Sustainability Sustainability Image As part of the University of Pennsylvania, the Morris Arboretum & Gardens is a key partner in realizing Penn’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan (CSAP) 4.0 , which lays out the University’s ambitious sustainability goals for the next five years, as well as Penn’s path toward carbon neutrality by 2042. … Sustainability …

The Fernery The Fernery Image The Dorrance H. Hamilton Fernery  Image The Dorrance H. Hamilton Fernery is the only remaining freestanding Victorian fernery in North America. Originally built in 1899 under the supervision of John Morris, the Fernery stands today as a historical time piece, documenting the British obsession with ferns and glasshouses during the Victorian era. The building was constructed using locally mined stone and utilized cutting edge technology in glass cutting, steam heating, and architectural elements.  In the century following the original construction, the Fernery slowly fell into disrepair, with several small renovation projects to protect it from destruction. Finally in 1994 the Fernery was fully restored to its original grandeur with a gracious donation from board member Dorrance H. Hamilton and other contributors who responded to a major matching grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. This $1.2 million renovation included restoring the roof to the original curvature, replacing and updating the heating and electrical systems, installing an advanced climate control system, and restoring the waterfall, ponds and stone walls. The blue flagstone plaza was also installed during this project to welcome visitors, and provide a shaded relaxing place to stop and enjoy the arboretum.  Nestled in a curve of land below the Rose Garden, the Fernery has become an iconic part of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens. Its glittering rooftop welcoming visitors into a peaceful space filled with ferns, trickling waterfalls, and reflecting pools. A wonderful place to explore in all seasons.  Download a Self-guided Tour of the Fernery   Take a self-guided tour of the Fernery on your next visit. The Dorrance H. Hamilton Fernery is the only freestanding fernery left in North America and is home to over 200 different species of ferns and fern allies. During this tour, you will be introduced to some of the most notable ferns in the current collection.  …

Summer Camp Summer Camp Image Image Summer Camp 2025 Awaken your child’s curiosity and nurture their appreciation for nature by registering them for Morris Arboretum & Gardens' Nature Explorers Camp. Led by experienced educators, our goal is to inspire new generations of environmentally aware citizen scientists.     Registration → Image To receive the member pricing for camp, you must be a current member at the Family level or above . The system to purchase or renew memberships will be down from January 13 – February 13 . If your membership is not current and you want to take advantage of member pricing for camp, please  renew before January 13 .  *Please Note: We are a small camp, but we strive to offer a nature camp experience to as many children as possible. We request that each child is registered for a MAXIMUM OF 3 WEEKS OF CAMP.   Because our checkout experience also tends to get overwhelmed with web traffic, having fewer weeks in your cart improves your chances of success at checkout. If you are interested in registering for more than three weeks, you may do so beginning January 30 for as many additional weeks as you would like, or you may join the waitlist at that time. Because our registration is so early and plans do change, waitlist spots often become available. If you are already registered for three weeks but are offered a spot from the waitlist, your child can attend for as many additional weeks as you like.     When enrollment is full, you can register for the waitlist using the same link. There is no charge to be waitlisted, and spots often become available between now and summer.  To receive the member pricing for camp, you must be a current member at the Family level or above.  ** Please note that the system to purchase or renew memberships will be down from January 13 – February 13 . If your membership is not current and you want to take advantage of member pricing for camp, please  renew before January 13 .  How to Register  Pay online through …

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 & …