Conferences Conferences Image Image Focus on Wetlands and Coastal Resilience Friday, May 8 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM In-person fee: $155 Students: $80 In-Person Registration → Virtual fee: $125 Students: $80 Virtual Registration → Plants in our region are facing new challenges to their survival, growth, and reproduction due to a variety of threats, including land use change, habitat loss, climate change, and more. Invited speakers will address new research in plant science that can help us understand the challenges at hand in our wetland and coastal regions, including mechanisms of plant resistance and adaptation, and possible solutions. Speakers will include:  Dr. Morgan Gostel , Director of Plant Science, Morris Arboretum & Gardens Welcome Steve Jones , President, Philadelphia Botanical Club Welcome LeeAnn Haaf , Director of Estuary Science, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Improving Habitat and Increasing Resilience in the Urban Freshwater Tidal Corridor of the Delaware River using Nature-Based Solutions Dr. Jay Kelly , Co-Director, Center for Environmental Studies, Raritan Valley Community College Protection and Recovery of Rare Beach Species and Beach-Dune Habitats in New Jersey Erin Lacour,  Biologist, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge Implementing Tidal Wetland Restoration and Nature-based Solutions in Urban Communities Patrick Megonigal , Associate Director for Research, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Restoring the Balance: Coastal Wetlands as Natural Climate Solutions Catherine Seavitt , Chair, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Pennsylvania Wetlands as Structures for Coastal Resilience The program will be held in person at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens; live virtual attendance is also available. Please indicate ‘In-Person’ or ‘Virtual’ attendance at registration. Lunch is provided to all in-person attendees. This program has been submitted for 5 LA CES CEUs. Image Each year the Morris Arboretum & Gardens partners with a variety …

Bill Cullina Wins the Edgar T. Wherry Award from NARGS Executive Director of Morris Arboretum & Gardens Bill Cullina has won the Edgar T. Wherry Award from the North American Rock Garden Society. Bill Cullina, executive director of Morris Arboretum & Gardens, has won the Edgar T. Wherry Award from the North American Rock Garden Society. He received the award for outstanding contributions in the dissemination of information about native North American plants. Image “This is a really thoughtful and appreciated award, given that Wherry was such an important scientist and botanist here for many years,” Cullina said. Wherry (1885–1982) taught botany at the University of Pennsylvania from 1930 to 1955, and had a deep interest in ferns. Many of the botanical specimens Wherry collected are preserved at the Morris and at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. Below is an excerpt of the writeup about Cullina that was published in the summer issue of NARGS Quarterly: Bill was previously CEO and before that director of horticulture/plant curator for The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine. Prior to that he was the director of horticultural research for the New England Wild Flower Society (now Native Plant Trust) in Massachusetts. Bill is the author of three books on native North American plants. While the native plant movement is currently in full swing, these three beautifully written and photographed books, which reside in the collections of many of us, were particularly valued resources on native plants in the days when such resources were few and far between. In addition to his writing, Bill shared his extensive knowledge of native plants through his many talks on these topics as well. He began his horticultural life at Garden in the Woods in Massachusetts, and gave many, many talks to the New England chapter, each packed with his careful observations of plants, and beautifully illustrated with slides. His talk on fern propagation was …

Meetings and Retreats Meetings and Retreats Image Widener Welcome Center Step into a piece of history at the Widener Welcome Center, an elegant stone building dating back to 1888, once home to the estate’s gardener’s cottage, carriage house, and stables. Today, this charming and character-filled space offers a unique setting for meetings, gatherings, and daytime events. Our venue features a variety of rooms and flexible layouts, allowing you to create an experience that feels both personal and memorable. Whether you're planning an intimate meeting or a larger gathering, the historic ambiance provides a distinctive backdrop your guests won’t forget. To complement your event, choose from our curated list of approved caterers, offering diverse cuisine options to suit a range of tastes and budgets. Bookings are available up to six months in advance. Dates fill quickly. Early planning is encouraged to secure your preferred time. Image Meetings & Retreat    Host your next meeting or team retreat in a setting designed to inspire focus, creativity, and connection. The Widener Welcome Center offers a range of flexible indoor and outdoor spaces suited for everything from small strategy sessions to full-scale off-site gatherings. For more intimate meetings, the McLean Room provides a comfortable conference setting for up to 12 guests, while our Classroom accommodates up to 20—ideal for workshops, trainings, or collaborative sessions, with booking options starting at just two hours. For larger groups, the Upper Gallery welcomes up to 50-75 attendees (depending on set-up) in a unique indoor space equipped with A/V capabilities. The adjacent McLean Room may also be used for catering or breakout needs, allowing your event to flow seamlessly. Interested in a little more fresh air? Our reception tent offers a refreshing open-air environment with flexible layouts and access to power for your own A/V setup. This space accommodates groups of up to 150 guests, making it perfect for …

Rentals FAQ Rentals FAQ Image FAQ Catering We require that you use one of our catering teams for your event. Each offers a variety of menu options, price points and services. We recommend you check them all out!    Catering by Brunos   267-240-5624  Seedling & Sage   215-885-2037  Power Events   267.254.9810  Joshua's Catering  (through 2026 only) 215.224.1800  Feast Your Eyes Catering 215-634-3002 What’s Included  All private event rentals include admission to the Morris with access to 92 acres of woodlands, meadows and gardens. We have accessible restrooms and garden pathway as well as free on-site parking. Details for specific types of events are listed below. Please note, catering and other vendor fees are contracted separately. With our Wedding Rentals:   Exclusive use of a historic carriage house (the Welcome Center) and grounds for four or five hours of event time, depending on your contract  Reception tent with hard surface floor, lighting, space heaters, and fans Ceremony chairs as well as tables and chairs for the reception  A green room for the wedding party available up to two hours prior to event start  A five-passenger golf cart and driver to transport you around for photos and help guests who need assistance in the gardens  With our Evening Rentals: Exclusive use of a historic carriage house (the Welcome Center) or our Out on a Limb Canopy Walk feature, and grounds for three or four hours of event time, depending on your type of event and contract specifics Either the reception tent with hard surface floor, lighting, space heaters, and fans or our Out on a Limb Canopy Walk feature, depending on contract specifics Tables and chairs for dining With our Daytime Rentals:   Access to the event areas detailed in your contract for set up and activities  Audio-visual equipment for our Upper Gallery meeting space only  Tables and chairs for your event or meeting Accommodations There are bed and breakfast accommodations and an inn in nearby Chestnut Hill, and …

Garden Explorer Has Officially Launched! Our new mobile-friendly map helps visitors explore and learn more about our living collection of plants. Image After three years of working on a grant and testing a map, we have officially launched Garden Explorer ! Now visitors will be able to use a mobile device while in the garden to get information and images of plants as well as points of interest in the garden. You can search by plant name, accession number, or garden feature. With your location services turned on you will be able to see where you are on the map in relation to the plants, the nearest bathroom, and even the parking lot. You will also have access to this map on a computer through a link on our website . This will allow you to explore the collection or to map out your next visit. HOW WE DID IT The Morris received an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant in fall 2022. The goal of the grant was to create a mobile-friendly map for visitors and staff to explore and learn more about our living collection of plants. We began the process by determining the best way to collect centimeter-accurate global positioning system (GPS) points for every accessioned plant within the collection. To do this, we needed to establish a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) reference station at the Morris to ensure the real-time kinematic (RTK) corrections (high-precision data streams) we needed for accurate points. After our equipment was set up and ready to go, we set out to collect points for our more than 11,000 accessioned plants. We spent countless hours collecting these points, section by section, to ensure nothing was missed. Once these points were collected, we worked with our contractors to connect our database, our collected GPS points, and our drone imagery basemap to create a mobile-friendly map known as Garden Explorer . This winter we trained staff and volunteers on how to use this accessible map, so they are ready to assist visitors if they have any …