Gabriella W.

My first visit to Bartram's Garden was this past weekend for a wedding. I was surprised to see that all of the beautiful flowers were still very much in bloom, in late October. The private event space was perfectly set up for the ~ 100 person wedding. The ceremony was set up over looking the river, with beautiful foliage in the background. The reception was in the heated tent. The layout of the tent allows guests to see out to the river, which is a beautiful back drop while it was still light out. I can't wait to return to Bartram's Garden to explore the various trails!

Austin G.

On the grounds of the country's first botanical gardens is now a 50-acre public park with trails, history and views of the city. Here's what you can expect: 1) Parking: There's a small lot on the grounds for free. If there's an event, go early to grab a spot. 2) Trails: There are several that weave along the river and through a meadow. They are easy hikes for the whole family. 3) Views: A beautiful view of the Philly skyline can be seen throughout. 4) Amenities: There are 18th century buildings and a boathouse where people fish nearby.

Kristin N.

Today's perfect fall day was spent at this gem. It's an oasis of history and tranquility just off of Grey's Ferry. We wandered through woods, gardens, by the river, all with a fantastic skyline view in the distance. I like its community-centric vibe, too. Today there were kids taking part in an educational session next to the public garden, there's a free bike rental and a community dock. Just go!

Grace K.

I went with some friends recently to Bartram's Garden and it was such a beautiful public garden, with lots of greenery and flowers to enjoy. We took a TON of pictures, way more than I can include (below are just a few shots, including the map of the grounds and areas near the garden center). It's a really walkable garden with a parking lot and also lots of shady places to sit and just enjoy. What I really love about Bartram is that it's free, so it's really accessible for anyone to come in and just stroll and enjoy the beautiful sights. Bartram also hosts a ton of different community events that I'd highly recommend everyone check out; there are a bunch of upcoming ones, like the Honey Fest, that looks really fun. There's also a trail around the garden that you can walk or bike; we didn't travel along the whole length but it was a really nice way to spend the day together and just enjoy being in nature. The garden overall is really quiet and there were a lot of families there as well, but it felt spacious enough that no one was overlapping with each other's paths too much, which was really nice. I regret not bringing a picnic blanket and snacks! We also went on a really hot day, but in the garden center they luckily sold water for only a $1 each. Bartram is a gem, definitely check it out when you can!

Suzanne K.

Such a charming and historic garden! Many plant labels, nice benches, and a wooden walkway along the River. Many happy squirrels chowing on acorns and hickory nuts this October day. Good info signs about the Bartrams who were impt plant collectors and purveyors who drank tea with the likes of George Washington and Ben Franklin under their leafy trellis!

Maya F.

:') love this place. Beautiful flowers and plants, lots of space to walk and lounge. A serene and wholesome place to enjoy nature and time with friends/family.

Ritesh S.

Tucked away in deep Southwest Philly, this little oasis offers up some respite from the hustle and bustle of Center City - all without having to leave city limits! The area is carved out by the river. Theres a lot going on from an outdoors perspective, offering trails to walk, bike, free boating on summer Saturdays, fishing (with proper licensing), and so much more for all members of the fam. There's a working farm on site as well! I came here to check out the boating and was glad I was able to take on the experience. They have free rentals on Saturdays during the summer from 11AM - 3PM. They have options for both canoeing and kayaking. I chose to kayak and enjoyed the experience! The instructors are great with setting you up, and for beginners they do offer basic instructions. There's a few spots for parking on site, so if one lot is full, you can continue down to another site down the trail to try your luck. There's also a great welcome center and gift shop! Lots of information to look over, learn of the history of area, and also find a momento to take back with you. There are also some restrooms in the area. Overall, solid place to check out and come back to - especially since entrance is free!

L L.

One of the most verdant addresses in Philly, Bartram's Garden is a time capsule of how life went on along the Schuylkill almost 300 years ago! I could not help but picture that time lapse scene at the end of Gangs of New York (2002), where they show NYC grow up over 150 years, from a landscape view. But here in Philly, it ain't a movie set, it's REAL! Traffic was stressful driving there from the 'burbs, and you seriously are in the thick of the city, and then WHAM, it's chirping birds and rustling leaves, and a canopy of trees to insulate noises. It doesn't feel like metropolis AT ALL, which is surreal, because you have skyline vistas of c-city from many parts of the garden. It is just an amazing amazing place. In early May 2021, masks are still required throughout the gardens, though most people I encountered were not wearing them. Dogs permitted on leash in garden areas, but not in the courtyard or buildings. The southwestern portion of the property is a community garden and orchard, called the Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram's Garden. In this area there are raised planting beds, a greenhouse, compost mounds, a fruit tree grove, and a small playground. Signs are up to explain garden rules, etc. At the southernmost tip is a paved sidewalk lookout area, and small performance spot, with granite benches climbing a small hill, looking down onto a large sidewalk spot, with river and skyline backdrop. Adjacent to the community garden, but closer to the river (with a nice view of it), is an event space with patio. The old manor home, barn, stables, carriage houses, courtyard, etc. are central in the property, with lush gardens flowing east, down to the riverbank, from there. There are various paths that meander through the garden, with niches thoughtfully enclosed with plantings, to create a sort of outdoor rooms. For example, there is a pond niche, a tree swing niche, various benches in their own little spaces, and so on. There is a gorgeous walk along the river, some of it is boardwalk, some dirt/gravel, with little side paths directly to the shore of the river. I loved the look of this area, but practically, as a mother, I was very nervous. No fences are up to guard against falling down the embankment, and in some parts, there is a rocky drop-off. Also saw some broken glass. I quickly got wise and strapped my curious toddler into his stroller, but I wish I had a heads up is all. It is great for older kids and adults, who have sense enough to keep safe. Watch your dogs' paw pads on that glass! That said, while the garden spaces were divine, and the river path was super scenic, there was litter in many places throughout the garden. I was so happy when I saw a man who appeared to be a volunteer (he was in plain clothes, while other staffers wore uniforms), walking around with a trash spear and a grabber thing, bagging up all the litter. I wish I had an extra bottle of water or Gatorade to hand him in thanks. But thank you kind man! Aside from the tree swing, the highlight of the trip for my toddler was the freight train that runs along the western border of the property. You can view the train passing through from the driveway bridge near the manor house. The best part for me, it's FREE!!! I've lived here all my life, and this was my first visit, wish I'd been sooner, but Bartram's Garden is now top on my list to recommend anyone visiting! A truly awesome place! Note: the one portion of Bartram's Garden I didn't get to see was the northern end. This is where one of Philly's Concrete Cowboys (Malik Divers) is going to set up stables for his two horses.

Regina M.

I have a confession: I spent my early years of life about 2 miles from here. I had to use GPS to find it. In my defense, it's tucked away behind some public housing, and the signs back then were probably bad. Also, I was six when we moved away. As an adult returning to Philly after years away, I'd heard mention of this place many times. Somehow, I never got around to checking it out until dear friend & fellow Yelper Dee M invited me to "Balkans at Bartram", an annual Slavic food & music festival. I am so glad we went. Entering the grounds means traveling under a railroad bridge. I felt transported from the busy city to magical woods & fields. The only hints that we were still in the city were the sounds of the occasional freight train and a spectacular view of Center City across the river. The grounds are a mix of wood, fields and riverfront docks. There's a working vegetable garden and lovely planted beds. There are original buildings from the estate, a visitor center, and a very large and gorgeous permanent party tent. As in, if I got married again, that's where I'm going. Even the port-a-potties were high end, nicer than most plumbed bathrooms. The trails were well maintained, though not particularly well lit after dark. Bring a flashlight if you're attending an evening event. General public access closed at dusk. Oh, and they always have a variety of native plants for sale by the visitor center. Homage to John Bartram, father of modern botany. There are many events from free movie nights to rowboats and fishing. There's a boat dock so you Dan launch your own kayak. Oh, and it's free admission. Accessible public transit by trolley that stops at Lindbergh & 54th. It is not a great neighborhood so be sensible and safe with your possessions and yourself. I am so looking forward to my next visit!

Christopher C.

I like to go places where you are forced to think because things don't make sense or where you have an experience that is paradoxical and coming to Bartram's Garden certainly fits that bill. On one hand you have this urban oasis of quiet, calm and peacefulness but encroaching around that serenity in every corner is urban blight at it's worst, railroads and refineries. I could give you some long drawn out history of John Bartram the crazy Quaker without a formal education who was named the "Royal Botanist" by King George III or of his son William who continued his father's work but the below links explain the origin of the site and the Bartram family better than I ever could. www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-story-of-bartrams-garden-13572809/ www.visitphilly.com/outdoor-activities/philadelphia/bartrams-garden/ www.ushistory.org/tour/bartrams-garden.htm If you want a great review check out my Yelp bro Carissa K. Her write up is must read material before making a visit to the site. If you go: Bartram's is open daily year round from dawn until dusk. The welcome center is where guided tours are offered Thursday through Sunday from the first week in April to the first week in December. The welcome center is open Monday-Friday 10-4 and on weekends from 10-6. Tours are $12 per adult and $10 per senior/youth. Noteworthy is that the 1pm & 3pm tour of the garden and 12pm & 2pm of the Bartram House are 100% optional. The beauty of coming here is that it can be as free as you want it to be. A good idea would be to also check their website calendar as there are tons of events & activities going on all the time. bartramsgarden.org/visit/tours/ bartramsgarden.org/explore/ bartramsgarden.org/calendar/ One other word to the wise at least based on my ideal of common sense. While there are a few opportunities to walk around the grounds and on the Bartram's Mile trail, I would be hesitant to venture too far off the beaten path as the area around The Garden is at least to me a bit on the rough side to put it mildly.

Cindy M.

(442) We did not take a class or go on a tour (yet). We had a few hours and wanted to go someone new so we tried Bartram Gardens. I'm so glad we did as it was a short ride thru Philly. Plenty of free parking. There are so many beautiful plants and flowers. Tons of paths and benches to just sit and enjoy nature. One of the paths led us near the water and it was nice to just look and imagine how the land was years ago. This place is so beautiful that I can't wait to go back and just read a book or have a picnic or just sit and relax. It's so peaceful there and who would think especially right in the middle of Philly. I want to read about the history and learn about the Gardens. Can't wait!

Judy C.

I love that they offer Free Saturday Public Boating from April-October, 11 am - 3 pm. When I first heard about it from my friend, I thought it was too good to be true...but it's not! Check their Facebook page for updates on weather and river conditions before you go in case it's cancelled for the day. Parking was no problem and there was a line right when they opened at 11 am the day that I went. I'm really impressed that there are so many wonderful volunteers and that this is so well organized throughout the entire process: 1. Get in line and think about the type of boat you want 2. Sign a waiver form (you just need to do it once per season, so if you go back you can skip this part) 3. Find a life jacket in your size with whistle and get a waterproof pouch for your phone 4. A photographer will take a picture of you and your party (find them on Facebook later!) 5. A volunteer will bring the boat you want out (if available) or if someone is returning to land with the boat you want they'll get it ready for you, teach you basic rowing techniques, and answer your questions (totally cool if it's your first time EVER). 6. There are certain boundaries that they ask you to row between and the time limit is by honor system. You'll see a lot of boats out at once and some volunteers will be out on boats monitoring for safety. This is such a fun activity for individuals, couples, and big groups and the best part is that you don't have to spend any money! Be sure to thank the volunteers for being outdoors in the heat all day and serving you. :)