A Look Inside the Morris Arboretum Herbarium An herbarium is a lot like a library, except instead of books it holds botanical specimens. The Morris Arboretum Herbarium contains more than 25,000 specimens, all of which have been digitized. From pressed orchids to parasitic mistletoe to oak branches with acorns, the Herbarium hosts a varied array of plants.   Emily Humphreys is the the Eli Kirk Price Plant Science Fellow. In September of 1994, a party of botanists from across the U.S. and China traversed a set of steep cliffs searching for lacebark pine ( Pinus bungeana ). While the botanists found several trees, they all grew on slopes too steep and treacherous to navigate. Finally, Dr. Riming Hao of Nanjing Botanic Garden, in a great show of bravery, climbed one of the trees that stretched over the cliffside, collecting seeds and a cutting that were brought back to the Morris Arboretum. Today, that cutting resides in the Arboretum’s Herbarium.*  Image A little bit of extra glue was applied to keep this leaf stuck down. What’s an herbarium?  An herbarium is a lot like a library, except instead of books it holds botanical specimens. Each specimen features a pressed and dried plant, which can include anything from a tiny flower, roots and all, to a dense tuft of moss, to a cutting of a tree branch like the one Dr. Hao collected. This plant is glued on a special piece of herbarium paper. While the glue and paper are specially formulated to preserve the plants, the general process of mounting a specimen is not too different from a craft project. In addition to the plant itself, the specimen also carries information about that plant in the form of a label. The information on these labels varies widely, but most feature an identification for the plant, the location and date it was collected, and the name of the collector. Finally, some specimens have a little folded packet that is meant to hold any bits or pieces that fall off of the dried plant in its long tenure as a …

Four Flourishing Ferns in the Fernery In these final days of winter, as both plants and people get anxious for spring, we are searching for signs of growth—and the Dorrance H. Hamilton Fernery is the perfect place to be surrounded by lush greenery. In these final days of winter, as both plants and people get anxious for spring, we are searching for signs of growth—and the  Dorrance H. Hamilton Fernery  is the perfect place to be surrounded by lush greenery. Kyra Matin, Plant Propagator at the Morris Arboretum, highlights four ferns that are currently flourishing in the Fernery and that you can see on your next visit to the Arboretum. She will also be leading the class  Propagating Ferns   on Saturday, March 19 where she will be teaching the magic that is propagating ferns by spore!   Kyra is also on the board of the  Hardy Fern Foundation  and runs their  social media  (where you can often see photos from our Fernery, including  Buzzy our resident cat ) so needless to say, she knows her ferns! She started working at the Arboretum in October, moving to Philadelphia from the Pacific Northwest (“a very ferny part of the country,” she says), and is thrilled to tend to the Fernery at the Morris Arboretum. Image Pyrrosia lingua (felt fern or tongue fern) Pyrrosia lingua  is one of the easier  Pyrrosias  to grow, but it’s just out of reach hardiness-wise for planting outside in Philadelphia. Fortunately, we can enjoy it in the Fernery! The common name for  P. lingua  is felt or tongue fern. Common names, like scientific names, often describe characteristics of the plant in question. Felt or tongue fern are apt descriptors for  P. lingua  because the fronds feel like felt and their shape is reminiscent of a tongue.  Lingua , the species name, is the Latin word for tongue. There are fifty-one species in the genus  Pyrrosia . They have a wide native range, spanning across Africa and Asia, into Australia, New Zealand, and Polynesia—with a concentration of species variety in …

For Educators For Educators Image Field Trips & Youth Tours  Please note: At least three weeks’ advance notice is needed for guided tours. Please review our FAQ on our Group Tours page  to learn how to book a field trip. Fill out the request form on the Group Tours page when you are ready to schedule an outdoor educational experience to enhance your students’ at-home or hybrid school instruction. Choose from the following field trip tours:  General Tour (All Ages)  Duration: 60 minutes  Explore our 92-acre living museum  See the tree highlights  Learn about the Morris’s history  Meets PA Academic Standards: 3.3 Biological Sciences, 4.6 Ecosystems and Their Interactions  For more information or to schedule a field trip, email  tours@morrisarboretum.org . What Tree Am I? Tour (3rd Grade and up)  Duration: 60 minutes  Morris Arboretum & Gardens is home to some of the oldest, rarest and largest trees in Philadelphia  Take a closer look to discover the amazing variety of the trees around us  Examine the unique characteristics of trees and discover which tree you are most like  Meets PA Academic Standards: 3.3 Biological Sciences, 4.6 Ecosystems and Their Interactions  For more information or to schedule a field trip, email tours@morrisarboretum.org . Scout Tour (All Ages)  Duration: 60 minutes  Morris Arboretum & Gardens provides the perfect resource to help complete many nature-themed Boy and Girl Scout badge requirements, including Forestry, Nature, Flowers, Trees, and more.  When scheduling your tour, please feel free to include your particular project needs. We’ll be happy to tailor our many tours and activities to help fulfill specific badge requirements, making your trip to the Morris both fun and productive.  Scout groups with tour reservations will receive the Morris Arboretum & Gardens Fun Patch!  For more information or to schedule a field trip, email tours@morrisarboretum.org  . 4 Seasons Through the 5 Senses Tour (PreK through Kindergarten)  Duration: 60 …

Field Trips Field Trips Image Field Trips & Youth Tours  Please note: At least 3 weeks advance notice is needed for guided tours. Email  tours@morrisarboretum.org  to schedule an outdoor educational experience to enhance your students at home or hybrid school instruction.  Choose from the following field trip tours:  General Tour (All Ages)  Duration: 60 minutes  Explore our 92-acre living museum  See the tree highlights  Learn about the Arboretum’s history  Meets PA Academic Standards:  3.3 Biological Sciences, 4.6 Ecosystems and Their Interactions  What Tree Am I? Tour (3rd Grade and up)  Duration: 60 minutes  Morris Arboretum is home to some of the oldest, rarest and largest trees in Philadelphia  Take a closer look to discover the amazing variety of the trees around us  Examine the unique characteristics of trees and discover which tree you are most like  Meets PA Academic Standards:  3.3 Biological Sciences, 4.6 Ecosystems and Their Interactions  Scout Tour (All Ages)  Duration: 60 minutes  Morris Arboretum provides the perfect resource to help complete many nature-themed Boy and Girl Scout badge requirements, including Forestry, Nature, Flowers, Trees, and more.  When scheduling your tour, please feel free to include your particular project needs. We’ll be happy to tailor our many tours and activities to help fulfill specific badge requirements, making your trip to Morris Arboretum both fun and productive.  Scout groups with tour reservations will receive the Morris Arboretum Fun Patch!  4 Seasons Through the 5 Senses Tour (PreK through Kindergarten)  Duration: 60 minutes  Take a sensory journey through the Arboretum  Learn the natural characteristics of each season  Collect plant material to bring back to the classroom  Meets PA Academic Standards:  3.3 Biological Sciences  Tree Adventure Tour I (K - 3rd Grade)  Duration: 60 minutes  Learn responsibility from a tree  Leaves are responsible for producing food  Bark is responsible for protecting the trunk  …

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 Arboretum’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 …

Urban Forestry Fellow Attends Sustainable Forestry Initiative Conference as a Youth Delegate This past June, Matt Walker, the Martha S. Miller and Rusty Miller Urban Forestry Fellow, attended the Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s (SFI) annual conference in Atlanta as a youth delegate. This past June I had the unique and profound experience of attending the Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s (SFI) annual conference in Atlanta as a youth delegate. Among the 49 other youth delegates there were students and young professionals from many varied backgrounds. Hailing from all over the United States and Canada, they were each dedicated to taking care of the world’s forests. I was eager to meet the cohort and start the conference. SFI’s mission is to “advance sustainability through forest-focused collaboration.” The extremely passionate people at SFI do fantastic work in areas critical to forest sustainability such as creating forestry standards, conducting research, strengthening community, and educating people about the importance of trees and forests. Their annual conference reflects the collaborative nature of the organization, with representation from logging companies, forest scientists, conservationists, Indigenous leaders, and, of course, the youth delegation. Image SFI’s new strategic direction is guided by Standards, Conservation, Community, and Education. We were greeted in Atlanta by SFI staff dedicated to advancing green careers. Before the conference began, we were guided through sessions that taught us networking skills and gave us the confidence to reach out to people at the conference to advance our careers. Delegates were also assigned mentors, who were professionals in various fields of forestry, to help us make connections with their colleagues. With these new skills, and a fresh stack of personalized business cards made for us, we were released to the conference. As much as conferences are about learning the newest research, technology, and tree …

Group Tours Group Tours Image Group Visits The Morris welcomes organized groups for visits — please review the types of tours we offer and our FAQ page at the bottom of this page before emailing tours@morrisarboretum.org or calling 215-247-5777 x157 to arrange a date. For opportunities available for student groups, field trips, and scout tours, please visit our Education page . Tours for parties of 10 or more can be arranged with a three week advance notice. Please fill out our Group Tour Request Form below   and a staff member will contact you to arrange a date. Adult tour groups may select from the following tours: Image Art in the Garden Tour Duration: 60 minutes The Morris is home to an outdoor collection of classic and contemporary sculptures. Explore the Garden’s works of art, both intimate and grand, seamlessly integrated into the designed landscape. The Madeline K. Butcher Sculpture Garden features changing exhibits of emerging artists. The length of time and areas covered can be adjusted for each group.   Learn More Image Bloomfield Farm and Historic Springfield Mills Tour Duration: 60 minutes Springfield Mills and the Miller’s Cottage date back to 1760 and are the oldest architectural features at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens. Springfield Mills contains the most complete inventory of original mill works and related machinery of any mill in the area. The content of the mill provides a unique opportunity to interpret 19th and early 20th-century agriculture and milling. Learn More Image Garden Highlights Tour Duration: 60 minutes The Morris Arboretum & Gardens is a living museum featuring plants, sculptures, and ideas collected from around the world. Visit some of the Arboretum’s most beloved attractions like the Fernery, the Rose Garden, and the Log Cabin, which visionaries John and Lydia Morris developed more than 100 years ago. Learn More Image Japanese Elements Tour Duration: 60 or 90 minute options available A Japanese garden speaks to all the senses, …

Historic Structures Historic Structures Image The Log Cabin Image Visitors can step into the shoes of our founder, Lydia Morris, and take a trip back in time in the Log Cabin. From entertaining friends to enjoying quiet time on the porch watching woodlands along the stream, the Log Cabin was used as Lydia’s private retreat. John Morris designed and ordered the construction of the cabin in 1908. Similar in style to the nostalgic vacation cabins of the Adirondacks, complete with a river-stone cobble chimney. The building was cool in the summer, and a fireplace provided warmth for the cold winter. The Log Cabin was later restored in 1995 and remains an idyllic spot to enjoy spring bulbs and other short-lived native plants particularly.  The Springhouse Image Photo: Freddy Clark See one of the few remaining Springhouses in Philadelphia and all its hidden treasures! This springhouse pre-dates the Morris estate and can be traced back to when the property was first used as a dairy farm. In its home, alongside the spring-fed creek, the springhouse was used to store dairy products and other chilled perishables. However, the larger adjacent building remains a mystery. Its structural accents, like a chimney and fireplace, are speculated to have also been used for storage, dairy product preparations, or possibly even a smokehouse.  In 2004 this historical structure underwent a complex restoration. The stone walls were rebuilt, including a 38-foot wall with seating, granite steps, brick paving, new wooden beams to suggest a roof, and enhancements to the surrounding landscape.  The Springhouse complex offers a tranquil resting spot with an open view of the trees above. It lies close to the Azalea Meadow while also providing visitors with an opportunity to learn about an earlier era.  The Pump House Image At the time of its construction in 1908, the Pump House was an integral feature of the estate. Its wheel powered a three-cylinder pump which pushed water uphill to a cistern in …