Summer of Swings Extended to October 2! If you didn't get a chance to experience the Morris Arboretum from the high up on a swing, you're in luck—by popular demand ,  Summer of Swings   has been extended through October 2!  Image If you didn't get a chance to experience the Morris Arboretum from the high up on a swing, you're in luck—by popular demand ,  Summer of Swings   has been extended through October 2! Admire the changing leaves, learn about  Galilieo's Law of the Pendulum , and play our  HIGH SPY  activity to explore your surroundings and discover something new! Thanks to everyone who entered the  Summer of Swings  Photo Contest . We received an astounding amount of entries, and we're so impressed with the talent and creativity our visitors expressed from both behind and in front of the camera. We are so pleased to announce Elizabeth Encarnacion as the winner! Her photo hits all the marks: originality, a unique view of the Arboretum, and the joy of swings. Congratulations, Elizabeth—we look forward to featuring your photo on our website and seeing you at the Arboretum with your prize membership!  Blog Image September 1, 2022 … Summer of Swings Extended to October …

Natural Areas Natural Areas Image Image Today, the Morris's natural areas in the lower meadows look almost as they did when the property was the Morrises’ estate. In the early 1900s, John Morris drained the area and installed a tile field for grazing cattle. Over the years, sections of the tile field broke down, making the area marshy from underground springs and groundwater. The combination of water and soil types made the location perfect for the development of a wetland. After receiving funds from federal and state agencies, local foundations and generous individuals, restoration of the pre-existing wetland took place in 2002. The new construction included both shallow areas for vegetation as well as several deep holes to accommodate the overwintering of fish and amphibians. To encourage birds, waterfowl and mammals to inhabit the area, bluebird, kestrel, wood duck and bat boxes were installed. The Morris’s wetland is now a thriving example of an ecosystem that supports an abundance of native plant life, as well as year-round and migratory bird populations. You can contact Ryan Drake, McCausland Natural Areas Manager at rdrake@upenn.edu.     Take a self-guided tour of the Wetland. The wetland and its floodplain encompass about 35 acres of the Morris. Find native plants, keep an eye out for belted kingfishers and blue herons, and learn about the history of the wetland dating back to 1717.  Take the Tour … Natural …

Groundbreaking in 2025 for New Garden Railway Train Shed The Garden Railway train shed "tent" to be replaced with a design inspired by historic Chestnut Hill train station. The Garden Railway will have a new look in spring 2025—the nearby train shed “tent” will be replaced with a structure featuring a playful design inspired by the landmark Chestnut Hill West Station newsstand on Germantown Avenue, complete with crooked fascia. The new train shed will provide more space, storage, and better shelter to trainmasters Bruce Morrell and his grandson, Josh Faia, and the staff and volunteers who help keep the trains running. Executive Director Bill Cullina says it will enhance the guest experience, increase accessibility, and celebrate the past while embracing the future. Image The landmark Chestnut Hill West Station newsstand on Germantown Avenue is the inspiration for the new Garden Railway train shed.  “It’s a really cool project because it solves a functional need of replacing the old canvas tent that’s there now,” said Cullina. “It’s also a celebration of the history of trains and Chestnut Hill, and how trains were so formative to the development of Chestnut Hill and the community.” Cullina said while it’s not a scale replica of the newsstand, it will have the same Victorian details—the green, tan, and red paint scheme, and the iconic and charming crooked roofline. There will be an enclosed space outfitted with benchtops, lighting, and shelving to store the extra trains and equipment. An L-shaped 8-foot-deep porch with seating will provide visitors with shelter from the weather and a great spot to watch the goings-on in the garden. Image The current tent shelters the train masters and equipment for the Garden Railway. The new structure comes by way of a $300,000 commitment by longtime Morris members Radclyffe “Mike” Thompson and his wife, Maria Thompson, who has been newly elected to the Advisory Board. Their gift will also establish an endowment to ensure ongoing …

What's in Bloom: October What's in Bloom: October Image October at the Morris Image strawberry bush Euonymus americanus Native Azalea Collection Inconspicuous spring flowers become showy seed pods in early fall. The textured pink seed pods of this native shrub burst open, exposing striking orange fruit that contrast against its bright green leaves and stems. Image stiff dogwood Cornus foemina Swan Pond Clusters of deep blue fruit adorn these small trees native to the southeastern United States. The genus name Cornus means “horn” and is in reference to the tree’s strong wood. Image Chinese osmanthus Osmanthus armatus Orange Balustrade Small white flowers produce a sweet, wafting fragrance throughout this area of the garden. This large evergreen shrub is similar to the evergreen hollies ( Ilex ) planted nearby, but the leaf arrangements on Osmanthus are opposite, while Ilex is alternate. Image false holly Osmanthus heterophyllus Hillcrest Pavilion Blooming from late fall into early winter, this evergreen tree produces small, fragrant cream-colored flowers. Unlike Osmanthus armatus , this species’ leaves tend to have toothed margins rather than smooth. Image common baldcypress Taxodium distichum (common baldcypress) This stately deciduous conifer produces a showy display of fall color, with needles turning a deep orange color before falling off. When growing near water, baldcypress trees produce cone-like, above-ground root shoots called “knees”. Image American beautyberry Callicarpa americana Native Azalea Collection These native shrubs produce clusters of bright purple fruit along its branches, hanging on to the plant into early winter after the leaves fall off. … What's in Bloom: …

Courses Courses Image Image Courses for Adults From our lecture series that focuses on transforming your outdoor space into a thriving ecosystem to creative courses that includes watercolor painting in our gardens, we have a full roster that will flex your green thumb, your creativity, and your mind. Download the Spring 2025 Course Catalog → Behind the Scenes Birding Botany Creative Expressions Culinary Adventures Health & Wellness Horticulture & Design Lectures School of Arboriculture Sustainable Practices Trips Members get discounts on our courses. Not an Arboretum member? Join today! Become a Member … Courses …