Morris Arboretum

Morris Arboretum Interns visit Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:44:00 +0000

Last week, the Morris Arboretum Interns, led by Director Paul Meyer, got the chance to take a "behind the scenes tour" with Brooklyn Botanic Garden's president, Scot Medbury.

President Scot Medbury welcoming the Morris Arboretum Interns

Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG), bordered by Prospect Park, is unique in that it is one of the few green spaces in a highly populated, very urban Brooklyn. We learned that if Brooklyn were not part of New York City, it would be the fifth most populated city in the United States. BBG is a beautiful garden, about half the size of Morris Arboretum and is closely integrated with the surrounding community in a number of different programs from GreenBridge, the community environmental horticulture program, to working with nearby schools.

We learned a little bit about some of the research being done in the labs at BBG from Susan Pell, Ph.D, director of Science at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. She told us about the New York Metropolitan Flora project (NYMF), a multi-year effort to document the flora in all counties within a 50-mile radius of New York City. We were also able to visit Paul Harwood at the herbarium, learn about collecting and look at type specimens.

Type specimen from herbarium

BBG also has a very engaged educational department. They partner with nearby community schools, bringing students into the Discovery Gardens and educational greenhouse, pictured below, for classes. We were fond of the hydrolic table that would raise and lower according to the height of participants from small children to adults.

We were thrilled to see that Brooklyn Botanic Garden has a sculpture by Patrick Dougherty, called "Natural History". Morris Arboretum also had a much loved sculpture by Patrick Dougherty, called Summer Palace, that was constructed in April 2009 but was recently dismantled.

Thanks to Brooklyn Botanic Garden for a great visit. Here are a few more pictures:

Garden Railway's Painted Ladies

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:25:00 +0000

Every year, the Garden Railway has a different theme. This year's theme is "Painted Ladies," colorful miniature replicas of Victorian homes, seen in cities across the country. This fabulous architectural style began in San Francisco after the Gold Rush when homes were built in a glorious mix of Carpenter Gothic, French Renaissance, Queen Anne, and others embellished with flashy scrolls, fans, and rosettes on porches, balconies, cornices, towers and turrets.

It is a joy to come out to the Morris Arboretum and see families - anywhere from small children to older adults - enjoying the display. The trains are quite impressive but the miniature world they operate in is even more awesome. There is about a quarter mile of track woven between the miniature houses that are part of the "Painted Ladies", but also the permanent miniature series of well loved Philadelphia buildings (like the Betsy Ross House or Elfreth's Alley or Independence Hall), across really cool natural bridges and tunnels.

Walking through Garden Railway a few days ago, I heard several different people calling their family and friends to tell them that the Garden Railway was at Morris Arboretum and they should really bring their family out to see it. It is a perfect activity for anyone who loves the outdoors, loves trains, loves Philly or just loves a good time...Enjoy some pictures:

Animals at the Morris Arboretum

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:09:00 +0000

Morris Arboretum has a lot of beautiful plants in bloom right now. But when you walk around the garden, it is easy to see that a lot more than plants live at the Arboretum. There are plenty of animals that you will see and hear as you enjoy the gardens. Ducks and geese are easy to see by the wetlands (and you may be lucky and see a fox or a hawk or heron). Squirrels and chipmunks can be seen scrambling across the paths. Birds are also prolific and you will likely see robins, orioles, warblers, catbirds, wrens, cardinals, red-winged blackbirds and more. These are just a few animals that I saw during my walk this afternoon.

If you are interested in birding, there are some great birding classes that you can take here at the Morris Arboretum. These classes build appreciation for nature and can help you identify birds that live or migrate through the Arboretum. Browse our classes offered here.

Plant Sale 2011

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Thu, 05 May 2011 18:17:00 +0000

The Plant Sale was off to a great start this afternoon, starting with the Plant Sale Luncheon for upper-level members of Morris Arboretum. The staff has been working very hard to get ready for the Plant Sale, bringing special selections to this year's sale. They worked throughout the rain yesterday getting everything into place but it looks like the weather for the next three days is going to be perfect! The sale is located at the new LEED Platinum Horticulture Center at Bloomfield Farm.

Browsing through the Plant Sale

Come out and join in on the fun! Tomorrow (Friday) is Plant Sale Members-Only day from 10am - 8pm with Family Night from 5:30 - 7:30 (you must register). On Saturday, the Plant Sale is open to the public from 10am - 4pm. More info here on our website.

This cart is filled with some colorful plants.

Pam Olshefski, Curatorial Assistant, gives some expert plant advice.

One of the best things about the Morris Arboretum Plant Sale is the chance to get expert advice from knowledgeable Morris Arboretum staff and volunteers. You can come with your questions and get answers and guidance from our staff.

Plants blooming on this sunny day.

Some serious plant talk with Tony Aiello, Director of Horticulture

The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society will hold its Annual Plant Sale at Morris Arboretum again this year. A large selection of outstanding rhododendrons, all hardy in the Delaware Valley, will be available. Helpful staff will guide you in choosing the right shrub for your needs and share their expertise to successfully grow it in your garden. Plants offered will include large-leaf (elepidotes) and small-leaf (lepidotes) rhododendrons, evergreen and deciduous azaleas, and kalmias (mountain laurels).

I would be excited about such a beautiful selection, too!

Featured this year will be seedlings of the fiery blooming Rhododendron calendulaceum (flame azalea). This native, deciduous azalea graces the Appalachian Mountains with delightful blossoms of orange, yellow and red in May and June. William Bartram in his book Travels wrote, “This is certainly the
most gay and brilliant flowering shrub yet known.”

Sacred Spaces

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:58:00 +0000

In March, Shea Zwerver, The Charles S. Holman Rose and Flower Intern, gave her internship project presentation to a captive audience. Her project was called the Sacred Sites Survey of the Morris Arboretum and aimed at identifying the "sacred spaces" of the Arboretum. Sacred spaces in the context of this project are areas within the Arboretum that are special to visitors (including members, volunteers and staff) and their experience at the Arboretum.

Shea gives her internship project presentation to a full house

Reviewing the Sacred Spaces visuals.

Sacred Spaces layers

Throughout the months before her presentation, Shea distributed a paper survey to members, visitors and staff and asked them to identify the spaces, views, garden feature, etc. with which they felt a particular connection. Because visitor's experiences and valued areas can be so varied, Shea constructed most of the survey to be open-ended to collect qualitative and subjective information. Shea also collected some basic demographic information. The most useful information from the survey came from two sources: the places respondent circled "sacred spaces" and an open-ended "notes" section.

Shea analyzed and presented the results in order to begin a conversation between the Arboretum and its constituents about the sacred spaces at the Arboretum. Below is a graphic representation of the sacred spaces that were identified (look for the stars) on top of geographic layers of the garden, including hydrology, shady areas, traffic patterns and benches. Her findings will help inform the master planning process in the years to come.

Sacred Spaces with layers overlay

The open-ended notes section also produced some enlightening details about respondent’s attitudes about the garden and why they enjoy certain parts of the Arboretum. Below are a few of the quotes:

"Sometimes I come to the Arboretum for a walk and enjoy the peacefulness. Our family feels so lucky that the Morris Aboretum is so close for us to enjoy. Each time I visit I always seem to find something new to enjoy!"

"I enjoyed the anticipation of things to come-All the buds ready to burst open"

"I enjoy the free standing green house (fernery) Clean smell, green colors, life everywhere. So peaceful"

"The most memorable parts for me were smelling the witchhazel in the breeze"

"The witchhazel area reminds me that life goes on even in the snow and ice"

"The hill overlooking the entrance is the spot where my husband and I had our wedding ceremony, driving by car of walking through takes me back to that day."

The step fountain--"This is my other sacred space because it feels small and secret and still has water"

"Having pulled weeds, raked, mulched and planted over so much of the Arboretum, my greatest pleasure is to sit and look into the distance-spring, summer, fall, and winter"

"I like the Japanese Overlook Garden because it is very peaceful and hidden behind the trees"

"When I was little, my favorite activity at the Arboretum was walking and playing among the rocks behind the canopy tree."

"When the late morning sun in the Spring and Summer ignites the Japanese maples in the center of the garden, it always stop me in my tracks"--Japanese Overlook Garden

"The log cabin is special to me. I tell the grandchildren it is cinderella's house and ask them to run up and see if she is home. She must be very busy since we have not found her at home."

"I came here once in the evening during a thunderstorm and it was truly magical" --Stone bridge that looks at the metasequoias

"I used to come to the Rose Garden, center fountain, to recuperate in the late 1950s-The fountain was dry, and I could sit there, sheltered from the wind in winter cold. Virtually no-one came to the Arboretum in those days so I had the entire place to myself. My recuperation was for Post Traumatic Stress and I desperately needed solitude."

Costa Rica Birding

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:34:00 +0000

In February 2011, the Arboretum embarked on an 11-day birding trip to Costa Rica. Led by Morris Arboretum Education Coordinator Jan McFarlan and Expert Birders Ruth Pfeffer and Rudy Zamora, the goal of the trip was to discover the diverse bird habitats of Costa Rica – a country with more species of birds than the United States and Canada combined.

Some of the most memorable stops included the Lankester Botanical Gardens with its world class collection of nearly 1,000 orchids, the Los Esquinas Rainforest Lodge Gardens located deep in the Costa Rican rainforest, and the Wilson Botanical Garden home to an amazing collection of colorful bromeliads.

Whether the group was enjoying a river boat ride through the mangroves, enjoying the view at Rancho Naturalista, or visiting the gardens of Savegre Lodge, there was always an abundance of avian friends to be seen. Of the almost 900 hundred species of birds found in Costa Rica, 200 are migrants from North America, and many of them migrate through or nest in the wetlands, meadows, and wooded areas found at the Arboretum. It was a great experience to see some of these species in Costa Rica knowing that they would return to the Arboretum's beautiful gardens in the spring.

Enjoy some pictures from the trip below:

Morris Arboretum's Annual Plant Sale is next week

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:54:00 +0000

For rare and unusual plants for your garden, and expert advice from horticulturalists, plan to attend Morris Arboretum's Plant Sale on May 5-6 (Arboretum members only) or May 7 (public sale day). http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/current/2011-04-28/latest-news/morris-arboretum-plant-sale-blooms-may

Storytime at Morris Arboretum

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:05:00 +0000

This morning, Morris Arboretum had their first session of Storytime for this year. Storytime is a fun and engaging reading session among the trees for children ages 0-5 (check out website for more info) that is happening throughout the spring and summer. It is a great activity for moms or dads or grandparents looking for something fun to get them out of the house into a beautiful setting and meet other people.

This morning, there were about twenty people that enjoyed interactive storytelling, learning signs and songs under Out on a Limb. There was beautiful weather and afterward, folks explored the garden to see all that is in bloom.

Storytime at the Morris Arboretum is a program in partnership with William Jeanes Memorial Library in Lafayette Hill and the Free Library of Springfield Township.

In bloom on April 26

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:50:00 +0000

It is starting to heat up and spring almost feels like summer already. There are a lot of plants in bloom right now and it is a perfect time to take a trip to Morris Arboretum and enjoy the season. Take a look at a few pictures I snapped this morning:

Morris Arboretum’s Botany Department Receives Grant to Create Recovery Plans for Most Critically Imperiled Pennsylvania Plant Species

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:38:00 +0000

The Botany Department at the Morris Arboretum has received a grant from the Pennsylvania Wild Resource Conservation Program (WRCP) to create resource recovery plans for three plant species considered among the most critically imperiled in Pennsylvania. The species of concern in this project are glade spurge (Euphorbia purpurea), Torrey’s mountain-mint (Pycnanthemum torreyi), and spreading globe-flower (Trollius laxus).

Trollium laxus

Pycnanthemum torreyi

JohnLynch Euphorbia purpurea

These plans will delineate a strategy that promotes protection of the species and their habitats and allows for species recovery and stability. The ultimate goal is to create objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a determination that the species be removed from Pennsylvania’s list of species of special concern.

Morris Arboretum Botany Department staff will visit the few sites where these species are known to occur to provide up-to-date data on population information for extant populations. The data collected will include population size, potential threats, reproductive capacity, and overall population health.

Historic sites will also be visited to assess whether or not the species could remain at those sites. The potential for previously unknown sites will be assessed using geographic information system (GIS) analysis based on various physical parameters. All background and laboratory research associated with this project will be conducted at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Wild Resource Conservation Program (WRCP) is part of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and is the only dedicated source of funding for research and conservation of wild plants in our state. Visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us/wrcp to find out how you can help support this vitally important program.

In bloom at Morris Arboretum

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:09:00 +0000

Lots of folks have been asking what is in bloom at the Arboretum. I could describe in words how everything is looking in the garden or list the plants and trees that are blooming but I thought pictures would be more effective. All photos were taken today, April 18th, 2011. With the nice weather this week, it will be a great time to come out and get a good taste of spring.

Birding on the Eastern Shore

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:10:00 +0000

This week, a group from Morris Arboretum took a three-day birding adventure to the eastern shore of Maryland. Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, located at the confluence of the Chester River and the Chesapeake Bay was one of the primary destinations. This 2,285-acre island refuge is a major feeding and resting place for migrating and wintering waterfowl. More than 100,000 ducks, geese and swans seek sanctuary here, as do migrating and breeding songbirds and shorebirds.

The photo was taken by one of the trip takers, Douglas Marshall of the group:

The group also visited the 3,300 acre Chesapeake Farms where they observed a wide variety of wintering waterfowl including tundra swans and many ducks including pintails, green-wing teals, shovelers and other species. The group saw lots of birds but some special ones were: the horned lark, snipes, horned grebes and lots of bald eagles.

Check out this great picture of an osprey taken by Lehman Kapp, one of the trip participants:

The trip was led by Ruth Pfeffer, an expert birder who teaches a number of birding classes at the Morris Arboretum.

Sakura and Katsura at Morris Arboretum

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:16:00 +0000

Bob Gutowski, Director of Public Programs

Sakura, cherry blossom viewing, is a Japanese cultural tradition that has taken hold at the Morris Arboretum. For me it starts with Prunus mume, Japanese Apricot, already in bloom near the Garden Railroad. It carries a fine fragrance. I heard it was in bloom today and took a walk after work to get acquainted with this new tree in the collection.

Prunus mume 'Shiro-Naniwa', Japanese Apricot, 2003-005-B

The Katsuratree, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, is also putting on a fine show of flowering, although without petals. Katsura are dioecious, having male and female trees. This is a male.

See more photos from March 22, and post your own on Flickr: http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/submit_pictures.shtml

Lampyridae Live at Morris Arboretum

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:31:00 +0000

Bob Gutowski, Director of Public Programs
Predaceous, bioluminescent lavrvae lurk beneath the yellow-flowered dogwood, magnificent magnolias and narcissus multitudes on the first day of Spring.   Lamprydiae thrive at the Morris Arboretum. You have seen them as adults, nocturnal summer fliers - the fireflies.



I found this creature under a large hemlock (Tsuga canadense) in the collection.  It measured nearly one inch, had six legs and eleven segments.  I sent pictures to my "go to" source for insect ID http://www.bugguide.net/. A quick reponse told me it is an unidentified firefly (Lampridae) larvae.
About three dozen firefly species occur in Pennsylvania, with at least a few here at the Morris Arboretum. Perhaps this is the larvae of the state insect of Pennsylvania, Photuris pennsylvanica.

I found lots of good Firefly information on Wikipedia:

... Fireflies hibernate over winter during the larval stage, some species for several years. Some do this by burrowing underground, while others find places on or under the bark of trees. They emerge in the spring. After several weeks of feeding, they pupate for 1 to 2.5 weeks and emerge as adults. The larvae of most species are specialized predators and feed on other larvae, terrestrial snails, and slugs. One such species is Alecton discoidalis which is found in Cuba. Some are so specialized that they have grooved mandibles that deliver digestive fluids directly to their prey. Adult diet varies. Some are predatory, while others feed on plant pollen or nectar.

... Female Photuris fireflies are known for mimicking the mating flashes of other "lightning bugs" for the sole purpose of predation. Target males are attracted to what appears to be a suitable mate, and are then eaten. For this reason the Photuris species are sometimes referred to as "femme fatale fireflies."

Extending Arboriculture to the Public

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:46:00 +0000

Yesterday, Bryan Thompson-Nowak, the Walter W. Root Endowed Arborist intern, presented his project, entitled “Extending Arboriculture to the Public".

Arborists commonly capture the attention of those passing by when they are performing their maintenance duties high in trees. People will stop and watch what the arborists are doing and often have many questions. Bryan's project aims to take capitalize on these sorts of regularly occurring "teachable moments" through an informational sandwich board that can easily travel to different sites with the arborists. The information is layed out in an easy to understand manner with graphics to help explain the work going on without distracting the arborists in the trees..see images below.

One side of the panel graphically explains how an arborist climbs a tree, identifies the equipment being used and has a rope with a climbing "friction hitch" knot and carabiner attached for hands-on learning.

The opposite side has a top portion made with dry-erase board film that can be written on. The arborists will write on this part of the panel to identify the common and scientific name of the tree that is receiving care as well as point out the type of work being done. The bottom of the panel highlights some of the common maintenance issues that need remedied on young and mature trees.

Bryan did a great job presenting his project and putting together an informational learning panel that will take advantage of many teachable moments around the garden. Next time you are at Morris Arboretum and see the arborists working in a tree, look for the sandwich board and learn a little more about what the arborists are doing.

Also, check out this great YouTube video showing how Bryan climbs through a tree:

Morris Arboretum Top of the List in AAA World

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:44:00 +0000

Morris Arboretum makes the list of Gardens in the Mid-Atlantic in AAA Magazine. Take a look - a regional destination!

Low down at the Morris Arboretum

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:57:00 +0000

Bob Gutowski, Director of Public Programs
March flowers can be found low down. Hellebores, crocus, snow drops and more are poking up. I took a walk on Saturday and got down to taking pictures.

Honey bees, Apis mellifera, were busy visiting Crocus on the slope above the Rose Garden on March 5th. I wonder if crocus honey tastes like saffron?

Snow Drops, Galanthus elwesii, are bigger flowered and have broader leaves than the more common G. nivalis. These are in the woods near Out on a Limb, March 5th.

Hellebore flowers are abundant in March throughout the Arboretum. Look for them in shady spots. This one on the edge of the woods by Out on a Limb caught my eye with its near-black leaves and dark, dark flowers. The leaves will green up later. March 5th. The little stem is Poison Ivy! Learn to recognize this in your garden.

See more of my photos on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/versicolor/

Witchazels in bloom

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:56:00 +0000

Did you know that the Arboretum has fabulous color and fragrance even in the middle of winter? With remnants of snow still on the ground it is easy to think that we have to wait until spring for flowers to start blooming to see colorful life. But that is not true!

During the month of February, we focus our eyes on one of the harbingers of spring: the witchazel. Witchazels at Morris Arboretum are blooming right now throughout the garden and come in a spectrum of colors and smells. The pictures on this post are from Bob Gutowski, our Director of Public Programs. You can see more of his wonderful photos on his Flickr site here: http://bit.ly/dHS4ET

To help you explore the witchhazels at the Arboretum, we have created a treasure hunt map distributed at the Visitor's Center (also available online here: http://bit.ly/cLriBi). This map highlights the location of several different varieties of witchazels throughout the garden and also has space on the back to record your findings. Grab a map and go see if you can find these witchazels in bloom - this is a fun activity for the whole family!

On Sunday, February 27, 12-2pm, grab your family and head over to the Arboretum for a day of fun and exploration. Follow the treasure hunt to discover the many varieties of witchhazels growing at the Arboretum and then stop by the Visitor Center to make a fun craft.

Stir crazy? Plan a walk on Morris Arboretum's paved paths for benefits to both mind and body

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0000

New York Times Science section cites mental benefits of walking, to add to its physical benefits.
Fitness: A Walk to Remember? Study Says Yes

By PAULA SPAN

Published: February 7, 2011

In healthy adults, the hippocampus — a part of the brain important to the formation of memories — begins to atrophy around 55 or 60. Now psychologists are suggesting that the hippocampus can be modestly expanded, and memory improved, by nothing more than regular walking.

In a study published on Jan. 31 in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers randomly assigned 120 healthy but sedentary men and women (average age mid-60s) to one of two exercise groups. One group walked around a track three times a week, building up to 40 minutes at a stretch; the other did a variety of less aerobic exercises, including yoga and resistance training with bands.

After a year, brain scans showed that among the walkers, the hippocampus had increased in volume by about 2 percent on average; in the others, it had declined by about 1.4 percent. Since such a decline is normal in older adults, “a 2 percent increase is fairly significant,” said the lead author, Kirk Erickson, a psychologist at the University of Pittsburgh. Both groups also improved on a test of spatial memory, but the walkers improved more.

While it is hard to generalize from this study to other populations, the researchers were delighted to learn that the hippocampus might expand with exercise. “And not that much exercise,” Dr. Erickson pointed out.
People don’t even have to join a gym, he noted. They just need shoes.

Morris Arboretum offers guided Wellness Walks every Saturday morning at 10:30 AM, free with regular garden admission. Meet at the Visitors Center wearing appropriate clothing for the weather and comfortable shoes, and be prepared for a brisk walk of approximately 2 miles on the Arboretum's paved paths .

http://www.morrisarboretum.org/

There's a new botanist in town at Morris Arboretum

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:32:00 +0000

Springfield Sun writer, Nicole Jenet reports on Morris Arboretum's new botanist.

Botanist Michael Burgess joined the staff of Morris Arboretum, Chestnut Hill, Jan. 4.

Since the beginning of January, Michael Burgess has been settling in as the Morris Arboretum’s newest research botanist.

Burgess, a New Hampshire native, relocated to Chestnut Hill with his wife, Susannah Burgess, and 9-month-old daughter, Ada, for what he called a “wonderful opportunity” with the arboretum, where he would have the opportunity to work with a team of “exceptional” botanists.
In his new position, Burgess said Tuesday that he will be responsible for updating and redesigning the Pennsylvania Flora Project website as well as getting involved in field work and research and possibly assisting in teaching the arboretum’s field botany and plant systematics classes.

While acquiring his master’s from the Antioch University of New England, Burgess said he was inspired to go into botany from a professor and botanist.

“I was walking in the woods and he was pointing out a number of plants and naming them. I was awestruck by his knowledge,” he said of the field he soon became “consumed with.”

Burgess debated between going to law school or working for his Ph.D. He said he had a strong passion to teach on the college level, and he needed a Ph.D. for that.
“I was weighing those two options, and I landed on the side of science,” he said.
So he studied plant systematics.
He received his doctorate from the University of Maine, where he completed his dissertation research on the genus Amelanchier — also known as the serviceberry.

“I’ve always been attached to the outdoors, and I guess it was just a natural outgrowth from that,” Burgess said.

At the arboretum, Burgess will be able to focus on things he can continue to expand upon and develop a different skill set and continue to enhance it as a field botanist, he said.

“I tend to just love the idea of being outside,” Burgess said of being a field botanist, rather than a botanist who works in a lab.
In four years of graduate school, Burgess said, you “lose touch with the world because you’re so focused on your work,” but “everyone has been very warm and genuine, opening up their culture and welcoming” him at the arboretum.

“Everyone here is generally interested not just with what they do, but where they are,” Burgess said of his co-workers, who, he said, tend to have more of a “family feel, not just a work culture.”
For more information about Morris Arboretum's botany research, Botanical Research at Morris Arboretum

Painted White at Morris Arboretum

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 18:32:00 +0000

Come enjoy the beautiful winter snow at the Arboretum. All the paths and benchs are clear!

Penn Glee Club

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:17:00 +0000

This past Saturday, we lucked out and had a temporary break in the freezing cold temperatures, just in time for a fun visit from the University of Pennsylvania’s Glee Club!

25 members of the Glee Club, led by director Erik Nordgren, spread holiday cheer throughout the garden with their festive singing. They started out with a 30-minute concert on the steps of the Pennock Garden (complete with hot chocolate and cider) and then went on to sing around other parts of the Arboretum, including the Summer Palace and Out on a Limb. It was a really fun time for everyone who got to hear them, and they covered a great range of songs, including all of the classic Christmas tunes and even a Chanukah song, sung entirely in Hebrew!

There was a great turnout—over 100 people—and the concert provided a perfect opportunity for folks to also check out our popular Holiday Garden Railway exhibit, open through January 2^nd.

The Arboretum was happy to host the Penn Glee Club – they are a very talented group of young men and you could tell that they were enjoying the experience as much as our visitors enjoyed their singing. In between their sets, the guys could be found exploring the Summer Palace and bouncing up and down on the Squirrel Scramble on Out on a Limb. All in all, it was a great winter afternoon and we look forward to the Penn Glee Club concert becoming an annual holiday tradition here at the Arboretum.

Come vist the Fernery this winter!

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:02:00 +0000

So, its cold outside! And if you are like me, you don't want to sit inside all winter just because it is cold. Come out to visit us and take a walk - it is very peaceful here in the winter - and not cold in all parts of the garden. The fernery here at Morris Arboretum provides a nice place to stop and warm up between Out on a Limb and the Holiday Garden Railway. I think that the fernery is a really neat little space to see some different plants, look for the dinosaur, watch the fish and warm up a bit.

The Dorrance H. Hamilton Fernery is the only remaining freestanding Victorian fernery in North America. The Fernery documents a time when Victorians were consumed with ferns and glasshouses. It was designed by the original owner and namesake of the Arboretum, John Morris.

Holiday Garden Railway

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 19:40:00 +0000

Check out this great video of kids enjoying the Holiday Garden Railway from Pete Mazzaccaro of chestnutlocal.com. He recently took his three-year-old son to see the Garden Railway exhibit here at Morris Arboretum who, as the video shows, thoroughly enjoyed the decorated trains running through a quarter mile of track and holiday themed buildings. Check out his article at this link

I love the fact that children and adults alike get a huge kick out of watching the trains (and ~~geese~~ swans) scoot along the track and the way this exhibit not only entertains but also connects multiple generations.

Here are a few more pictures of some of the miniature buildings that are all dressed up for the holidays. The Holiday Garden Railway will be open through January 2nd (closed Dec 24, 25 and Jan 1).

Getting a birds-eye view of the fall colors

noreply@blogger.com (The Morris Arboretum) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:51:00 +0000

Watch this clip of Morris Arboretum's Paul Meyer talking about changing fall colors and Out on a Limb this fall in the story by Peter Crimmins of WHYY.

Read more at WHYY.com by clicking here.