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 …

Apprenticeships Apprenticeships Image 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 Applications for the following positions and detailed descriptions are currently open! All applications MUST be submitted through the online Careers@Penn system; we are unable to consider candidates who do not submit an online application. The positions below run for  approximately 12 months, beginning June 1, 2026: Urban Forestry Apprentice Eli Kirk Price Plant Science Apprentice 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.  Image Fieldtrip to Hay Honey Farms, 2025. Image Regional Intern Day at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, 2025. Image Field trip to Ott's Exotic Plants, 2025. Image Botany walk with retired John J. Willaman Director of Plant Science Dr. Timothy Block, 2024. Image Learning about …