Peak bloom at Shenks Ferry, tulips at Hershey Gardens: Here’s what’s blooming around Lancaster County

June 12, 2024

Lancaster County wildflowers have reached peak bloom.

Plants are emerging a bit early this year, similar to last year’s schedule, says Keith Williams, community engagement coordinator with Lancaster County Conservancy. Long-term, that’s potentially a problem, especially if the flowers are gone by the time pollinators show up on schedule.

Short-term, the flowers often bring crowds to parks and preserves.

Here’s more about what’s blooming and what’s coming up at parks, preserves and gardens in the region as of April 12 (with report dates noted below).

Lancaster Conservancy preserves (updated April 11)

  • Wildflowers are in peak bloom at Lancaster Conservancy’s riverlands preserves, including Kelly’s Run Nature Preserve, Clark Nature Preserve, Climbers Run Nature Center, Turkey Hill Nature Preserve, Ferncliff Wildlife and Wildflower Preserve and Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve.
  • In bloom are Virginia bluebells, trillium, Dutchman’s breeches, spring beauties, cutleaf toothwort, phlox, squirrel corn, corydalis and blue cohosh
  • Next up are golden ragwort and mayapple.
  • People and pets should stay on trails to avoid damaging plants, Williams says.
  • The conservancy’s preserves on the other side of the county, including Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve will have blooming orchids and flowering shrubs in early May.
  • The new Wizard Ranch Nature Preserve in Hellam Township, York County, also has spring flowers in bloom.

Lancaster County Central Park (updated March 25)

  • Along the Wildflower Trail are flowers in bloom such as spring beauties, blood root, cutleaf toothwort and a few Dutchman’s breeches. Next up are mayapples and bluebells. Another spot for early flowers is between Indian Rock and the river.
  • Around the park, there are bulbs like daffodils in bloom.
  • Also in bloom are plants like bittercress, early saxifrage, trailing arbutus, veronica, ground ivy, henbit, purple deadnettle, chickweed and dandelions. Some may consider these weeds but they feed early pollinators, says senior naturalist Lisa Sanchez.

Hershey Gardens (updated April 11)

  • Tulips
  • Magnolia trees
  • Virginia bluebells
  • Daffodils
  • Lenten roses
  • Siberian squill
  • Serviceberry tree
  • Crabapple trees
  • PJM Rhododendron

Tulips nearing peak bloom at Hershey Gardens [photos]

Hershey Gardens’ 27,000 tulips are expected to reach peak bloom this week.

This year’s tulips are growing in a new spot: the square beds next to the historic rose garden. Alyssa Hagarman, manager of horticulture and tulip designer at Hershey Gardens, says the flowers rotate between the neighboring fan beds and the square beds every three years to prevent disease.

Visitors this season will find tulips blooming in large blocks of contrasting colors, including red with white, purple with orange and pink with yellow. Standout varieties include Kunyun, Alibi, Purple Dream and Bombastic Red.

Depending on the weather, the blooms are expected to last for a few weeks.

Hershey Gardens is located at 170 Hotel Road in Hershey. For more information, visit .

To read more about tulips in bloom at Hershey Gardens and Longwood Gardens, visit .

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips as Kristie Sheleman, of Harrisburg, browse around with her children, Mason Sheleman, 10 mo…

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips as Ellen Coates, of Pike Township, takes a picture of her daughter, Clara Jane Coates, 1, …

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips as Ellen Coates, of Pike Township, takes a picture of her daughters, Bobbi Jo Coates, 3, a…

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.

The Hershey Gardens features a wide array of tulips in Hershey, Monday April 15, 2024.


Longwood Gardens (outdoors, updated April 10)

  • Magnolia
  • Daffodils
  • Sharp-lobe hepatica
  • Tower-of-jewels
  • Fritillary
  • Tulips
  • Hyacinth
  • Virginia spring beauty
  • Lilac
  • Compact Korean spice viburnum
  • Wood spurge
  • Virginia bluebells
  • Redbud
  • Japanese flowering cherry
  • Showy trilium
  • Trout lily
  • Summer snowflake
  • Nearing hybrid rhododendron
  • Woods tulip
  • Darwin hybrid tulip
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