Lecture Series Lecture Series Image The Pursuit of Happiness: Finding Joy in Nature A virtual   lunchtime discussion exploring the science of nature’s impact on the brain Wednesday, May 20, 2026 • 12 – 1 pm Conversation Only: Members $10 • Non-members $15 Conversation and Forest Bathing: Members $40 • Non-members $45 Extend your experience by adding the in-person Forest Bathing for Health  course on June 6 from 10 am - 12 pm at a discounted rate!  Discount code for lecture attendees will be emailed after registration. Register Today →   Do you ever feel overwhelmed by constant media, packed schedules, and work pressures? Many of us know the relief that comes from stepping outside, breathing fresh air, and reconnecting with the natural world. Join environmental neuroscientist Marc Berman, PhD, and psychologist and neuroscientist Emily Falk, PhD, for an engaging conversation on the science behind nature’s restorative effects. They will explore how time in natural environments can boost energy, sharpen focus, lift mood, and support mental and physical well-being. To experience the calming effects of nature firsthand, visit Morris Arboretum & Gardens this season. In June 2026, the Morris will launch The Pursuit of Happiness: Finding Joy in Nature , a summer exhibition designed to help visitors slow down and savor what it feels like to be immersed in nature. Participants can also extend their experience even further by adding the in-person Forest Bathing for Health  course on June 6 at a discounted rate. Speakers: Image       Marc Berman, PhD Professor of Psychology, University of Chicago; Director, Environmental Neuroscience Lab; author of Nature and the Mind: The Science of How Nature Improves Cognitive, Physical, and Social Well-Being (2025).       Image       Emily Falk, PhD Professor of Communication, Psychology, Marketing, and OID, University of Pennsylvania; Vice Dean, Annenberg School for Communication; Director, Communication Neuroscience Lab and Climate …

Morris Pond Morris Pond Image Image An Update on the Swan Pond For many years, sister swans Flora and Fauna were beloved presences at our Swan Pond. Following the recent loss of Fauna, and after careful consideration and consultation with animal care professionals, we made the tough decision to rehome Flora to a place where she will receive dedicated care in a secure environment. This decision was made solely for Flora’s safety. In recent months, she had been increasingly targeted by Morris’s native wildlife, and with the loss of her companion, conditions no longer allowed us to ensure her well-being on site. Rehoming offers her a protected setting better suited to her long-term health and safety and reflects our ongoing commitment to responsible stewardship, animal welfare, and the health of our living collections. While no swans will be in our pond for the foreseeable future, it will remain welcoming to koi, wild ducks, and other native wildlife species. As part of this transition, the Swan Pond will be renamed the Morris Pond . We appreciate our visitors’ understanding as we make this necessary change.     Image History of the Morris Pond In 1905 John and Lydia Morris commissioned the creation of a large pond on their estate by damming the East Brook, which naturally flows through the Morris property. The pond was likely inspired by the 18th-century English Romantic landscape design movement that emphasized picturesque scenery and often featured a pond or lake paired with classical architecture. In keeping with that tradition, a white marble classical temple was constructed at the water’s edge the following year. The small circular temple with six columns was designed by Ernesto Gazzeri of Rome, based on the principles of Vitruvius, an Augustan-era architect whose writings have influenced architecture from the Renaissance on. Historical records show that the Morrises purchased a pair of swans the same year the pond was created, giving rise to the original name, …

Moonlight & Roses Moonlight & Roses Image Image Friday, June 5, 2026 Get VIP Tickets → Purchase VIP tickets now for our 2026 gala honoring Ellen Nalle Hass and Bartlett Tree Experts — two champions of environmental stewardship. For more than four decades,  Moonlight & Roses  has been a landmark event in the Philadelphia region. Today, it serves as a beautiful forum to celebrate excellence in environmental leadership. Nearly 500 guests attend each year, with proceeds directly supporting the Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ vital work in environmental education, outreach, and research. The evening begins beneath our elegant tent, featuring dinner stations and open bars. Following our honoree presentation, guests will have the opportunity to explore the Rose Garden, Pennock Flower Walk, and the Garden Railway before returning to the tent at 8:30 pm for dessert and the evening’s grand finale —  dancing, back by popular demand! VIP tickets for  Moonlight & Roses  are now on sale . VIP guests will receive entrance to our VIP reception on the evening of the gala, along with premium valet parking. Purchase tickets by March 5 to be listed on the formal invitation.  Supporter and Young Friend tickets will go on sale in April, when formal invitations will be mailed to all premier members. If you would like to receive an invitation, please  fill out this form .  Sponsorship opportunities can be found  here  or by contacting Kristen Casalenuovo at  kcasal@upenn.edu . See photos from the 2025 event → Image Get VIP Tickets Purchase VIP tickets for the gala. Learn More Image Become a Sponsor Click above to view our sponsorship opportunities or email Kristen Casalenuovo at kcasal@upenn.edu Learn More Image Make a Donation Donate to this year's Moonlight & Roses . Learn More 2026 Individual Honoree Image Ellen Nalle Hass This year, we are delighted to honor Ellen Nalle Hass at  Moonlight & Roses  for her longtime support of Morris Arboretum & Gardens. From her early days roaming the …

Board & Staff Board & Staff Image Board of Advisors July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 Alexandra Edsall,  Chair Jan Albaum Lydia Allen Berry Wendy Foulke Christina M. Fournaris Pamela B. Gagne Steven H. Gendler Lewis Heafitz Jessie B. Hill William A. Hohns Theodore A. McKee Sandra L. McLean Diane E. Newbury Susan W. Peck Bonnie Schorsch Tasha Taylor-Igbanol Maria M. Thompson Elizabeth van Vleck Emeriti George W. Connell Janet F. Haas Elizabeth P. McLean Ann Reed Ex-Officio Anne Papageorge Michael D. Scales Staff Director’s Office William Cullina,  F. Otto Haas Executive Director Sydney Taylor,  Assistant to the Director Development Mira Zergani,  Director of Development Kristen Casalenuovo,  Moonlight & Roses Event Manager* Leslie Crane,  Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Kaelyn Farrell,  Development Operations Associate Keith Lyons,  Assistant Director, Annual Fund Oanh Nguyen,  Development Coordinator Chelsea Schuett,  Assistant Director of Donor Engagement Alison Thornton,  Director of Strategic Partnerships Education Bryan Thompson-Nowak,  Director of Education Stephanie Bruneau,  Assistant Director of Adult Education Oliver Buzzard,  McLean Contributionship Youth & Visitor Education Apprentice** Ilana Grubin,  Education Specialist / Camp Supervisor * Rebecca Kohn,  Education Assistant and Phone Receptionist * Jeanne Linkens,  Education Assistant and Phone Receptionist * Ale Gonzales Montoya,  McLean Contributionship Adult Education Apprentice** Megan Nguyen, Education   Administrative Assistant Jenny Rajotte,  Intern and Volunteer Coordinator* Clara Reyes,  Assistant Director, Visitor Education and Youth Programs Jude Thatchet,  School Outreach Coordinator Finance & Administration Chris Gehman,  Director of Finance & Administration Karen Owens,  Fiscal Manager Horticulture Vince Marrocco,  Gayle E. Maloney Director of Horticulture Fabienne Adler,  Martha J. Wallace Plant Propagation Apprentice** Cailin Barrett,  Hay Honey Farm Natural Areas …

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 LeeAnn Haaf , Director of Estuary Science, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Dr. Jay Kelly , Co-Director, Center for Environmental Studies, Raritan Valley Community College Erin Lacour,  Biologist, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge Patrick Megonigal , Associate Director for Research, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Catherine Seavitt , Chair, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Pennsylvania 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. Image Each year the Morris Arboretum & Gardens partners with a variety of organizations to convene conferences for professionals in plant related fields.  Our conferences are of interest to professional arborists, landscape architects, professional horticulturists, and avid home gardeners.  Each conference carries continuing education units (CEU’s) for arborists and landscape architects.  Our annual conferences include: Mid-Atlantic Plant Research Conference held in May and hosted by Morris Arboretum & Gardens The Woody Plant Conference held in July in partnership with Scott Arboretum, Longwood Gardens, …