Winter Blooms at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens Vince Marrocco, the Gayle E. Maloney Director of Horticulture at the Morris Arboretum & Garden, spoke with Penn Today about vibrant early blooms that defy the cold. Image Winter at Morris Arboretum & Gardens is a unique experience of vibrant early blooms that defy the cold. Despite the chilly weather, plants like wintersweet, witchhazel, and snowdrops bring a splash of color to the landscape. These plants have unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in winter, such as waxy petals that prevent freezing and colors that attract early pollinators. Learn more about these vibrant plants and their fascinating adaptations in the full article on Penn Today  in which Vince Marrocco, the Gayle E. Maloney Director of Horticulture at the Morris Arboretum & Garden, goes into detail about these early blooms. Experience Early Blooms at the Morris Image Witchhazel Tour Saturday, February 8 • 11 am Saturday, February 22 • 11 am Free with general admission Take a tour of one of the largest collections of witchhazels in the country, where an experienced guide will show you the many varieties of these delightful winter beauties that add surprising bursts of color and fragrance to the winter landscape.  Learn More Image Garden Highlights January – March Weekends: 1:00 pm March – December Weekdays: 10:30 am • Weekends: 1:00 pm Free with general admission Our knowledgeable guides will design a tour around the interests of the attendees. Every tour is different so come back as many times as you’d like. Learn More Image Signs of Spring Saturday, March 22 • 10 am Free with general admission Ready to explore the arrival of spring’s beauty? Signs of spring pop up with tree buds, spring ephemerals, early cherries, and dogwoods. This tour uncovers the delight of a new season. Learn More Image Walking with the Seasons Five Mondays, February 3, 17; March 3, 17, 31  • 11 am – 12:30 pm   Members: $25 • Non-members: $30 Join us for a curated set of …

Certificate in Ecological Horticulture Certificate in Ecological Horticulture Image Image     A Systems Approach to Sustainable Land Stewardship    We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new learning opportunity: The Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ Certificate in Ecological Horticulture will offer the opportunity to gain proficiency in creating and maintaining landscapes that are grounded in ecological principles and practice. Geared towards avid home gardeners and landscape professionals looking to develop a deep understanding of sustainable landscape design and management, this classroom and field-based program is a series of 12 courses that are open to the public. The program is self-paced and can be completed in one year of intensive learning or up to several years at a slower pace. What makes this Certificate Program unique?  The Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ Certificate in Ecological Horticulture is unique in our ecological systems-based approach to landscape design and maintenance. Our program approaches each garden as a complex living system, where plants, soil, water, animals, climate, human activity, and other elements interact with and influence each other. In hands-on and classroom instruction, our program teaches design and stewardship strategies that address these relationships holistically rather than focusing on individual components in isolation.  The program will focus on our region here in Southeast Pennsylvania. Drawing from our deep expertise in this region’s ecology, all instruction will speak to our local ecosystems. Here at the Morris we have a long history in the native plants of Pennsylvania — we have literally written THE book on this topic! Instructors in the Certificate Program will include Morris staff members as well as other local professionals that are regionally and nationally acclaimed in ecological horticulture.   What will I gain in completing this program?  Students who complete all required coursework will earn a Certificate in …

Legacy Weeping Hemlock Taken Out by Snowstorm The tree will get a second life on the woodland trail to the Wetland. Image The weeping hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis f. pendula ​​​​​​) that was brought down by the February 13, 2024 snow storm. Photo by Vince Marrocco. This past winter at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens was not very “wintery” by most accounts. Yes, there was some cold and a few snowstorms, but it was  relatively  un-winterlike. However, this was a winter of some discontent. In particular, the biggest discontent was the snowstorm of February 13. This quick-moving storm brought with it about 5 inches of wet snow, but it also brought down the venerable old weeping hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis f. pendula ) near the Morris Pond. This was a legacy tree from the Morris era, most likely purchased by John from Parson & Sons Co. nursery in Flushing, New York. It grew at the Morris Pond almost since the Arboretum’s inception, until that fateful day in February. This tree was remarkable not only for its size and prominence but also because of the unique history it represented. ONCE ABUNDANT Eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis ) was once a mainstay of the woodland flora throughout Pennsylvania. These long-lived, majestic conifers thrived across the state and were a significant component of William Penn’s wooded domain. In fact, hemlock trees were such an integral part of the flora throughout Pennsylvania that it was named the official state tree in 1931. Eastern hemlocks thrive in cool moist environments and often grow in dense shade on north facing slopes. They can grow slowly in adverse conditions, or rapidly in the right environment. Historically, this species was abundant in the Wissahickon gorge in cool ravines. The story of our weeping hemlock does not start in Pennsylvania, but along the Lower Hudson River Valley in New York. It was here near the estate of General Joseph Howland that our story begins. Joseph Howland was a well-heeled member of society. His …

90 Years of Morris: John & Lydia Morris Arboretum & Gardens began as Compton, the private estate of the siblings who purchased farmland in 1887 and began planning a garden where art and science would thrive together, and where stewardship would extend to caring for both plants and people. Image John and Lydia Morris on the Love Temple steps in the Morris Pond, originally called the Swan Pond, circa 1910. The Morris Pond was constructed circa 1904, while the Love Temple was designed by Ernesto Ermete Gazzeri of Rome, Italy, and installed in 1906. We're kicking off #90YearsofMorris with the siblings that started it all: John Thompson Morris (1847-1915) and Lydia Thompson Morris (1849-1932). Morris Arboretum & Gardens began as Compton, the private estate of the siblings who purchased farmland in 1887 and began planning a garden where art and science would thrive together, and where stewardship would extend to caring for both plants and people. From the beginning, John and Lydia shared a vision and actively planned for their estate to become a public garden and educational institution. In 1933, after both siblings had passed, the Morris opened to the public for the first time and their vision came to life. In this series we'll be focusing on what followed the 1933 public opening. You can learn more about the Morrises and the Private Estate Era in our online archives , and in Joyce Munro's article, "The Origins of Morris Arboretum & The Mansion From Which It Bloomed." As part of our 90th anniversary celebration, we’ll be sharing bits of our history every week on social media—follow #90yearsofMorris to get a glimpse into our past with historic photos, documents, blog posts, and more! Courtesy of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens Archives Blog Image April 6, …

Wedding Rates Wedding Rates Image Full Wedding Rental Rates 2026 April Friday: $3,300 Saturday: SOLD OUT Sunday: $2,900 May* Friday: $5,000 Saturday: SOLD OUT Sunday: $4,500 *For Memorial Day weekend, Saturday rates will apply on Sunday and Sunday rates will apply on Monday. June Friday: $5,500 Saturday:  SOLD OUT Sunday: $4,700 July Friday: $3,000 Saturday: SOLD OUT Sunday: $2,600 August Friday: $3,800 Saturday: SOLD OUT Sunday: $3,300 September* Friday:  SOLD OUT Saturday:  SOLD OUT Sunday:  SOLD OUT October Friday: $5,100 Saturday: SOLD OUT Sunday: $4,700 November* Friday:  SOLD OUT Saturday: SOLD OUT Sunday:  SOLD OUT *First weekend in November only. 2027 April Friday: $3,600 Saturday: $4,600 Sunday: $3,100 May* Friday: $6,000 Saturday: $7,100 Sunday: $5,400 *For Memorial Day weekend, Saturday rates will apply on Sunday and Sunday rates will apply on Monday. June Friday: $5,900 Saturday: $7,100 Sunday: $5,300 July Friday: $3,400 Saturday: $4,200 Sunday: $2,900 August Friday: $4,400 Saturday: $5,100 Sunday: $3,800 September* Friday: $6,000 Saturday: $7,100 Sunday: $5,600 *For Labor Day weekend, Saturday rates will apply on Sunday and Sunday rates will apply on Monday. October Friday: $5,800 Saturday: $7,000 Sunday: $5,300 November* Friday: $4,900 Saturday: $5,800 Sunday:  SOLD OUT *First weekend in November only. Weekday Weddings Monday – Thursday: $2,800 Weekday weddings offer the same amenities as our weekend weddings with a time frame of 6PM – 10PM. Ceremony Only Garden Ceremony Locations | Rate: $1,600 Rose Garden or Pennock Garden | Rate: $1,900 Micro Ceremony  Various Garden Locations | Rate: $1,200 For more information, contact Rentals and Information at 215.247.5777 x158 or email  rentals@morrisarboretum.org …

High-Res Photo Gallery High-Res Photo Gallery Image Click on an image to download a high-res version.  Image Rose Garden  (Credit: Rob Cardillo)   Image Step Fountain (Credit: Rob Cardillo)   Image Pennock Flower Walk (Credit: Julia Lehman)   Image Out on a Limb (Credit: Mark Stehl)   Image Morris Pond (Credit: K. Teller) Image Garden Railway (Credit: Rob Cardillo)   Image Springfield Mills (Credit: Courtesy of the Morris Arboretum)   Image Log Cabin (Credit: Ashley Angel)   Image The Fernery (Credit: Paul W. Meyer)     Image Seven Arches in English Park (Credit: Rob Cardillo)     …

What's in Bloom: November As we all prepare for colder months, many of our plants are doing the same: dropping their leaves, slowing glucose production, and storing excess food in their root systems. Some plants in our gardens are still displaying vibrant fall color, and others have even begun to bloom. I hope you enjoy stumbling upon these plants at the Arboretum and discovering new ones along the way. As we all prepare for colder months, many of our plants are doing the same: dropping their leaves, slowing glucose production, and storing excess food in their root systems. Some plants in our gardens are still displaying vibrant fall color, and others have even begun to bloom. I hope you enjoy stumbling upon these plants at the Arboretum and discovering new ones along the way. Image False holly Osmanthus heterophyllus Native to Japan and Taiwan, this large evergreen shrub has now opened its tiny white flowers that emit an inviting fragrance right outside the Widener Visitor Center and in other areas of the Arboretum.  Osmanthus  can be distinguished from true hollies by their opposite leaf arrangement, while true holly,  Ilex , have leaves that are alternately arranged. Clusters of these small, tubular flowers form in leaf axes, where the leaf meets the twig. Take note of the different leaf shapes that occur on the same shrub. Younger leaves have sharp spines along the leaf margin, but as the leaves mature they become spineless and smooth. Image Stiff dogwood Cornus foemina Near the bridge by the Morris Pond are several of these dogwoods that are now bearing their distinctive, showy blue fruit. Ranging from a light to dark blue, the fruit grow in clusters on bright red stems that really stand out against the foliage. Although these fruits look like berries, they are in fact drupes, with one hard seed rather than many seeds within a fleshy fruit—think of this dogwood’s fruit as more akin to a cherry or an apricot rather than a blueberry. Image American witchhazel …

What's in Bloom: August Welcome to the Morris Arboretum’s first  What’s in Bloom  blog! As this year’s John J. Willaman & Martha Haas Valentine Curatorial Intern, I spend a lot of time in the gardens checking on and appreciating the many plants in our living collection throughout the seasons. Welcome to the Morris Arboretum’s first  What’s in Bloom  blog! As this year’s John J. Willaman & Martha Haas Valentine Curatorial Intern, I spend a lot of time in the gardens checking on and appreciating the many plants in our living collection throughout the seasons. We want to share some of these with all of you, so we’ve curated a monthly blog that highlights current flowering plants and seasonal interest so you can know what to expect and what to look for during your next visit to the Arboretum. We hope this series complements the stunning, expansive views of the Arboretum and encourages you to find the beauty that comes from taking a closer look. Image Surprise lily ( Lycoris squamigera ) You’ll find this lovely late summer bloom dotted throughout the Arboretum, providing some welcome color in the gardens. Native to southern Japan, surprise lilies produce foliage in late spring that dies back in early summer before suddenly sending out a single flowering stalk in August—hence the surprise! You will see lots of these lilies along the paved path towards  Out on a Limb , where clusters of pink under the shade of great trees lead you into the beauty of the Arboretum in late summer.  Image Hollow Joe-Pye weed ( Eutrochium fistulosum ) It’s pollinator season here at the Arboretum, and our butterflies, moths, and bees are swarming around these tall, colorful native plants throughout our gardens. There’s an established cluster of Joe-Pye weed at the Morris Pond, whose seven-foot-tall stalks are topped with clouds of pink flowers. I’d recommend taking a moment to observe all of the beautiful pollinators that flock to these flowers, such as monarch and eastern tiger swallowtail …