Area gardens like Longwood and Winterthur expect to be busy (are they giving discounts or something? I haven't heard). But my recommendation is a small and little-known but charming garden right off of Pennsylvania Avenue, called Gibraltar Gardens.
You may have passed by a high stone wall with glimpses of arches and sculpted vases inside, and wondered what bank president lives there. That's actually a more-or-less abandoned mansion and estate that has been taken over by a preservation society and is open to the public (the outside part, not the crumbling mansion that overlooks it). It can get a slightly overgrown look, depending on how recently it's been weeded by a group of volunteers, but there are always nice plants to see, old sculptures, reflecting pools, and verandas. It's completely free, there are usually few people there, and it only takes a few minutes to stroll around and check out.
The Gibraltar estate is located on the north side of Pennsylvania Ave., near UD's Wilmington campus, right before PA Ave. turns into Rt. 52 and you get to the 141 ramps. The entrance is on the side street that runs next to the high wall. For info on the history of the estate:
http://preservationde.org/about-pdi/gibraltar/
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