Known as the official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Morris Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania offers a scenic escape from the city. Nestled in Chestnut Hill, the public garden and grounds offers its own take on the great outdoors to ultimately, “bridge an understanding of the relationship between plants, people and place through education, research and horticultural display.”
How Morris makes this possible is through a series of exhibits both natural and phenomenal in what they offer.
Everywhere you turn, you’re not quite sure what to expect, with gardens, beautiful buildings on the ground, and unique fixtures — such as their own fernery — it’s definitely a venue like you’ve never seen before. And that idea is made apparent when looking at perhaps the most eye-catching display on the grounds, the Garden Railway—aka one of the largest outdoor model train displays in the United States with more than 15 different rail lines running along a third of a mile of track.
But for the fall season, there are also some specific exhibits and stand-alone events to check out while exploring as well. Firstly, Philadelphians can head to the Garden Railway to check out the end of their Dinos! exhibit. This activation features a display of dinosaurs, including Triceratops, Pteranodon, and Velociraptors, all made from natural materials like bark, leaves, and twigs among the trains and fixtures of the Railway itself.
And on Friday, Sept. 6, Fossil Friday at the Paleontologist’s Cottage will be in full swing where guests will learn about Pennsylvania’s state fossil—the trilobite. Another prehistoric event titled the “Plants in the Age of Dinosaurs Tour” will kick off on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. Through this activation, an experienced garden educator will bring guests to explore living examples of trees and plants that were around when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Next up, on Wednesday, Sept. 11, an “Evening Wine, Cheese, and Trees” event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. ($40 for members, $45 for non-members). While there, guests can explore the treetops at Morris’ “Out On a Limb” exhibit after hours, indulge in wines and cheese plates, plus enjoy music from an instrumental guitar by local musician Raji Malik.
Morris Arboretum will also feature a Storytime event on Sept. 18 and a Corn Moon Craft on Sept. 21. With the former, kids in Kindergarten and up can hear ‘Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn’ by Kenard Pa, then make a 3D tree capturing the changes of the four seasons. With the latter, visitors can celebrate the September full moon, known as the Corn Moon, with a corn paper weaving craft and popcorn table. Both events are free with admission.
Then on Sept. 28, the “Oaks of the Mid-Atlantic Tour” will be in full swing at 11 a.m. to introduce guests to all of the different oaks in the Arboretum’s collection. Next, on Sept. 29, an adults-only party aka the Autumn Equinox Social will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. to celebrate the changing of the seasons. The affair will feature live music, tours, and plenty of refreshments ($20 for members, $25 for non-members.)
And lastly, Philadelphians can head to Morris Arboretum this fall for Wellness Walks every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., and Garden Highlights Tours weekdays at 10:30 a.m., and weekends at 1 p.m.
For more information on Morris Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania (100 E Northwestern Ave.), visit morrisarboretum.org
