When spring arrives in Central Pennsylvania, the landscape transforms into a celebration of color. From the manicured rows of tulips at Hershey Gardens to wildflower-filled fields and u-pick flower farms, the area offers beautiful places to see fresh blooms from early spring through fall.
Whether you’re looking for a peaceful walk through carpets of spring wildflowers, want to pick your own bouquet at a working farm, or simply love the smell of fresh roses in bloom, these spots near our Hershey bed and breakfast deliver. Here’s where to find the best flowers in the region.
Hershey Gardens: 23 Acres of Botanical Beauty
Hershey Gardens opened in 1937 with Milton Hershey’s request to “create a nice garden of roses.” Over the years, that small rose garden has blossomed into 23 acres of botanical beauty featuring breathtaking seasonal displays, 11 themed gardens, and the indoor tropical Butterfly Atrium.
The historical Hershey Rose Garden features 3,000 roses representing 115 varieties. The collection includes Hybrid Tea, floribunda, shrub, and miniature roses in an interesting mix of heights, colors, and flower forms. Each year, the garden also showcases new AARS rose variety winners. Peak bloom typically occurs in late spring through early summer.
Spring brings daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and over 23,000 tulips blooming across the fields, creating stunning waves of color. As the seasons progress, visitors can enjoy peonies, iris, bleeding hearts, and countless other flowering plants throughout various theme gardens, including the Japanese Garden, Herb Garden, and rock gardens with winding paths and benches placed throughout.
Masonic Village at Elizabethtown: Gardens and Walking Trails
The Masonic Village at Elizabethtown beautifully maintained gardens and walking paths that are open to the public. The campus features well-maintained gardens, peaceful walking trails, and seasonal plantings throughout the grounds.
Visitors can enjoy strolling through the landscaped areas, which include flower beds, shade gardens, and open green spaces perfect for a quiet afternoon. Spring and summer mean colorful displays of perennials and annuals throughout the campus.
Wildwood Park: Native Wildflowers and Butterflies
Wildwood Park offers a different kind of flower experience, with trails and butterfly gardens providing opportunities to see a variety of wildflowers throughout the growing season. Chicory, everlasting pea, and Queen Anne’s lace are especially prevalent, creating an abundance of blooms providing habitat for dozens of butterfly species
The park’s natural beauty and the chance to see native wildflowers in their element make it perfect for nature lovers who prefer a more relaxed, wild setting compared to formal gardens.
Founder’s Hall Gardens and Local Trails
Founder’s Hall Gardens and Local TrailsThe gardens at Founder’s Hall in Hershey offer beautiful landscaped beds and seasonal plantings worth a visit, especially in spring and summer when the displays are at their peak.
For wildflower enthusiasts, the paved trails surrounding Gelder Park and the wooded paths of the Hummel Nature Trail in Hummelstown come alive with Virginia bluebells every April.
Just off Old Hershey Road, Danny Fisher Memorial Park offers a nice little butterfly garden that’s perfect for a quick stop. The garden attracts pollinators throughout the warmer months and provides a relaxed spot to enjoy butterflies up close.
Across from Giant Foods on Cocoa Avenue, the DEAC Monarch Butterfly & Pollinator Conservation Area is a certified Monarch Waystation featuring native wildflowers that support butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. This community conservation area is free to visit and includes a beautiful mural created by local students.
U-Pick Flower Farms Near Hershey
For a hands-on flower experience, several nearby farms offer pick-your-own flowers throughout the growing season. These working farms let you wander the fields, snip your favorite stems, and create your own fresh bouquet to take home.
Royal Oaks Farm (Lebanon)
Royal Oaks Farm at 3615 Oak St. in Lebanon offers pick-your-own flowers, grab-and-go bouquets, and a picturesque setting perfect for family or engagement photography.
The spring u-pick gardens open in early April, seven days a week. Spring flowers include tulips, daffodils, alliums, ranunculus, anemones, and peonies. Summer and fall seasons continue with different varieties.
The farm believes fresh flowers should be “a pleasure, not a luxury,” offering affordable prices for beautiful blooms.
Country Joy Flowers (Elizabethtown)
Country Joy Flowers is located in the countryside between Elizabethtown and Hershey at 2781 Colebrook Rd. This family-run u-pick farm offers a peaceful escape from July through October, inviting visitors to wander vibrant rows and create beautiful bouquets.
The self-serve gardens make it easy to visit at your convenience, and grab-and-go bouquets are available throughout the week for those who prefer pre-made arrangements.
Worth the Drive: Garden and Wildflower Destinations Beyond Hershey
If you’re willing to drive about an hour to an hour and a half from Hershey, these destinations offer spectacular gardens and wildflower displays that are worth the trip.
Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square)
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square is one of the most renowned botanical gardens in the world. From sunny indoor environments with forever-blooming flowers to winding paths through shaded woodlands, Longwood invites you to choose your own adventure with the promise that whichever path you take, there is endless beauty to be discovered. The 1,100+ acres of gardens are organized into six distinct districts, each representing a unique region of the property. From the formal layout and highly manicured plantings of the Main Fountain Garden District to the sweeping vistas across natural lands in the Meadow & Forest District, you’ll find something new every time you visit.
Longwood is home to over 10,000 species and varieties of plants, representing 200 different plant families. Spring brings thousands of blooming tulips, daffodils, and flowering trees. Summer features vibrant perennial borders and the famous Water Lily Display. Fall showcases chrysanthemums and autumn colors, while winter transforms the gardens into a dazzling display of lights and festive decorations.
Wildflower Lookout (Ronks)
Wildflower Lookout at 46 Peach Ln. in Ronks is a truly special place. This 4-acre property features fields of wildflowers blooming in all their splendor, with bees and other pollinators thriving in this haven of color.
The season generally runs from late May or early June through October, with various species blooming in their respective seasons. Cornflowers, poppies, wheat fields, bearded barley, and daisies create stunning displays throughout the summer and into fall.
It’s perfect for photography, relaxing and unwinding, or bringing family and friends for a picnic at one of their tables surrounded by beautiful blooms. Just remember to bring your own food and beverages, and clean up afterward.
Hours and admission are seasonal; check their website before visiting.
Lancaster Conservancy Wildflower Preserves
Lancaster County is home to two exceptional wildflower preserves managed by the Lancaster Conservancy, both offering spectacular spring displays about an hour from Hershey.
Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve at 857 Green Hill Rd. S in Conestoga is renowned for its display of spring ephemeral wildflowers. This 92-acre preserve offers approximately 1.7 miles of easy trails that carpet with spring beauties, Virginia waterleaf, woodland phlox, wild geranium, and many other species. The preserve is especially stunning in spring when the forest floor comes alive with wildflowers. Over 50 bird species, including owls, hawks, indigo buntings, and pileated woodpeckers, are common visitors.
Ferncliff Wildlife and Wildflower Preserve at 1650 Benton Hollow Rd. in Drumore is recognized as a National Natural Landmark. The preserve offers mostly level, easy hiking on an old service road trail (about a mile out and back) with a unique feel thanks to the creek right beside the trail and surrounding rock formations. Spring here is wildflowers galore. You’ll see tulip poplars, beeches, hemlocks, and abundant rhododendron and mountain laurel. Bald eagles may be seen soaring overhead from their nearby nesting grounds along the Susquehanna River. Note that parking is limited at this preserve.
Both preserves are free to visit and offer a chance to experience native wildflowers in their natural habitat. Visit https://www.lancasterconservancy.org/preserves/ for trail maps and current conditions.
Discover The Beauty of Hershey Gardens and Wildflowers
Discover The Beauty of Hershey Gardens and WildflowersFrom the formal beauty of Hershey Gardens to the wild charm of native wildflower preserves and the hands-on fun of u-pick farms, Central Pennsylvania offers countless ways to enjoy fresh blooms from spring through fall. Each spot has its own character, whether you’re looking for manicured perfection, natural beauty, or the satisfaction of cutting your own bouquet to bring home.
Planning a spring or summer getaway? Book your stay at the Inn on Church Road, and we’ll help you plan the perfect flower-filled itinerary. We’re just minutes from Hershey Gardens and within easy reach of all the blooms this beautiful region has to offer. Want to make your stay even more special? Add a thoughtful bouquet of fresh flowers from our local florist to greet you in your room when you arrive.
