Henry Francis du Pont was the consummate host. He loved showing guests around his beloved country estate, and he spent immeasurable time and energy carefully preparing for visits from close friends and casual visitors alike.

The Spring Tour—a popular event for decades after Winterthur opened as a museum—presented the perfect occasion to show the public his beloved home and garden. As part of his meticulous preparation, H. F. would direct the placement of white wooden directionals throughout the garden, noting that he expected guests to “follow the arrows, which ’show the garden in the best possible way.” The path was charted on his daily tours of the garden and led guests to the must-see flowers that week. As he noted to one correspondent, “If you follow the signs and the arrows, you will see anything worthwhile in bloom.”

Today we continue the tradition of the White Arrow Tour to help our guests make the most of their visit through H. F. du Pont’s naturalistic masterpiece. The tour starts at the Visitor Center Patio and winds through the garden, highlighting the changing colors and combinations that are at their peak. The path will change weekly as the progression of flowering bulbs, plants, and trees dictates.  

Thanks to H. F.’s horticultural knowledge and masterful planning, spring appears early at Winterthur and the succession of bloom carries us along from one colorful season to the next. Come today—and often—so you don’t miss the beauty!