Signature Gardens Signature Gardens Image Rose Garden Image Photo: Rob Cardillo The Rose Garden was created in 1888 and is one of the oldest features of the Morris estate. Originally comprised of fruits, vegetables, flowers, a few roses, and a specimen chestnut tree, Lydia Morris transformed this mixed garden into a Rose Garden in 1924. Once a monoculture of roses, today the Rose Garden contains a mix of roses, perennials, annuals and woody plants with height elements and garden ornaments added to create a look reminiscent of the Victorian era.   English Park Image Photo: Rob Cardillo John Morris created the English  Park around 1912, filling it mainly with plants from China. In keeping with English tradition, the area provides light and open vistas of the surrounding landscape. Today, the English Park is marked by gently rolling lawns bordered by significant collections of maples, witchhazels, dogwoods, cherries, and stewartias. One of the most noticeable features of the English Park which remains today is the Step Fountain. The fountain was commissioned by Lydia Morris in 1916 in honor of her brother John who had died shortly before. In 1988, the Step Fountain underwent a restoration and the sculpture “After B.K.S. Iyengar” was installed. Rock Wall Garden Image The Rock Wall Garden was built in 1924, about the same time the area was changed into a Rose Garden. The six-foot-high wall is made of Wissahickon schist, and is filled with a variety of perennials. It is a sunny, south-facing location, with well-drained, cool cracks, providing conditions similar to those in alpine regions. Plants with short stems, dense, tough or hairy foliage and those with long fibrous roots or taproots grow well in this environment. The wall provides a unique display for colorful cascading plants in early spring. The Alice & J. Liddon Pennock Flower Walk Image A garden of vibrant color and texture, the Alice and J. Liddon Pennock Flower Walk represents the realization of a dream …

Whimsical Woods Whimsical Woods Image Visit our Whimsical Woods, the Morris’s reimagined garden space specifically for children! The fun includes the Willow Wander, a 40’ long, 6’ high tunnel made of living willow, as well as a Fairy Garden that invites visitors to use materials found in the natural world to create their own enchanted fairy houses. Additional events and programs like scavenger hunts and story times will be scheduled throughout the year.  Image Fairy Garden The Fairy Garden invites visitors to use materials found in the natural world to create their own enchanted fairy houses.  Image Willow Wander Willow Wander is a 40’ long, 6’ high tunnel made of living willow that visitors are encouraged to walk-through and explore.  Image Picnicking Nestled underneath a tree between the Fairy Woods and Willow Wander is a table and stools for lunch and snack time.  … Whimsical Woods …

Celebrate the Beauty of Winter Explore winter wonders with guided tours, wellness walks, discounted admission, and more at the Morris! Explore winter wonders at Morris Arboretum & Gardens! From our extensive witchhazel collection that adds color and fragrance to the landscape, to a specialized tour of our "bare naked trees," February is a wonderful time to visit us in Chestnut Hill.  Check out our inclusion in Redfin's recent blog post,  16 Winter Things to Do in Philly | Redfin , and read on to learn more about what's happening at the Morris this winter.   Image Discounted Admission Through February 29, experience winter wonders with discounted admission at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens: Members:  Free Adults:   $20.00  $12.00 Seniors (65+ years):  $ 18.00  $11.00 Youth (3-17 years):   $10.00  $6.00 Children (Under 3):  Free PennCard (must present ID):  Free Students (must present ID):  $10.00 ACCESS Adults (must present ID):  $2.00 ACCESS Youth (3-17 years):  $2.00 ACCESS Child (Under 3):  Free Retired Military (must have ID):  $10.00 Active Military and Five Family Members supported by Wawa (must have ID):  Free Walk In or Bike In:  $10.00 (Kids $5.00) Get Tickets →   Image Witchhazels The Morris witchhazel collection is one of the largest in the country, adding bursts of color and fragrance across the winter landscape. Some witchhazels are currently in full bloom, and our overall collection is expected to peak by mid-February—visit in the next few weeks to see this exquisite winter beauties! Stay tuned for more information on a Witchhazel Tour . Explore the collection with the Witchhazel Map →   Tours Image Bare Naked Trees Tour Saturday, February 10 & 24 • 11 am Meet at the Welcome Center. Free with general admission. Weather permitting.    Explore the beauty of trees in winter on this guided tour! Without their leaves, deciduous trees reveal a variety of shapes and sculptures to admire. The tour features weeping, round, pyramidal, and vase-shaped trees, and …

Outside the School Halls and Within the Garden Walls Kevin Hennigan and Jo Schirling, both 2024 graduates of Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School, spent every Tuesday and Thursday of their senior year interning at the Morris—and they did everything, from decimating pests and diseases in the greenhouse to assisting Plant Science by using satellite technology. Image Jo Schirling and Kevin Hennigan, 2024 graduates of Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School who interned at the Morris during their senior year. “Quercus!” “Magnolia!” “Acer and Ilex! Oh, and I learned how to not bump into branches!” These are a few of the responses from our high school interns to the question, “What did you learn during your internship?” High school internships at Morris Arboretum & Gardens are all about getting outside the school halls and within the garden walls. Kevin Hennigan and Jo Schirling, both 2024 graduates of Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School, spent every Tuesday and Thursday of their senior year interning at the Morris. Some days they decimated pests and diseases in the greenhouse. Other days they loaded trucks with debris tossed down from the trees by our arborists. They created a scavenger hunt for the Education department, took phone calls in reception, greeted visitors at the entrance kiosk. Many, many days they assisted Plant Science, using satellite technology to take geolocation “points” in the garden as part of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens Plant Collection and Management Project . The internships are part of our ongoing outreach to public and charter schools in northwest Philadelphia. Along with field trips and summer workforce development programs, Morris is a host site for students in Lankenau’s Agriculture Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) internship program. And what did they learn? In addition to being able to identify trees by their scientific names, Kevin and Jo both acknowledge picking up soft skills like understanding …

Wildlife & Birding Wildlife & Birding Image Morris Arboretum & Garden’s natural areas include wetlands, meadows, and the woodlands along the Wissahickon Creek. These areas provide a great habitat for a wide variety of wildlife and birds year-round. There are resident birds, as well as migrating raptors and warblers to see. Additionally, Tree Canopy Walk gives you a chance to look for birds on the tree canopy: a great vantage point for viewing birds at treetop level.  Image Wildlife and Bird Checklists  Check for the most common wildlife sightings on iNaturalist   Add your sightings Check for the most common bird sightings on eBird Hotspot Add your sightings Seasonal Birds at Morris List compiled by Ruth Pfeffer  Birds of the East Coast   Self-Guided Tour  Take a self-guided tour of the wetlands where many notable birds have been sighted.  Get the Guide .  Trips, Classes, and Events  There are a number of bird watching classes that appeal to beginners and experts alike, offered through our Education department.  See our current offerings .    Birds Seen at Morris Arboretum & Gardens Image Great white egret - Photo: Ken Tapp Image Male tree swallows - Photo: Ruth Pfeffer Image Cedar waxwing - Photo: Susan Marshall Image American robin - Photo: Susan Marshall Image Common nighthawk - Photo: Susan Marshall Image Tufted titmouse - Photo: Susan Marshall Image European starling - Photo: Susan Marshall.  Image Killdeer - Photo: Susan Marshall Image Least sandpiper - Photo: Susan Marshall 1 / PREV NEXT Additional Resources  John James Audubon Center  For more birding trip and events in the greater Philadelphia region, visit  www.johnjames.audubon.org »   Cornell Lab of Ornithology  All About Birds: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology   … Wildlife & …

Summer of Dinos: Photo Contest Take part in our Summer of Dinos photo contest for a chance to win a family membership to the Morris Arboretum & Gardens! TyrannoMorris Rex wants his photo taken with YOU! This 25-foot dinosaur somehow avoided extinction  and  traveled 66 million years into the future for Summer of Dinos! Capture this amazing moment with yourself, family, and friends in our  photo contest for a chance to win a family membership to the Morris Arboretum & Gardens and a feature on our social media! Image HOW TO ENTER Visit the Morris and take a photo with TyrannoMorris Rex. Post it on your Instagram or Facebook feed, tag @morrisarboretum, and include the hashtag #summerofdinos. Note: Your account must be set to public to enter so we can see your post. THE PRIZES The winner will receive a family membership for one year. The winning photo will be featured on our Instagram and Facebook pages with credit. THE DETAILS Contest runs from July 1 – July 31, 2024 Winners will be announced on Friday, August 2, and notified via direct message, as well as tagged in the winner announce post across Instagram and Facebook. JUDGING Contest entries will be judged by a jury of three highly specialized Morris employees with impeccable photographic taste, otherwise known as the Marketing Department, on the following criteria: Creativity (50%) – Points for originality and fun! Representation of Morris Arboretum & Garden (25%) – Points for showcasing the unique sense of place that can only be found within our gardens. Photo (25%) – Points for aesthetic appeal, including balanced color and lighting. CONTEST RULES All entries must tag and follow @morrisarboretum and include the hashtag #summerofdinos Submissions will not be accepted after the July 31 deadline. All photos must be original work, taken by the entrants. By entering the Summer of Dinos photo contest, entrants agree that photos submitted can be used by the Morris on our social media pages with photographer credit. …

Planned Giving Planned Giving Image Planned gifts enable donors to make significant gifts to the Morris Arboretum & Gardens in ways that complement their financial planning. Such gifts provide for endowments, new or renovated landscapes and gardens, and new programs critical to the Morris’s mission. Planned gifts may help donors reduce or eliminate capital gains or estate taxes, obtain significant income tax deductions and/or provide annual income. Bequests Bequests or gifts made by will are one of the Morris’s most important sources of individual support. Bequests can be made in the form of a specific gift of cash, securities or other property, or a percentage of the remainder of an estate. Retirement assets or life insurance may be included in a bequest. Life Income Gifts These planned gifts may generate immediate tax deductions and may also provide lifelong income to the donor while naming the Morris Arboretum & Gardens as the beneficiary of the gift. From the simplest form of gift annuity to more complex forms of charitable trusts, planned gifts can help provide for individual needs and for the future of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens. The Lydia Morris Legacy Society Once you have informed the Morris Arboretum & Gardens in writing of your intention to name the Morris as a beneficiary of a planned gift, you are invited to become a member of the Lydia Morris Legacy Society. You will be invited to special Morris events held for donors; your planned gift will be acknowledged in the Impact Report. For more information please contact: Mira Zergani, Director of Development at mzergani@upenn.edu . … Planned …

Swan Pond Swan Pond Image Image Designed and installed in 1905 by John Morris, the Swan Pond is an artificial lake that was created by damming the East Brook, which naturally flows through the Morris. The idea for the Swan Pond likely came from the popular 18th century landscape design style of the English romantic landscape which often included a classical temple reflected at water’s edge. Sculpted of white marble, it was modeled after the plans of Vitruvious, an Augustan student of architecture. Records from that time period indicate that the Morrises purchased a pair of swans in 1923 for $82.50. The Swan Pond is the year-round home of the Morris’s beloved swan sisters, Flora and Fauna. … Swan Pond …