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 …

Apprenticeships Apprenticeships Image Please Note: We’ve recently renamed our internship program to the Apprenticeship Program to better reflect the type of training we offer here at the Morris. Each of these positions still provides in-depth, hands-on experience that enables participants to garner the skills needed to seek gainful employment in a public garden setting.   Image Apprenticeship Program  Morris Arboretum & Gardens is a historic public garden and research and educational institution. Through education, research, and horticultural display, it inspires an understanding of the relationship between plants, people, and place. The endowed apprenticeship program provides hands-on experience and an education that prepares individuals for careers in public gardens and related fields.     Our apprenticeship program offers hands-on experience across various departments, providing practical work in an arboretum/public garden setting. Apprentices receive training and develop valuable skills for careers in public gardens and related fields. Monthly cohort trips explore plant sciences, including botany, arboriculture, curation, and natural lands management. Candidates must have a high school diploma or higher. The program typically lasts 9 – 12 months, depending on the position and performance.    Open Positions Apprenticeships run for 9 – 12 months, beginning March 3, 2025 or June 2, 2025.  Deadline to apply is April 11, 2025.  Urban Forestry Apprentice  (June start) Payment  Apprentices are temporary staff members of the University of Pennsylvania, working 40 hours a week at an hourly rate of $16.00+, paid weekly.  More Opportunities to Grow  Apprentices can enroll in Morris classes, some of which are free, and attend Morris-sponsored conferences and symposia to further their professional development.  … …