Scarecrows Give Off That 1990s Vibe Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ 16th Annual Scarecrow Contest opened this past weekend. Themed “the 1990s” in celebration of our 90th anniversary, it's a fun (and sometimes a bit scary) time-machine trip back to the late 20th century that the whole family will enjoy.   “You go girl,” “Talk to the Hand,” “Sup,” “You’ve got mail,” cell phones, Supersize It, hip hop, and grunge. The 1990s seem at once vaguely modern and nostalgically remote in our collective consciousness. In celebration of our 90th anniversary, Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ 16th Annual Scarecrow Contest opened this past weekend. Themed “the 1990s,” it is a fun (and sometimes a bit scary) time-machine trip back to the late 20th century that the whole family will enjoy.   The show starts with, of course, the Simpsons, but in this case a clever five-headed monster version of the iconic family.  Later in the show, Marge herself appears in a striking golden outfit and glowing blue hair. Image Image       There are several other animated characters everyone will recognize, including a cleverly constructed straw-bale SpongeBob complete with tiny little legs, and a lovingly hand-stitched riff on the Pokémon character Pikachu titled “Pika-boo.”  You will also find the Rugrats, Super Mario, and some more obscure 90s references like represented on the grounds. Image Image Movie references abound, including a startling Jim Carrey as The Mask , Forrest Gump, Hermione Granger from Harry Potter , Mrs. Doubtfire, and Kenan Thompson as Dexter Reed in the 1997 comedy Goodburger. Image Image   Music is also well represented this year, and what would 90s pop music be without Britney Spears. Highlighted this year are two Britneys—the happy-go-lucky pop star and her nightmare-on-dance-street twin. Image Image Hip-hop pioneers MC Hammer and Flavor Flav are here too, replete with boom-box jewelry and customs grills. Image Image Some artists took a more spine-chilling approach. Two of the most …

Plant Names and Provenance: Ulmus glabra 'Horizontalis' (Tabletop Scotch elm) Ulmus glabra ' Horizontalis' (Tabletop Scotch elm) is a treasure at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens—one of very few arboreta in the US to cultivate one—and was planted on the Morris Estate sometime before 1909. Ulmus glabra 'Horizontalis' (Tabletop Scotch elm) is a treasure at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens—one of very few arboreta in the US to cultivate one—and this tree was planted on the Morris Estate sometime before 1909. Ulmus is the classical Latin name for an elm, and this tree has the typical elm leaf (see photo). The specific epithet, glabra , means smooth, referring to the bark. ʻHorizontalis' refers to the horizontal growth habit of this cultivar; it was initially called 'Pendula,' i.e. weeping, but 'Horizontalis' prevailed as a more accurate description. Image 1932-1106*A Ulmus glabra  'Horizontalis' (Tabletop Scotch elm) with its unusual horizontal growth habit. Photo by Katherine Wagner-Reiss. Image 1932-1106* A Ulmus glabra  'Horizontalis' (Tabletop Scotch elm). Accessioned in 1932, the year the Morris Estate was bequeathed to the University of Pennsylvania, the tree was actually planted by the Morrises sometime before 1909. Photo by Clara Roth, McClean Contributionship Youth & Visitor Education Intern.   Ulmus glabra  'Horizontalis' is an example of a grafted tree. Grafting can be traced back 4,000 years to ancient China and Mesopotamia and has a practical use in fruit production, although in this case its application is purely ornamental. Grafting requires skill, as the vascular cambium tissues of the upper part of one plant (scion) must be closely matched with the vascular cambium tissues of the root system of another plant (rootstock).  The technique was well-known to 19th-century European gardeners, a society that was always on the lookout for new and exciting garden plants, especially weeping and contorted trees. Ulmus glabra  'Horizontalis' has a provenance dating …

Rebuild: Morris Urban Forestry in the Parks of Philadelphia In 2017 the City of Philadelphia established it’s Rebuild initiative, aimed at revitalizing and enhancing community infrastructure like community centers, libraries, and parks in underserved areas around the city. In recent months, the Morris Urban Forestry team has conducted tree assessments for several parks that are designated for improvements through Rebuild. In 2017 the City of Philadelphia established it’s Rebuild initiative, aimed at revitalizing and enhancing community infrastructure like community centers, libraries, and parks in underserved areas around the city. In recent months, the Morris Urban Forestry team has conducted tree assessments for several parks that are designated for improvements through Rebuild. Trees are a critical part of communities, offering numerous benefits that contribute to the health and well-being of neighborhoods. Urban trees act as natural filters for air pollution, provide essential shade in city heat, and even contribute to crime reduction. Within parks, trees create a tranquil, safe, and inviting environment for people to come together, fostering stronger community connections. Our tree inventories and assessments serve the purpose of ensuring that these trees are properly accounted for and cared for to maximize their benefits for both the park and the community. The assessment process begins with the measurement of each tree and recording vital variables such as species, circumference, condition, and any necessary maintenance requirements. This data is then entered into mapping software called ArcGIS, allowing us to generate a comprehensive inventory spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel and an IntelliCAD map displaying the assessed trees. Image An IntelliCAD map of the tree assessment for Russo Park in Northeast Philadelphia. The color of each tree represents its life expectancy while the letters demarcate whether the tree should be removed or if it is a Philadelphia …

Morris Motor Show Revs Up Summer 2023 The 2023 Morris Motor Show showcased almost a dozen vehicles manufactured during many of the nine decades the Morris has been open to the public.    This summer’s Morris Motor Show at Morris Arboretum & Gardens began with a car chase. “There were three cars that I literally chased down on the street to recruit,” said Steve Gendler, a neighbor and committee volunteer at the Morris. “I chased down a 2023 red Corvette for a couple of miles!” Image A row of classic cars featured in the 2023 Morris Motor Show.   Gendler organized the show as part of the Garden’s 90th anniversary celebration. It took place Saturday, July 15. The event was inspired by founders John and Lydia Morris's love of cars. They owned a 1912 electric vehicle, a Chrysler that was used on the grounds, and a chauffeur-driven Pierce-Arrow EDL that was special-ordered by Miss Lydia in 1927. Gendler, a member of the Delaware Valley Jaguar Club , was tasked by F. Otto Haas Executive Director Bill Cullina with finding one car for each of the Morris's nine decades. He got help from DVJC member Michael Wolf and the Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance in sourcing cars.   SPEED AND BEAUTY Image 1929 Packard 640 Phaeton The group determined the selections should demonstrate stylistic and technological advances as well as cultural expression for each era. What resulted presented quite a stylistic and performance progression, with the 1929 Packard 640 Phaeton and the 1938 SS Jaguar truly setting a high tone for future generations of automotive design. There was a range of power, transmission, and speed represented among the gleaming vehicles. The show included a 2008 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti with a top speed of 199 mph, driven to the Morris by Carol Petrow; a 2023 Rivian R1T with 900 horsepower; and a 1954 Corvette brought by DVJC members Bruce and Shelley Menkowitz. True ingenuity and authenticity were on display, from the rich Mark 2 burl walnut interior surround to the Ferrari …

Family Activities Family Activities Image Family Activities  There are a lot of fun things to do at Morris Arboretum for adults, kids and families. Check out some of our Family Fun Activities that are geared towards kids during your visit and engage the whole family. Download and print the activity PDFs and bring them with you the next time you come to visit Morris Arboretum, or open and view on your mobile device.  Tree Adventure & Treetop Canopy Walk  Generously supported by the Jane and Leonard Korman Family Foundation.  Image Get a bird’s eye view of the forest from 50 feet up, perched on a canopy walk high above ground level. Or scamper down onto the Squirrel Scramble, a huge hammock-like net where you can look down to the ground far below through the rope netting. Enter a Bird’s Nest and sit on a giant robin’s eggs, just waiting to hatch. It’s all part of Morris Arboretum’s Tree Adventure exhibit, connecting us to the natural world, and themed to teach us that we need trees and trees need us.  Designed by Metcalfe Architecture & Design, the exhibit is a fully accessible, fascinating learning experience for both children and adults. Learn more about the green elements of the design here.  Host your next party at Out on a Limb → Your Guide to Tree Adventure  Explore our Treetop Canopy Walk with interactive elements like a listening station which enables visitors to “hear” the sounds of nature from the tree canopy fun interpretative panels to help you explore more about nature and binoculars to help your peer into the treetops.  Download the activity guide → Make a Magical Creature for our Fairy Woods  Morris Arboretum is a place to learn about plants, but it’s also a place to let your imagination run wild. Come to the Arboretum with a big pocket or a tote bag and see what you find scattered around the grounds. An abundance of pine cones, acorns, bark, and lichen that can be turned into a fun art project for kids and adults. Can you make a magical creature, like …

For Kids & Families For Kids & Families Image Image For Kids & Families Growing Minds Garden Railway Tree Canopy Walk Whimsical Woods Family Activities Nature Explorers Summer Camp …

What's in Bloom: February What's in Bloom: February Image February at the Morris Image wintersweet Chimonanthus praecox Oak Allée Delicate yellow flowers hang from the leafless branches of these shrubs. Wintersweet is a member of the calycanthus family, Calycanthaceae, and its flowers add a pleasant fragrance to the winter garden. Image snow drops Galanthus sp. Members of the onion family, Amaryllidaceae, these small perennials can be found blooming throughout the garden this time of year. There are several species of snow drops growing in the garden, each with distinct flower characteristics. Image Chinese witchhazel Hamamelis mollis Witchhazel Collection Native to China, these winter-blooming witchhazel shrubs display clusters of fragrant, bright yellow flowers. Each flower has four ribbon-like petals that emerge from red calyxes. Image Rubin witchhazel Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Rubin’ Between Rose Garden and Pennock Garden This shrub is a hybrid between Hamamelis mollis (Chinese witchhazel) and Hamamelis japonica (Japanese witchhazel), and the Rubin cultivar is bred for its showy orange/red flowers. Image hardy cedar-of-Lebanon Cedrus libani ssp. stenocoma Azalea Meadow This subspecies of Cedrus libani is native to the mountainous regions of southwest Turkey. As its common name suggests, this tree has better winter-hardiness than the straight species. It is also more upright and columnar in form, while Cedrus libani branches have a more horizontal growth habit. Image cornel dogwood Cornus officinalis Dogwood Collection Clusters of small yellow flowers adorn this late-winter-blooming tree. Cornus mas (cornellian-cherry dogwood), planted nearby, has similar flowers and form, but Cornus officinalis blooms one week earlier and has more textured, exfoliating bark. Witchhazel Map Explore our witchhazel collection this winter! The Morris Arboretum & Gardens' witchhazel collection is one of the largest in the country. Discover the many varieties of these delightful winter …

Saving the American Chestnut The Morris is on the list to receive some of the first Darling 58 offspring when they become available. The Chestnut Hill neighborhood in which Morris Arboretum & Gardens resides is named after the magnificent American chestnut ( Castanea dentata ) that once forested its knolls and slopes. We have photographs of several wizened old trees that graced our grounds prior to 1915, the year the last of our local trees succumbed to chestnut blight. Image View of American chestnut tree in English Park, spring 1911. In fact, tradition has it that Lydia Morris located our Step Fountain near a huge old chestnut as a memorial to her brother John because it was his favorite tree. Sadly, it died a year later. This virulent parasitic fungus ( Cryphonectria parasitica) was accidentally imported on Asian chestnuts brought into New York City in 1904 and began to spread like wildfire through native stands. The trees had virtually no immunity to the disease, and by 1940, there were practically no trees left through its native range from Maine to Mississippi. American chestnut was a remarkable tree, and the introduction of this disease was, in my opinion, the worst ecological disaster that has befallen our eastern forests since the arrival of European colonists. IMPORTANT STAPLE Chestnut is unusual for several reasons. It is both shade-tolerant and fast-growing, so it could become the dominant tree in both regenerating and old-growth forests. Early summer flowers produce copious quantities of pollen favored by bees and beetles. It produces large crops of highly nutritious nuts every year, unlike oaks, beeches, hickories and pines that might have a large crop only every third or four season. For this reason, it was an important staple for Indigenous peoples as well as myriad mammals and birds. Chestnut wood is very strong and highly decay-resistant, so it was a preferred species for timber framing, siding and fence posts. I worked for a time at the …