been temporarily put on hold while the gardens’ resident bald eagles nest above.
There’s always something new to see, including this giant snail.
When he’s not helping create larger-than-life wood structures, staff member Sam Cashdollar is also getting the trails ready.
Fallen trees with fungus growing on them make for interesting trail borders.

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