Mt. Cuba Preserving Rare Native Plants

Delaware's  Mt. Cuba Center is a botanic garden that highlights the beauty of native plants. Once the estate of Pamela and Lammot du Pont Copeland, the  garden opened to the public in 2013 and now spans more than 1,000 acres. It features garden pathways in formal and woodland settings, picturesque meadows and ponds with stunning vistas, and more than two miles of scenic trails throughout its natural lands. Near the former mansion is the formal reflecting pool now featuring colorful tulips.

Mt. Cuba is recognized as a leader in native plant research and open space preservation, having protected more than 13,000 acres in the mid-Atlantic region. In 2020, it was voted best botanical garden in North America by USA Today readers.

My visit today started with a threat of rain, but turned out to be  partly sunny and very pleasant.  The pond area is a magnet for me, and a pleasant place to sit and gaze at the Japanese primroses bordering this woodland glade (first photo). As we walked around the larger pond, a naturalist pointed out the rare swamp pinks. They only grow in one particular wet environment and are not something someone like you or I could buy.

There is another area called the moss meadow which will be covered in moss in the summer, but at this time of year, is coated with delicate white plants called Quaker ladies.

There are trillium of all sorts scattered through the woods, and even a small meadow of the flowers. But one of my favorites was a type with a dark center and light petals.

What is most remarkable is that this was just farmland in 1935 when the Copelands bought the property.  On the drive up to the parking lot, I glanced to the right and saw a dramatic deep valley, proving that this is indeed the piedmont region with dramatic views. If this was a national park, there would be a pull-over to admire the view. But here, it's just a "throw away" on the way to the main attraction.