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. 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 …

Exploring South Korea Through the Lens of Gardens, Education, and Global Connection From vibrant botanic gardens to unexpected adventures on Korea’s high‑speed trains, Director of Education Bryan Thompsonowak's summer adventures offered a whole new perspective on global horticulture, education, and the power of green spaces to connect people across cultures. Image Morris Director of Education Bryan Thompsonowak and Education Programs Manager Mackenzie Knight-Fochs of Scott Arboretum & Gardens at Swarthmore College before their BGCI presentation. This past June, I had the exciting opportunity to travel to South Korea through the Paul Meyer and Debbie Rogers Extraordinary Experience Endowment, which supports transformative international learning experiences for Morris Arboretum & Gardens staff. Although I had never visited Korea before, the trip quickly became one of the most memorable journeys of my career. What began as a long-anticipated‑anticipated adventure soon unfolded into an inspiring look at global horticulture, educational collaboration, and the deep cultural value Korea places on green spaces. The first week of my trip centered around the Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) Education Conference in Seoul, a gathering that only occurs once every few years and attracts garden educators from every continent. The experience was unlike any conference I had attended in the United States—sessions were introduced with more theatrical flair than I’m accustomed to, with walk‑up music, enthusiastic MCs, cameras, lights, video and camera crews, and an energy that transformed educational presentations into celebratory moments. Beneath the spectacle, though, was a clear shared mission: to ignite public appreciation for plants, landscapes, and the natural world. I had the pleasure of co-presenting with Education Programs Manager Mackenzie Knight-Fochs of Scott Arboretum & Gardens at Swarthmore College , highlighting the collaborative conferences and …