The Magic Of Burpee On Display This Weekend In Bucks County

DOYLESTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The W. Atlee Burpee Company will open its Doylestown gardens to the public on Saturday for a rare behind the scenes glimpse at the magic of Burpee.

Historic Fordhook Farm, where it all began for the international seed producer nearly nearly 150 years ago, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Burpee Open, a free event showcasing Burpee’s breeding and trial operations at 105 New Britain Road in Doylestown Township.

Visitors are invited to take in the beauty and abundance of the farm’s extensive Kitchen, Heirloom, Veranda and Happiness gardens in addition to its unique Stumpery featuring shade-loving shrubs, perennials and trees.

“The Burpee Open is all about showing you things that you've never seen before and making you feel things that you've never felt,” said George Ball, Burpee chairman. “That's the goal of every visit.”

Scenes from Fordhook Farm. (Photos by Jeff Werner)

Everyone who has ever planted a garden knows the name Burpee. The iconic brand has been synonymous with seeds for nearly 150 years. But did you know that the first seeds were cultivated right here in Central Bucks County at Fordhook Farm?

This year’s open will feature self-guided garden tours, live music, horticultural speakers, a seed sale and a chance to see Burpee’s Philadelphia Flower Show exhibit, which will be recreated for the public to see, according to Burpee’s CEO and President James Mattikow.

In addition, the Burpee Open will feature food from local businesses and shopping from The Bucks County Flower Collective and the Burpee Garden Shop.

Children attending the event can participate in activities like flower arranging and a scavenger hunt. Guest speakers include plant breeders, garden designers, authors, and more. The full schedule of speakers and events, parking information, directions and a map of the Fordhook Garden can be found here.

“This is a once in a lifetime chance to experience Burpee,” said Mattikow. “This is the home of Burpee and it’s where the company started. It’s also a working farm and where we do our trialing. Our team works year round to produce what you see here and we’d like people to come out so we can share it with them.”

Scenes from Fordhook Farm. (Photos by Jeff Werner)

Based in Bucks County, Burpee is one of the world’s foremost garden, seed, and plant companies. At Fordhook Farm, Mattikow said they breed and trial plants, allowing them to deliver the highest quality products and services to gardeners and other customers, and discover breakthrough varieties in fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Purchased by founder W. Atlee Burpee’s in 1888, the farm is only open to the public once a year during the Burpee Open giving guests a special opportunity to tour the grounds. The Burpee Open brings in thousands of guests each year to explore the spectacular gardens and meet the Burpee
horticulture team.

“At the Burpee Open, you can see our beautiful botanical garden through many different lenses," says Ball. "You can see it through the lens of a family and its history. You can see it through the lens of horticulture and American history. And you can see it through the lens of a great gardening company.“

Burpee is home to the original ‘Iceberg’ lettuce (1894), the first white marigold (1976) and the biggest beefsteak tomato ever bred (2014).

For more information on the Burpee Open, visit their website. You can also follow Burpee on Instagram and Facebook.