Morris Arboretum & Gardens Breaks Ground for a New Plant Science Lab October 7, 2024 Philadelphia, PA—Construction for the new Morris Arboretum & Gardens Plant Science Lab is underway, following a groundbreaking ceremony October 1, 2024, at the arboretum in Chestnut Hill. The lab will significantly expand the Morris’s research capabilities in using DNA science to save native plants and trees that are being affected by harsher climate conditions. “Scientific research in botany and horticulture has been one of the pillars of the Morris Arboretum & Garden’s mission since its founding in 1932,” said William Cullina, the F. Otto Haas executive director. “This research is more important than ever. A changing climate, resulting in shifting temperate zones, and other anthropogenic impacts have put immense stress on the life-sustaining plants that surround us.” As a leading public garden and research institution, the Morris is building new lab facilities to accommodate current and additional research staff who are working to understand the genetics of rare as well as abundant species. The new facility will provide a wet lab space and equipment that researchers will use to complete plant molecular biology and anatomy studies. “The Morris amplifies Penn’s fundamental mission of research,” said Michael Scales, vice president of the Division of Business Services University of Pennsylvania. “Good research needs good resources. The Plant Science Lab will no doubt be a vital resource to scientists grappling with some of the most crucial issues of our time, not least of which are the existential implications of sustaining life in this age of rapid climate change.” The new lab is an important part of the Morris’s 20-year comprehensive site plan that includes providing a more accessible, welcoming, and enriching guest experience. Construction of the lab is expected to be completed in early 2025. Image Left to right: Elizabeth P. McLean, emeritus member of the Board of Advisors of the …

Impact Report Impact Report Image Impact Report July 2023 – June 2024 Read the latest Impact Report below, or download the PDF  here .  Past Impact Reports 2023 – 2024 • 2022 – 2023 •  2021 – 2022 • 2020 – 2021  • 2019 – 2020 • 2018 – 2019 • 2017 – 2018 • 2016 – 2017  • 2015 – 2016 • 2014 – 2015 • 2013 – 2014 • 2012 – 2013 … Impact Report …

Penn Treaty Elm’s Lightning Protection System Gets an Upgrade Morris Arboretum & Gardens Urban Forestry Consulting team helps manage the approximately 6,500 trees on the University of Pennsylvania campus, including the Penn Treaty Elm which requires a plethora of strategies to protect and maintain its biological health and structural stability. One feature of its defensive gauntlet is a lightning protection system, and the Morris has developed a sturdier, adjustable, more sustainable system dubbed the Morris Lightning Protection Attachment. Morris Arboretum & Gardens Urban Forestry Consulting team helps manage the approximately 6,500 trees on the University of Pennsylvania campus in the heart of West Philadelphia. While there are many great trees on campus, the Treaty Elm is undoubtedly the biggest. For this large, mature tree with a wealth of cultural and historical significance, we employ a plethora of strategies to protect and maintain its biological health and structural stability. Image Photo 1: Penn Treaty Elm on College Green is an iconic part of Penn’s landscape. One feature of its defensive gauntlet is a lightning protection system. As per American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 Tree Care and industry best-management practices, the Treaty Elm lightning protection system consists of a conducting copper wire that begins in the upper tree canopy and is attached to the trunk/scaffold limbs all the way down to where it is grounded in the soil below. Due to the Treaty Elm’s prominent location, accessibility to people, and rightful popularity, the staples that attached the lightning protection conductor to its trunk were frequently being pulled out, even after they were hammered back in. These detachments could potentially disconnect the copper wire conductor from the ground, compromising its effectiveness. Also, these staples are not adjustable, so the tree will eventually overgrow and subsume the staples and copper conductor. The standard staples …

Holiday Garden Railway Holiday Garden Railway Image Get a jump on holiday fun at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens! Due to high demand, Holiday Garden Railway is opening ONE WEEK EARLIER this year! Trains start running Saturday, November 23 through Monday, December 30.  Free with general admission. Image Holiday Garden Railway Make your holiday even more magical with a visit to the Holiday Garden Railway, as it is transformed for the season with thousands of twinkling lights! See the enchanting model rail cars in a festive wonderland of lights and sounds, a marvelous experience for visitors of all ages. Saturday, November 23 – Monday, December 30 Free with general admission. Sponsored in part by: Image   FAQ Holiday Garden Railway: Daytime Viewing When can I see the trains? The Holiday Garden Railway is open daily, 10 am–4 pm from November 24 through December 30. The Morris is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year’s Day. The trains cannot run in heavy rain, snow, or ice. Do I need tickets to see the trains during the day? No, daytime viewing of Holiday Garden Railway is included with general admission. Advance tickets are no longer required to visit the Morris; you can purchase online or in-person.  Can I visit during the day and stay for Nighttime Express? No. Nighttime Express requires a separate advance ticket. Are the trains inside or outside? The Holiday Garden Railway exhibit is an outdoor miniature display. It’s a third of a mile track with loops and tunnels surrounded by plants and twinkling lights. Is the exhibit handicap accessible? Do you have wheelchairs? The site is wheelchair and stroller accessible, however the path within the site is narrow and has a downward slope.   Holiday Garden Railway: Nighttime Express Due to limited parking, you must purchase tickets with specific arrival times.  Please stay on the path. Walking into the lights off the path is dangerous, please help us keep everyone safe and stay on the path.   …