There are plenty of reasons to head to Morris Arboretum this spring.
Known as the official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the public garden and grounds in Chestnut Hill 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.”
On top of this season’s trees and flowers being in full bloom there, the outdoor venue will also be showcasing some springtime events, and some of which are free with admission.
For example, on select Wednesdays this season (April 12, 19, 26, and May 3, 10, 17) visitors can partake in Seeds to Sprouts: Spring Adventures where children ages 2-4 and their guardians are invited to explore the outdoors and learn about some early science subjects like leaves, weather, soil, and insects. This particular series of events comes out to be $135 for all five sessions for members, and $155 for non-members.
A free event however comes later this month on Monday, April 19, at 10:30 a.m. Storytime with Morris is for ages 3 to 6, and will feature a reading of Shel Silverstein’s ‘The Giving Tree’, where afterward participants can create and decorate their very own giving trees. Another no-extra cost option comes on Saturday the 22nd, with the Spring Buds & Blooms Tour where beginning at 11 a.m., an experienced guide will showcase all of the seasonal flowers displayed in the gardens.
Another stand-out event is the Native Bees at the Arboretum activation, which takes place Saturday, April 29, at 1 p.m. While there, Philadelphians will be able to check out the venue’s diversity of native bees.
And as a release states, this workshop will feature learning about pollination ecology, field ID, and training on photography-based citizen science—all of which is presented by Ryan Drake, the McCausand Natural Areas manager at Morris Arboretum & Gardens. Participants should wear good hiking shoes and bring a camera or their cell phone along (Philadelphians can register at morrisarb.org/events for $30-$35.)
There are also some online events that Morris will be putting on, including 12 Objects, 12 Stories: The Private Estate Era. During this showcase, which takes place on April 26, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., participants will see twelve rarely seen objects made of ordinary materials like wood and stone and cloth, while learning about how these objects tell a story of the life and times of John and Lydia Morris at their private estate before it was known as the Arboretum.
Another activation is titled The Balancing Act of Planned Green Spaces: A Free Virtual Panel, and it takes place on Wednesday, April 19, at 2 p.m. This particular event features a moderated panel discussion exploring the opportunities for—and the impact of—designing, growing, nurturing, and maintaining green spaces within the current and future built environment.
While at the 92-acre horticultural grounds this spring, Philadelphians can also explore Morris’ fernery, tree canopy walk, fairy gardens, swan pond, historic structures and perhaps the most eye-catching display at the venue—the Garden Railway.
And speaking of, later this season, Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ Garden Railway is celebrating 25 years with 300 feet of additional track. The new expansion will open to the public on May 26, with the theme “Public Gardens.”
Another highlight later this year is the Exuberant Blooms: A Pop-Up Garden. As the official website states, spread over more than a quarter acre of open garden, the seven large paisley-shaped “islands” will contain more than 10,000 plants with heights ranging from 8 inches to 8 feet. Each bed contains a wide variety of annual and tropical plants known for their bold, saturated colors and their appeal to butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. This particular new feature will open to the public on Saturday, June 24.
To learn more information about Morris Arboretum & Gardens (100 E Northwestern Ave.), visit morrisarboretum.org
