10 Delightful Places to See Daffodils in Maryland, DC, and Virginia
Check out this super happy list of the best places to see daffodils in Maryland, DC, and Virginia!
Let’s face it– even die hard powderhounds eventually tire of the cold winter temperatures (especially if those cold temps are, ahem.. lacking in snow accumulation).
Every year, just when you think you can’t bear to zip up your parka one more time, you see it… little yellow and white flowers pushing their way out of the hard, cold earth. Before you know it, it seems like the entire world is in bloom.
Daffodils are the perfect flower to signal the start of Spring because they are just so.. happy! They are also pretty prolific in Maryland, DC, and Virginia. If you want to gaze at these lovely flowers somewhere besides the side of the road, here are 10 utterly delightful places you will want to consider for your day trip!
Maryland
1. Historic London Town Gardens
The Historic London Town Gardens in Edgewater, MD are absolutely delightful. There are many varieties of blooming trees and flowers from early spring through autumn. London Town Gardens used to hold an annual Daffodil Show.
There is no evidence that the show is still running but the daffodils still remain. If you go, be sure to check out the Woodland and Ornamental Gardens. If you are visiting with kids, be sure to also check out the Sound and Sensory Garden. This is such a delightful spring day trip idea and a great place to see daffodils in Maryland.
2. Rawlings Conservatory
The Rawlings Conservatory in Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park is lovely any time of the year. However, every April the Conservatory puts on a feast for the eyes with its Spring Flower Display. Dubbed ‘An Octopus’s Garden,’ this Spring flower display highlights daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths.
The Conservatory is open longer hours to encourage weeknight visits and to help showcase the flowers, handmade crafts and organic sculptures are used to transform the conservatory into an underwater wonderland.
While you are checking out these happy daffodils in Maryland, you can also pay a visit to the Maryland Zoo. It’s literally right next door!
Related: Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Maryland and DC!
3. Cylburn Arboretum
The grounds of the Cylburn Arboretum in North Baltimore is expansive and a super fun place to explore year round. They also happen to have numerous patches of daffodils that pop up every Spring. This might actually be my favorite local place to see daffodils in Maryland.
You could spend an utterly delightful day walking (or running) the grounds, snapping photos, and perhaps enjoying a picnic lunch.
4. Whipps Cemetery
What? Happy yellow and white daffodils inside a cemetery? Is this for real? Yep, Whipps Garden Cemetery, located off of St. John’s Lane in Ellicott City, MD, is a 1-acre cemetery undergoing restoration.
They have a few different gardens (like a rose garden) but the daffodils are the most popular blooming flower. It is so popular that the cemetery hosts a Daffodil Day every April to celebrate this happy flower and raise money for restoration projects.
Washington D.C.
5. U.S. Arboretum
If you are not making it a point to visit the U.S. Arboretum a few times a year, you are really missing out. Starting in March, the Arboretum comes alive with blossoming trees (like magnolias and cherry blossoms) and there are numerous sweet patches of daffodils as well.
The Arboretum is conveniently located on the outskirts of Washington D.C. and your kids will not only love seeing the happy daffodils, but fun attractions like the Capitol Columns or the Bonsai Trees as well. Pack a picnic lunch and make a morning of it!
6. Lady Bird Johnson Park and Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove
Pack a picnic and take a scenic drive to Lady Bird Johnson Park, an island in the Potomac near the Pentagon. For driving directions and hours of operation click here: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/ladybirdjohnsonpark.htm
Virginia
7. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
By mid-March guests can get a very sunny preview of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden ‘Million Blooms’ flower explosion. You will mainly see daffodils in Rob’s Garden, Grace Arents Garden, West Island Garden, and the Central Garden.
There are many reasons to visit the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (I am so envious of everyone who lives in Richmond!).
8. Brent and Becky’s Bulbs
Brent and Becky Heath are probably the most well-known Daffodil farmers in the country (they have been featured on Martha Stewart!). You can definitely pick up daffodil bulbs (and other flowers) at their store, but you will also want to treat yourself to a walk in the gardens on site as well.
9. Gloucester Daffodil Festival
Not exactly a field of happy daffodils, but how could we not include this awesome spring festival that features the these yellow rays of sunshine? This early April festival features a parade, Children’s area, tours of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs and a few fun contests. Plus– Daffodil Festival! That is so happy! Teh 2023 Festival is April 1st and 2nd.
10. Burnside Farms
Burnside Farms in Haymarket is just amazing. We first visited this pick-your-own farm for their summer sunflowers, but the tulips and daffodils are absolutely gorgeous as well.
Even better? You can pick some to bring home with you! The cost to pick daffodils is 2 stems for $1 (plus the cost of admission) and you will definitely want to bring your camera. There are a bunch of nice props on hand to use for sweet photos.
Pack a picnic lunch, have a lovely spring day among some seriously happy flowers, oh– and let your kids bounce on the jumping pillow for a while! Here below so you don’t miss their latest news and announcement!
Wherever you may roam this Spring, I really hope you get a few good peeks at these happy little flowers!
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Determined to do stand in a field of flowers this year Sara. Your sunflower pictures last year reminded me of how much I want to do this and here you are once again inspiring me. When do you think the Daffodils will be in bloom? Also do you perhaps know if there’s anywhere in the general east coast area that you can see a field of tulips?
Awwww, thank you Erin! So– Daffodils would be in bloom right now, except I think this week’s snowstorm killed most of them (boo). That is the bad news. The good news is it won’t be more than 2-3 weeks before tulips start popping up! There are two places I know of with an actual field of tulips. One is in Haymarket, VA called Burnside Farms (it is awesome… not Skagit Valley awesome.. but still awesome). The second place I read about was in Rhode Island called Wicked Tulips. If you just want lots of tulips though, Longwood Gardens outside Philadelphia is pretty great. Oh, and Albany, NY has a great tulip festival every year. Other than that, I am not familiar with the NYC area. I hope this helps!