Morris ArBOOretum & Gardens
October is ArBOOretum month at the Morris!
18th Annual Scarecrow Walk
From Saturday morning classics to modern animated icons, this Halloween we’re celebrating the colorful, quirky, and beloved world of cartoons!
Scarecrows will be on display October 1 – November 2. Visitors will vote for their favorite scarecrow on-site October 1 – 20 to determine the winners. The top three scarecrows win a cash prize: $300, $200, and $100.
Scarecrow frames generously provided by Tague Lumber.
Morris Pumpkin Cottage
As part of ArBOOretum Month, we invite kids of all ages to enjoy the Morris Pumpkin Cottage, a 100-square-foot exhibition covered in hundreds of pumpkins of various shapes and sizes. The Cottage, a throwback to when the area around the Morris used to be known as “Pumpkintown,” is tucked at the end of the Pumpkin Promenade, a small trail lined with pumpkins, gourds, scarecrows, and more.
ArBOOretum Events
Goodbye Pollinators, Hello Autumn!
Tuesday, September 30 • 11 am
Free with general admission
As the weather turns, we’ll take this opportunity to say goodbye to our migrating butterflies and hummingbirds with songs, poems, and crafts — and make room for a new season!
Fall Friday (Kids and Families): Botanical Potions
Friday, October 3 • 11 am
Free with general admission
Learn about plants and their mythological histories then make your own botanical potion for the spooky season.
Fall Friday (Adults): Seasonal Pause
Friday, October 3 • 12 pm
Free with general admission
A moment to process and reflect together in the Garden as we move through a change of seasons.
October Storytime
Wednesday, October 15 • 10:30 am
Free with general admission
This month, we’re reading Babushka Baba Yaga by Patricia Polacco.
Spooky Season Crafting
Thursday, October 30 • 11 am
Free with general admission
Get ready for trick or treating by making your own bat, insect, or even monster to take with you!
ArBOOretum Courses
Make an Autumn Wreath with Dried Flowers
Friday, October 3 or Saturday, October 4
10 am – 12 pm
Members: $70 • Non-members: $75
Registration is required
Make a colorful dried wreath to adorn your home and give all who enter a cheerful reminder of the enduring beauty of the growing season.
Seeds to Sprouts: Fall Adventures! (Ages 2-4)
Four Mondays: October 6, 13, 20, 27
10:30 – 11:15 am
Members: $95 • Non-members: $105
Registration is required
Children ages 2–4 and their favorite caregiver are invited to join us as we explore the outdoors and learn about some fun early science subjects like leaves, weather, soil, and insects.
Shofuso in the Fall: Autumn Tour + Tea Tasting
Wednesday, October 8
11:00 am – 1:30 pm
Members: $45 • Non-members: $50
Registration is required
Learn about the history and understand the intricacies of traditional Japanese-style gardening, an art form dating back more than a thousand years. This program will take place at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden.
Goldenrods and Asters: Autumn’s Superstars
Thursday, October 9
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Members: $40 • Non-members: $45
Registration is required
Learn how goldenrods and asters can add beauty and biodiversity to any landscape. This program will take place at Stoneleigh.
Drawing Trees in Autumn
Four Thursdays: October 9, 16, 23, 30
10 am – 1 pm
Members: $155 • Non-members: $170
Registration is required
What better way to appreciate the autumn season than to draw outdoors, and where is a more magical place to do it than beneath the majestic trees of the Morris?
Brandywine Cottage in Autumn
Thursday, October 16
10:30 am – 12 pm
Members: $40 • Non-members: $45
Registration is required
Take a tour of historic Brandywine Cottage in Downingtown, PA, known for its vibrant displays of color throughout the year, including fall's jewel-like blend of wildflowers, as well as other fall-blooming plants like asters, colchicums, and sumac.
Nighttime Discovery Walk
Thursday, October 23
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Members: $30 • Non-members: $35
Registration is required
Join us for a special after-hours wander through the Garden! Together we will discover tree silhouettes against the moonlight, listen to the sounds of the night, and maybe hear the hoot of an owl.
Sunday Sunset Yoga
Sunday, October 26
5 – 6:15 pm
Members: $25 • Non-members: $30
Registration is required
Join us for an evening of connection under the setting sun! This all-levels outdoor yoga class invites you to move with the rhythm of nature, breathe in fresh air, and soak in golden light.
West Laurel Hill Cemetery Autumn Highlights
Wednesday, October 29
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Members: $30 • Non-members: $35
Registration is required
Join Aaron Greenberg for a highlights tour of West Laurel Hill Cemetery, featuring notable trees and shrubs throughout the collection. Special emphasis will be given to the impressive maple collection and the cemetery’s commitment to green burial practices. This program will take place at West Laurel Hill Cemetery.