The Pennsylvania Bee Monitoring Program at the Morris Arboretum Have you noticed a blue vane trap hanging around the Morris Arboretum? It's part of the Pennsylvania Bee Monitoring Program, which studies regional bee variance across the state. Image A pinned sunflower bee (Svastra obliqua). Credit: Ryan Drake Have you noticed a blue vane trap hanging around the Morris Arboretum? It's part of the  Pennsylvania Bee Monitoring Program , which studies regional bee variance across the state. The decline in populations worldwide has called attention to better understand the variation, distribution, and abundance of wild bee pollinators. The bee monitoring program uses three different trapping techniques in order to catch the widest variety of bee species. The blue vane trap hangs two to three feet from the ground, attracting bees with its bright blue color. Nine plastic bowls painted either white, blue, or yellow are laid on the ground in a transect, closer to the populations of ground nesting bees, which make up over 70% of Pennsylvania's bee populations. The final trapping technique is netting, where monitors use butterfly nets to catch any other unique bees they can find in the area. These techniques combined aim to allow monitors to observe the fullest range of wild bee species in an area so they can track changes in population sizes and variety in Pennsylvania. Image The blue vane trap hangs two to three feet from the ground, attracting bees with its bright blue color. Image The final trapping technique is netting, where monitors use butterfly nets to catch any other unique bees they can find in the area. Shown here is Caroline Mertz, the Hay Honey Farm Natural Areas Intern. Image Sorting and identifying collected bees. Image Pinning bees. Image Long-horned bee (Melissodes denticulatus, female). 1 / PREV NEXT Caroline Mertz Ryan Drake Blog Image September 7, 2022 … The Pennsylvania Bee Monitoring Program at the Morris …

Plants in the Age of Dinosaurs Plants in the Age of Dinosaurs Image Image In  Plants in the Age of Dinosaurs —a new self-guided exhibition that runs from Saturday, May 25, 2024 through Monday, September 30, 2024—visitors will learn more about the plants in our collection with roots that go back to prehistoric times.  Ever wonder what you might have in common with a dinosaur?    If you answered that you both need plants to survive, you’d be right! Vegetation powered the dinosaurs that roamed the earth millions of years ago. Plants have evolved quite a bit since then, but their all-important role supporting life on earth remains the same.    Join Morris Arboretum & Gardens as we travel back to the Mesozoic era, a time 252 to 66 million years ago (MYA) that saw the dominance of reptiles and conifers, the rise of dinosaurs, and the emergence of flowering plants.    EQUIP yourself with a themed map and scavenger hunt from the Gift Shop—can you spot the dinosaurs hiding among the plants?    ADVENTURE to 10 special garden sites that uncover the wonders of prehistory.   EXPLORE our website for dino-themed events happening all year!    Exhibition Highlights When Conifers Were King The major plant in the early Mesozoic landscape, conifers (cone bearing plants like pine or spruce) dominated the landscape millions of years before flowering plants came on the scene. Palms in the Fossil Record Palm fossils date back to 145 million years ago. Some fossil beds contain palm fossils alongside baby dinosaur fossils which help scientists understand how they may have lived. The Rise of Flowers About 140 million years ago, flowering plants evolved during the last Jurassic period. They dramatically changed the Earth's landscape and became part of the HUGE boom in number and types of dinosaurs.  Poop Paleontology Fossilized dino poop (coprolites) and gut content (cololites) help tell the story of what plants dinosaurs ate and how they ate them. Ginkgo Biloba: A “Living Fossil” Ginkgo …

Archives Archives Image Welcome The Archives serves the Morris 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. Image Scope The Morris Arboretum & Gardens 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. Additionally, from 1932 to present, the Archives houses records of the Morris Advisory Board, faculty and staff, grant and project reports, blueprints, landscape drawings, slides and photographs. Image Online Collections Our online collections include documents from different eras of the Morris, historic photos, lantern slides, objects, blueprints, and text. New images are added regularly. Historic Photos Private Estate 1887-1932 University Era 1933-1974 Public Garden - After 1974 Maps Arboretum Voices Finding Aids Visiting the Archives Hours are by appointment. To arrange a visit, please contact us . Additional Information for Researchers or History Buffs The Morris Arboretum Bulletin , published monthly from 1935 to the 1970s, is available online at Biodiversity Heritage Library. Learn more . The Morris Family of Philadelphia, Descendants of Anthony Morris, by Robert C. Moon, MD, Five volumes, 1898.  Learn more . Finding aids for several Morris collections are online at Philadelphia Area Archives, hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Suggested keyword searches are “Morris Arboretum,” “Morris Family Papers,” “Thompson Family Papers.” Learn more . The John and Lydia Morris Travel Albums 1881-1906 are at the Hagley Library and Archives.  Learn more . The William Henry Russell collection of Morris family papers, including papers from the first …

Great Trees Great Trees Image Image One of the most admired features of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens is its collection of large and beautiful trees. When John and Lydia Morris first purchased the property in 1887, it was virtually devoid of trees. They soon launched into an intense tree-planting program and under careful nurturing, these trees have grown into the beautiful specimens for which the Morris is well known today. Great Trees Highlights Image Dawn-redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides A fast-growing tree with a majestic  habit, golden fall color, reddish brown  bark – fissured and exfoliating in long narrow strips – and a spectacular buttressing fluted trunk. This beautiful grove, now over 100 feet tall, was planted in ideal conditions – full sun and next to a stream that provides moisture. Once thought to have been extinct, these trees from the end of the dinosaur age were rediscovered in China through the study of fossils in the 1940s. Image Ginkgo, maidenhair-tree Ginkgo biloba One of the world’s oldest tree species, growing on earth for well over 150 million years. With striking gold fall color, this female  specimen, planted by the Morrises,  has messy and very smelly fruit. Non-fruiting males make excellent city trees. A male specimen is near the Edith Bogue magnolia Image Weeping European beech Fagus sylvatica f. pendula Native to Europe, planted before 1909 by the Morrises. Branches weep down and form roots where they touch the ground. New rings of trees grow outward as the original tree ages and dies. An impressive tree in all seasons with its smooth gray elephant hide-like bark, lustrous green leaves in summer, and red to golden brown fall color. Small holes in trunk are made by sap sucking birds. Image Blue Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ The straight species is native to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa. Layered branches with blue-green needles create a picturesque landscape tree. Small finger-shaped male cones on lower branches …

What's Up, Buttercup? Every year, we eagerly await the arrival of winter aconites; however, it can be a bit confusing identifying these flowers from their lookalike relatives in the buttercup family. Every year, we eagerly await the arrival of winter aconites. These dainty flowers portend the end of winter and the approach of spring. Their cheerful, cup-shaped  yellow blossoms can brighten even the dullest of winter days. Winter aconites, part of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), aren’t actually bulbs—they're tubers, which are modified fleshy stems that persist underground (think potatoes). Every late winter, they push their flowers up on tiny leafy stalks, sometimes even through the snow, to let us know it's time for the seasons to change. Image Winter aconite, part of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), is an early spring harbinger that blooms in late winter.  To make things a bit confusing, there are actually two species that can be called winter aconite: Eranthis hyemalis and Eranthis cilicica .  E. hyemalis is a plant native to Europe, with a range that stretches from southern France through the Balkans and into Bulgaria. E. cilicica is a separate but closely related species from the Middle East, with a range that extends from southern Turkey through Syria and into western Iran. Despite their close geographical proximity, there are a few easy ways to distinguish between the two species. E. hyemalis has a coarser leaf texture and blooms earlier. E. cilicica has a much more finely dissected leaf texture and blooms a bit later. Image E. cilicica is native to the Middle East and has a much more finely dissected leaf texture and blooms a bit later than E. hyemalis . Image E. hyemalis, native to Europe,   has a coarser leaf texture and blooms earlier than  E. cilicica.   A commonly confused relative of winter aconite is the Amur adonis or pheasant’s eye ( Adonis amurensis ). Like winter aconite, the Amur adonis is a tuberous member of the buttercup family. …

Membership FAQ Membership FAQ Image FAQ Can I apply paid admission to my membership? The admission price paid by the persons included in the membership onsite or online may be applied on the same day of your visit. Does the Morris offer digital membership cards? Yes! You will receive the link to download your digital membership card within 24 hours of purchase. Your digital membership card can be downloaded into your Apple or Android Wallet and can be scanned onsite for quick entry. Click here  to download your digital membership card to your online wallet. I renewed/joined online, now what? When you purchase your membership online, you will receive a proof of purchase receipt via email to use immediately. If you choose to visit the Morris before our system has fully processed your membership, you may simply bring a copy of your email receipt and give your name to the attendant at the front gate. Once your digital membership is fully processed, you may present your digital membership card to the attendant at the kiosk. If you’ve opted out of digital membership, your membership card will arrive in the mail within 10 –  15 business days. What is the Member General Admission Allowance? Members will receive a daily admission allowance that matches their membership level. For example, if you are a Supporter member, you will receive a total of 4 free daily general admissions plus the number of any Add-On Youth Passes you’ve purchased. Members receive 50% off general admission tickets so you can enjoy your visit with as many friends and family as you like. Members must accompany their guests at the time of their visit. What are the general guidelines for the different membership levels? Our membership program brings you flexibility in choosing with whom you will share your membership benefits. Memberships can be shared between people living in different households and any named member can bring guests to Morris, as long as the number of adults and children doesn’t exceed …