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On April 2, Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (Andalusia) will open for the season, allowing visitors to tour the impressive and scenic property overlooking the Delaware River. The Biddle family's early 19th-century Greek Revival home is situated on a 50-acre picturesque estate, surrounded by stunning native woodlands and spectacular formal gardens. The Bucks County riverfront property is a National Historic Landmark located just 13 miles from Philadelphia. A visit to Andalusia is an ideal day trip for those looking to spend time outdoors in a natural paradise of native woodlands and striking gardens.
From April 4 through November 2, public tours of the gardens are offered Monday through Wednesday, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., excluding holidays. Self-guided garden tours are $20 a person. Guided tours of the “Big House” with garden access are $30 a person. Andalusia will host six Open Saturdays, offering the public opportunities to enjoy the gardens and grounds during the weekends. The first Open Saturday is April 2, with additional dates on May 21, June 4, September 17, October 29, and November 5. Open Saturday tours are offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Open Saturday tickets are $20 a person for self-guided garden tours and $30 a person for guided tours of the “Big House” with garden access included. Visitors must purchase tickets for public tours and Open Saturdays in advance from the Andalusia website. All tickets are free for children 12 and under.
Guests can embark on a self-guided garden tour, aided by a map of the grounds. Visitors to Andalusia in April or May will be treated to various stages of trees and flowers in bloom, allowing guests to see something new each visit. A spring highlight includes the blooming and fragrant crab apple trees in the Graperies, noticeable thanks to the tall, elegantly weathered brick and stone wall covered in purple wisteria. Next, venture over to The Woodland Walk for can't-miss daffodils that brighten the wooded floor each spring. Observe the Easter Garden's dazzling array of blossoming magnolias, redbuds, and tulips designed to be at their peak this time of year. Andalusia highly encourages guests to pack a picnic basket and settle among the gardens, or along the riverbank, for a blissful afternoon recess. They are also encouraged to explore the exterior architecture and design of the “Big House.” Guests who wish to see the interior can purchase tickets for guided tours of the “Big House.”
Guests looking for an extra memorable experience can book tickets for a Champagne Garden Tour. On June 4 and September 17, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., guests will be treated to a glass of champagne and light refreshments on the grand porch of the “Big House.” Kristin Biddle will provide a guided tour of the formal gardens before bringing you back to the "Big House" for time to relax while overlooking the Delaware River or stroll The River Walk. Champagne Garden Tour tickets are $65 per person; access to the “Big House” is not included.
Andalusia's gardens date back to the 18th century, first created by John Craig, a Philadelphia merchant who purchased the 50-acre property as a summer home in 1795. In 1814, the property was passed to Craig's son-in-law, Nicholas Biddle, a prominent financier and cultural leader of the early American Republic. Biddle came from a long line of high-ranking government and military dignitaries and was a Renaissance man who possessed a wide range of interests – namely classical architecture and agriculture. Under his care, Biddle oversaw an expansion of Andalusia's gardens and commissioned famous Philadelphia architect Thomas Ustick Walter to design a Greek temple façade to wrap around what we now refer to as the "Big House."
The Andalusia Foundation was established in 1980 to preserve and maintain the grounds that are home to more than 1000 trees, including nearly 250 unique specimens and cultivars from around the world. The estate's natural beauty has been carefully curated over the generations to include an expansive collection of flora and plant life. From 2017 to 2018, renowned British landscape designer Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd led a revitalization of the grounds. This enormous undertaking led to the addition of some 10,000 plants consisting of assorted trees, shrubs, roses, and perennials. In 2020, Andalusia Historic House and Gardens was officially designated an Arboretum after being awarded Level II accreditation by ArbNet thanks to its diverse collection of tree species, cultivation practices, specialized staff, and educational programming. The Morton Register of Arboreta also added Andalusia to its global tree- focused database of public gardens. For more information, visit www.andalusiapa.org.