Morris Hidden Gems

Throughout the month of April, we highlighted Morris Arboretum & Gardens hidden gems on social media. Our staff shared their favorite spots that visitors might miss on an average visit, culminating in a guided Hidden Gems Tour on April 26—because with over 92 acres to explore, there's a lot to experience here at the Morris!

See staff favorite's below, and visit the Morris Arboretum & Gardens this spring to find your favorite hidden gem!

A view of a meadow with two cherry trees in bloom.

"I've been enjoying the Shidare Yoshino cherry (Prunus x yedoensis f. perpendens) and star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) in bloom around the Oak Allée area."

– Antoine Smith, Alice & J. Liddon Pennock Jr. Horticulture Apprentice

A stone springhouse with a wooden table and chair inside, surrounded by green trees.

“I like the Springhouse because it’s a piece of Morris history that makes me imagine what it would have been like to live on the estate. It’s also in a quiet, tucked away part of the Garden where I can listen to the birds.”

– Mellany Armstrong, Communications Coordinator

The backs of a group of children walking through a green wooded area with an adult talking to them.

“The Wetlands is one of my favorite places to visit at the Morris! It’s maintained as a natural landscape, and is a fantastic place to see and hear all sorts of wildlife. As a birder, I love checking in to see which birds are stopping by for the season—it’s where I saw my first indigo bunting last summer. Don't miss out on this Morris gem!”

– Megan Nguyen, Education Administrative Assistant

A dead piece of a tree among looming bare trees and a bench.

“My hidden gem is the weeping European beech (Fagus sylvatica f. pendula) across the way from Two Lines sculpture. In the middle of the weeping branches is a dead log that seems out of place at first glance, but it's actually the decaying remains of the original tree. The trees that are around are the rooted layers of the original mother tree. [Despite appearing as separate trunks, all these trees are individual parts of a single organism, sharing a network of interconnected roots underground.] Sitting here in the spring and summer when the leaves are full is like a little world away from the Gardens; a place to sit and enjoy nature.”

– Clara Reyes, Assistant Director of Visitor Education and Youth Programs

A historic stone structure with seven arches built into a green hillside

“Seven Arches is worth a visit in any season! The view from the path on top is beautiful, and the arches themselves are equally stunning when viewed from the path across the gardens.”

– Leslie Crane, Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations

A wrought-iron gate with a decorative circle in the middle looking out onto a slope of blooming trees and covered in purple wisteria flowers.

“I love to steal away from the hustle of the Gardens to the peaceful hidden 'room' on Wisteria Walk. Not only is it beautiful when in full bloom, but the views through the wrought iron fencing are so distinctive!”

– Teri Scott, Director of Marketing

A small waterfall surrounded by large trees with bright green foliage.

“One of my favorite Morris hidden gems is the old stone bridge down below the Whimsical Woods, where the Swan Pond creek meets the Wissahickon. It's a nice place to sit and take a breath and watch the water navigate the little falls through the Metasequoia grove. There's also a great chance that you'll spot a kingfisher swooping along the big creek, or some wood ducks sneaking along the bank.”

– Zach Gillespie, Assistant Gardener

A path leading through tall trees with a green sign that reads, "Woodland Trail Entrance."

“When the temperature is super hot, and you want a cool spot with nothing but shade, head to the Woodland Trail! It's my favorite hidden gem!”

– Terri Purnell, Visitor Experience Staff

A cat laying on it's back amongst potted plants.

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