SATURDAY, MAY 2 | 11:00am
Visitor Center
Included with garden admission.
Join an experienced guide for our featured tour of the month. Explore the Arboretum’s collection of flowering dogwoods in many shapes and forms and other spring bloomers with a dazzling range of flower colors and scents. Tour begins at Widener Visitor Center.
SUNDAY, MAY 3 | 11:00am - 3:00pm
Throughout the gardens
Included with garden admission.
Enjoy performances of traditional Irish music at various locations throughout the garden. Meet historians and brothers William E. and J. Francis Watson and learn about the infamous Duffy’s Cut tragedy.
Slogan for the day – “May the tree lined path rise up to greet you on May 3, Irish Day at Morris Arboretum, which is always dressed in green.”
FRIDAY, MAY 8 | 10:30am - 11:00am
Visitor Center
Included with garden admission.
Join us for fun and engaging reading sessions with local librarians. Each session is tailored to the changing seasons and complements the natural setting of the Arboretum. Storytime is held outdoors in nice weather, at the Outdoor Children's Classroom, next to the Widener Visitor Center. In the case of inclement weather, Storytime is held in the side tent or classroom at the Visitor Center.
SATURDAYS, MAY 9 & 23 | 11:00am
Visitor Center
Included with garden admission.
Join a knowledgeable guide for a walking tour highlighting garden features not often viewed on an average visit. Go off the beaten path to discover garden gems you haven’t seen before. Tour begins at Widener Visitor Center.
Cancelled
Join us at the first Mill Day of the Season! Shop the beautiful plants that will be on offer from local chapters of the American Rhododendron Society, the North American Rock Garden Society, the Fern and Wildflower Society and the Hardy Plant Society. Find containers for your new plants as well as other original ceramics on sale by the talented artisans of the Allens Lane Art Center. Take a tour of the historic mill and relax on the adjacent lawn listening to the original, live music of local favorites the Humbleman Band. Visit with animal guests from neighboring Erdenheim Farm. Pack a picnic and invite your family and friends to join you for an enjoyable afternoon at Bloomfield Farm.
SATURDAY, MAY 23
Visitor Center
Included with garden admission.
The Garden Railway opens for the summer season Saturday, May 23, Memorial Day weekend. The Garden Railway display is a miniature world with a quarter mile track running through it. It features loops and tunnels, bridges and trestles and all of the small-scale buildings are created entirely of natural materials. The trains will be open daily through Labor Day, Monday, September 2, and then on weekends only through Monday, October 14.
FRIDAY, JUNE 5 | 6:00pm - 11:00pm
Rose Garden
Moonlight & Roses is the Morris Arboretum’s annual fundraising gala to support all aspects of the Arboretum’s mission. The evening begins with cocktails in our stunning Rose Garden at the peak of its bloom. Dinner follows underneath of a clear-top tent with a live band, dancing and open bar. More information, including how to purchase tickets, can be found at www.MorrisArboretumGala.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 6 | 11:00am
Visitor Center
Included with garden admission.
Join an experienced guide for our featured tour of the month. Tour begins at Widener Visitor Center.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12 | 10:30am - 11:00am
Visitor Center
Included with garden admission.
Join us for fun and engaging reading sessions with local librarians. Each session is tailored to the changing seasons and complements the natural setting of the Arboretum. Storytime is held outdoors in nice weather, at the Outdoor Children's Classroom, next to the Widener Visitor Center. In the case of inclement weather, Storytime is held in the side tent or classroom at the Visitor Center.
SUNDAY, JUNE 21 | 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Bloomfield Farm
Included with garden admission. Farm only $5 admission for ages 3 & up
Bring your family to explore the Arboretum’s historic grist mill situated along the picturesque Wissahickon Creek. Watch one-ton millstones grind corn kernels and observe 160-year-old machinery transport and sift the ground corn to produce meal. Guided tours.
SATURDAY, JUNE 27 - SUNDAY, JULY 5
Garden Railway
Included with garden admission.
Listen for the call of the ringmaster as you watch the colorful railroad cars bring the “Big Top” to the garden.
SATURDAY, JULY 4 | 11:00am
Meet at Widener Visitor Center
Join a knowledgeable guide to view a combination of structures, sculptures, walkways, trees and vistas. This tour includes stops to and from the Rose Garden, as well as in and around English park. Some features are off the beaten path or hidden to most visitors. A few attractions are near the main path; we think of those as hidden in plain view. The tour will show visitors something about these more-familiar gems that is different: a different angle in viewing them or an interesting uncommonly known fact about their background.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 | 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Meet at Widener Visitor Center
Guides will lead visitors to several natural and man-made water features throughout the garden. Discussion will include the visual beauty of water features and the evolution of the use of water in gardens, which brought the splendor of natural waterfalls and streams into personal gardens. Tour begins at Widener Visitor Center.
FRIDAY, JULY 10 | 10:30am - 11:00am
Visitor Center
Included with garden admission.
Join us for fun and engaging reading sessions with local librarians. Each session is tailored to the changing seasons and complements the natural setting of the Arboretum. Storytime is held outdoors in nice weather, at the Outdoor Children's Classroom, next to the Widener Visitor Center. In the case of inclement weather, Storytime is held in the side tent or classroom at the Visitor Center.
SATURDAY, JULY 11 & SUNDAY, JULY 12
Garden Railway
Included with garden admission.
Look for your favorite train characters among the whole steam engine gang from Sodor as they take over the Railway for the weekend.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 | 11:00am
Meet at Widener Visitor Center
Guides will lead visitors to several natural and man-made water features throughout the garden. Discussion will include the visual beauty of water features and the evolution of the use of water in gardens, which brought the splendor of natural waterfalls and streams into personal gardens. Tour begins at Widener Visitor Center.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 & SUNDAY, AUGUST 9
Garden Railway
Included with garden admission.
Look for your favorite train characters among the whole steam engine gang from Sodor as they take over the Railway for the weekend.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12 | 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Meet at Widener Visitor Center
Join an experienced guide for our featured tour of the month. Tour begins at Widener Visitor Center. Join this month’s Sculpture Tour to discover fine examples of public art that complement the arboretum’s landscape and plant collection.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 | 10:30am - 11:00am
Visitor Center
Included with garden admission.
Join us for fun and engaging reading sessions with local librarians. Each session is tailored to the changing seasons and complements the natural setting of the Arboretum. Storytime is held outdoors in nice weather, at the Outdoor Children's Classroom, next to the Widener Visitor Center. In the case of inclement weather, Storytime is held in the side tent or classroom at the Visitor Center.
In response to the unprecedented public health crisis related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), Morris Arboretum will close to the public as of March 14, 2020 until the University of Pennsylvania feels that is it safe to re-open. Learn more about the Univerisity's response on the University of Pennsylvania’s dedicated Coronavirus website: coronavirus.upenn.edu. Please know that this decision was made after careful deliberation and that our priority is to do all we can to ensure the safety and well being of our staff, volunteers, and visitors. Information pertaining to public health is rapidly evolving and, as such, it is not yet known when we will reopen. We will be vigilant in our efforts to keep our website up-to-date and we will communicate directly to members and class registrants via email with the latest details.
The following information is provided in anticipation of some of the questions you may have relative to the following categories:
Individuals who have registered for a class
It is our intention to provide a refund to individuals who have registered for a class that occurs during this temporary closure. We are working as quickly as possible to process your refunds in the manner in which you paid. If you have questions, please contact education@morrisarboretum.org.
Annual Membership
We appreciate your patience at this time. We know that early spring is the most natural time to come out to the Arboretum for a walk in the gardens to enjoy the fresh air, but maintaining public health must be our priority. We look forward to seeing you in the gardens just as soon as we are reassured that it is safe for all of our visitors to return. We will keep you updated on any developments, but in the meantime, if you have any questions about your membership, please contact members@morrisarboretum.org.
Planned Events
Any individuals that have planned events will receive outreach directly from a staff member to discuss your options.
We will continue to update the community as soon as information is available and is consistent with the evolution of this dynamic situation. Questions may be directed to info@morrisarboretum.org.
We appreciate your understanding during these challenging times and we thank you for your support. Please stay connected with us through Facebook, Instagram, and our website.
Resources
Center for Disease Control (CDC): cdc.gov/coronavirus
University of Pennsylvania’s dedicated Coronavirus website: coronavirus.upenn.edu
The Arboretum is open as usual. Click here for hours.
Please note: The Rose Garden is closed for maintenance every Thursday morning until noon.
Weather conditions may limit garden access to certain features even if the garden is open – please check the web site or call (215) 247-5777 for updates before visiting. Our visitors’ safety in the garden is our top priority. Therefore when inclement weather is predicted, we will make decisions about closing the garden accordingly.
