Visit Burpee's Farm for Open Days

Spring Training at Fordhook Farm invites visitors to catch a glimpse of the private gardens of the Burpee Company.

The farm will be open on Friday and Saturday, May 11 and 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the event. Guests can take a guided garden tour and see more than 3,000 species of plants, buy tomato plants and seeds, watch tomato and flower planting demonstrations and more.

The farm has a variety of gardens, including woodlots with shade perennial gardens, full sun annual and perennial gardens, ornamental gardens, container gardens and vegetable gardens. Guests can also visit the seed house where vegetable varieties that are grown today were first cultivated.

Not only is the open day event a chance to take in the surroundings, but to learn. Throughout the day, lectures will be given to help recreational farmers learn how to grow tomatoes all summer long. Another lecture will focus on nature-friendly gardening and breeding flowers for summer color.

Fordhook Farm is the historical farm of the Burpee Company, which was founded in Philadelphia in 1876 by 18 year-old W. Atlee Burpee, who had a passion for plants and animals, according to the farm's website. Burpee designed the mail order catalog company from which farmers and recreational gardeners could purchase seeds. Burpee catalog's still exist today.

A $5 entrance fee is required to visit Fordhook Farms, which is located at 105 New Britain Rd., near Delaware Valley College. Not all of the gardens are handicap accessible.