Hill & Cloud Garden: A Serene and Historic Landscape On your next visit to Morris Arboretum & Gardens, stroll through our recently renovated Hill & Cloud Garden, which offers a serene, immersive landscape where you can explore the beauty and balance of a thoughtfully designed historic space. Image The restored waterfall and stream that runs through the Hill & Cloud Garden.  On your next visit to Morris Arboretum & Gardens, stroll through our recently renovated Hill & Cloud Garden, which offers a serene, immersive landscape where you can explore the beauty and balance of a thoughtfully designed historic space. Wander along reimagined pathways, pause by the newly restored stream and waterfall, and rediscover this lost garden as it comes to life for the season. Originally commissioned in 1905 by John and Lydia Morris, the site was designed by renowned Japanese garden designer Yonehachi Muto, also known for Philadelphia’s Temple Gate Garden in Fairmount Park. Inspired by a deep appreciation for Japanese culture in the style of a traditional Tsukiyama, or Hill Garden, mounds of earth were sculpted to suggest mountains, while rocks and the flowing stream represent rivers and lakes. This landscape continues to honor that vision today, featuring dwarf azaleas, lush ferns, a state champion Japanese torreya ( Torreya nucifera ), and several magnificent Japanese umbrella pines ( Sciadopitys verticillata ) alongside seasonal blooms. Japanese-inspired stone statuary and a thoughtfully revamped water feature enhance the experience, adding sound, motion, and a renewed sense of vitality. Whether visiting during peak bloom or in a quieter moment of the year, the Hill & Cloud Garden offers an experience rooted in history, design, and the enduring beauty of nature. Hill & Cloud Garden Image Image Image Image 1 / PREV NEXT Cynthia Schemmer, Digital Marketing Coordinator Blog Image May 11, …

History of Morris Arboretum & Gardens History of Morris Arboretum & Gardens Image Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania was once the private estate of siblings John (1847-1915) and Lydia Morris (1849-1932), children of a prominent Philadelphia Quaker family. Established in 1887 in Chestnut Hill, the estate was called Compton. The land the Morrises purchased for their estate was initially barren, with neglected soils and steep slopes. With diligent care, John and Lydia improved the land and began filling the property with collections of exotic and native trees and shrubs from across the temperate world. Between 1892 and 1910, the Morrises purchased adjacent parcels of land with the intent of expanding the gardens and features. With the purchase of Bloomfield Farm in 1914, their estate encompassed more than 166 acres in Chestnut Hill and adjacent Flourtown. Through the years, John and Lydia continued enhancing the grounds with architectural and horticultural features, borrowing ideas from the many cities and gardens they visited during their travels to foreign lands. Over time, the Morrises created a unique and eclectic mix of gardens unlike those found elsewhere in the U.S. and other countries by incorporating formal garden elements, open lawns, and European and Japanese influences into the classic English landscape model. John Morris also added several distinctive structures to the grounds, including a greenhouse called a fernery (now the only remaining freestanding Victorian fernery in North America), a log cabin built as a private retreat for Lydia, and the Mercury Loggia, constructed in 1913 to commemorate the Morrises’ 25th anniversary at Compton. John died in 1915, leaving their estate in trust to Lydia, with the understanding that Compton and Bloomfield would eventually become a botanical garden and school for horticulturists. Lydia continued to cultivate the grounds until her death in 1932. The Morrises’ plans to turn their property …

Paul W. Meyer Paul W. Meyer Image Remembering Paul W. Meyer (1952–2023): A Statement From Executive Director Bill Cullina Image With the passing of Paul W. Meyer, the retired F. Otto Haas Executive Director, I would like to celebrate his lasting legacy at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens. It would be no overstatement to say that during Paul’s 43-year tenure at the Morris, 28 years as its leader, he transformed a quiet garden on the edge of the city into a vibrant, world-class public institution that now welcomes more than 170,000 visitors per year.  Paul began his career as the Morris’s curator and director of horticulture, developing a keen understanding of its mission and day-to-day activities while deepening his appreciation of the power of public horticulture. During this time, he oversaw the clearing of overgrown sections of the garden and the renewal of the living collections through expeditions to China and Korea. In 1991 after a nationwide search, Paul was selected to become the Morris’s new director. He was chosen for his vision, talent, leadership, and charisma to inspire staff and donors to raise the Morris Arboretum to the level of beauty and inclusion that its founders, John and Lydia Morris, envisioned. Paul was a keen believer that research and education are foundational elements of the Morris’s mission. Under his direction, the Morris built its botanical staff and its reputation for regional floristic studies. Paul’s love of learning (and travel!) was evident in his 12 expeditions to countries such as China, Korea, Taiwan, Armenia, and the Republic of Georgia, where he collected plants to help increase genetic variety, including plants that will grow in stressful urban conditions. Paul was also passionate about inspiring future generations of public garden leaders. Paul and his wife, Debra (Debbie) Rodgers, personally endowed two funds at the Morris that have been supplemented by contributions from other individuals in his honor: The Paul Meyer and …

Affiliations Affiliations Image University of Pennsylvania One of the oldest universities in America and one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in all the world.  America's Garden Capital A guide to the Philadelphia region's public gardens, arboreta, and historic landscapes. American Public Gardens Association The professional association for public gardens in North America, supporting the public horticulture community in its mission to study, display, and conserve plants. Chestnut Hill Business Association Morris Arboretum & Gardens is located in Philadelphia’s northwest neighborhood of Chestnut Hill, a favorite destination for shopping, restaurants, and family fun.  Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) Your travel guide to  Philadelphia and The Countryside® .  Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance leads, strengthens and gives voice to a varied cultural sector that is making Philadelphia a world-class region to live, work and play.  American Association of State and Local History The American Association for State and Local History provides leadership and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all …

Ways to Give Ways to Give Image There are many ways to support Morris Arboretum & Gardens, from membership and annual giving to tribute gifts and long-term contributions. Each option offers a meaningful way to connect with the Morris while helping care for the gardens and support the programs and experiences they make possible. Whether you choose to give, join, or get involved in another way, your support helps ensure that the Morris continues to grow and serve the community for years to come. Image Membership Become a member and receive unlimited general admission and invitations to special programs. Membership office members@morrisarboretum.org 215.247.5777 x205 Join Today! More Ways to Give Image Annual Fund Ensure the Morris has the resources it needs to engage visitors with spectacular landscapes and enriching programs.  Keith Lyons kwlyons@upenn.edu 215.247.5777 x161 Learn More Image Memorials & Tributes Honor a loved one with a gift to the Morris in their name.  Keith Lyons kwlyons@upenn.edu 215.247.5777 x161 Learn More Image The Collectors Circle The Collectors Circle represents the highest levels of annual giving and membership.  Keith Lyons kwlyons@upenn.edu 215.247.5777 x161 Learn More Image Corporate Partnerships There are many ways your business can benefit from a partnership with the Morris.  Leslie Crane  lcrane@upenn.edu  215.247.5777 x152  Learn More Image Moonlight & Roses Join us for cocktails and dinner in the garden at our premier annual fundraising gala, Moonlight & Roses, on the first Friday in June.  Kristen Casalenuovo  kcasal@upenn.edu  215.247.5777 x418  Learn More Image Planned Giving Make a lasting impact by including the Morris in your estate planning.  Mira Zergani  mzergani@upenn.edu  215.247.5777 x102  Learn More Image Special Projects Learn more about supporting a variety of projects and programs.  Alison Thornton  alisonth@upenn.edu  215.247.5777 x105  Learn More Image Other Ways to Give For more information on matching gifts, …

About the Archives About the Archives Image The Archives serves the Arboretum education, development, horticulture, and marketing staff, and is also open to qualified researchers by appointment. It is staffed by an archivist and a team of dedicated volunteers. Scope The Morris Arboretum Archives was established in 1987 to acquire, conserve, and catalog one-of-a-kind documents, letters, maps, architectural blueprints, landscape drawings, financial ledgers, diaries, lantern slides, photos, and negatives. Historic books, newspapers, research material, reports, and artifacts are also cataloged at the Arboretum. The archives collection includes roughly 100 cubic feet of paper archives and manuscripts, 12,000 images, including photographs, drawings, prints, lantern slides and other visual materials and 10 cubic feet of memorabilia and other objects. After 1932, the botanic gardens owned by Penn became known as the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. Since 1932, architectural blueprints, landscape drawings, lantern slides, negatives and photographs by the botanists and visitors at the gardens are housed here. Numerous papers about that period and about the staff, the plants, and the garden features are also in the Archives. Visiting the Archives Hours are by appointment. To arrange a visit, please contact us .  Additional Information for Researchers or History Buffs The Morris Family of Philadelphia, Descendants of Anthony Morris, by Robert C. Moon, MD, Five volumes, 1898.  Learn more » A geneaology of the ancestors and cousins of John Thompson Morris and Lydia Thompson Morris may be found online.  Learn More » Finding aids for five of our collections are found on the Philadelphia Area Special Collections and Libraries (PACSCL) website as a result of a grant to the Hidden Collections Initiative/Small project at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania from the Mellon Foundation..  Learn More » The John T. Morris Travel Albums 1881-1906 are at the Hagley …

Public Garden - After 1974 Public Garden - After 1974 Image Collections: Public Garden — After 1974 Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania Records The 1970s was a time of considerable change for the Arboretum, set in motion when Dr. F. Otto Haas assumed the position of Chair of the Advisory Board in 1972. During his tenure as Chair, the University granted the Arboretum more freedom as a university-wide “Resource Center” and the Board began to play a more active role. In 1977, Dr. William M. Klein, Jr., an experienced botanical garden administrator, was named the Arboretum’s first full-time Director. Eight months after his Image Planning the Arboretum: Director William Klein with Colin and Carole Franklin of Andropogon Association, 1976. appointment, Dr. Klein and the Board, under the guidance of Dr. Haas, launched a comprehensive renewal program in tandem with the University’s institution-wide plan for the 1980s. The stated goal of the renewal program was to “renew and endow the Arboretum’s most precious assets and to develop a standard of excellence for those features that are fundamental to its original design and purpose as a university and public institution, as set forth by Lydia T. Morris in 1932” ( Morris Arboretum Newsletter , March-April 1978). One of the operational changes at the Arboretum was assigning horticultural staff to specific areas of responsibility rather than serving on roving crews across the entire grounds—a plan still being implemented today. Another change, led by then-Curator Paul Meyer, was implementation of a comprehensive policy for collection of shrubs and trees, also still being implemented. A third change was increased emphasis on educational programs utilizing the resources of the Arboretum. By the end of the 1970s, the Arboretum had taken the significant steps toward renewal, with the support of grants and in partnership with the landscape planning firm, Andropogon Associates. This partnership has continued with …