Stroll around this enormous formerly private estate and marvel at its combination of formality, high horticulture and downright fun. Miles of neatly clipped hedges, topiary that borders on funky, impressive conservatories and timed fountain displays that shoot water to John Philip Sousa marches all make for an entertaining day whether you’re a gardener or a child.

The gardens began in the early 1700s, with Quaker brothers Samuel and Joshua Peirce planting out an arboretum, but today’s gardens owe their magnificence to Pierre S. du Pont — of the du Pont chemical company — who built the extravagance beginning in 1907 and into the 1930s. The formal styles of European gardens including Kew and Hampton Court Palace influenced du Pont, and he incorporated many design elements from them. He was particularly fond of fountains, and this legacy is a delight to visitors young and old. The Main Fountain Garden in front of the conservatory shoots 10,000 gallons of water 130 feet into the air. Lights change the water to every imaginable color. The Open Air Theater water show may seem tame in comparison — only 750 jets — but it is still a delight.

Written by  Marty Wingate.

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