June 4, 2021 | 6pm - 11pm
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Moonlight & Roses. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the virtual celebration on June 4th. We were thrilled to honor Susan & Robert Peck, along with TreePhilly, while showcasing the history of this iconic event. If you are still interested in viewing the virtual celebration, click here to purchase a ticket. A unique link will be emailed directly to you.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Moonlight & Roses. Join us for our virtual celebration on Friday, June 4th at 7pm as we honor Susan and Robert Peck, along with TreePhilly. Our program will look back at 40 years of this iconic gala, take you behind the scenes with Arboretum horticulturists in the Rose Garden, and showcase the garden in full bloom.
Purchase TicketsOur 92-acre garden has continued to offer a safe, outdoor escape for individuals and families during the pandemic. Funds raised through Moonlight & Roses will ensure that the Arboretum will continue to be a resource for our community throughout the pandemic and beyond.
Morris Arboretum would be happy to provide you with more information on the Corporate sponsorship benefits of Moonlight & Roses and the many effective ways to tap into the loyalty and buying power of the over 3,000 households who receive the invitation each year, the 30,000 constituents who subscribe to the Morris Arboretum e-newsletter and the more than one million people that visit our website each year.
To become a corporate sponsor, please contact Kristen Casalenuovo at 215.247.5777 x418 or kcasal@upenn.edu.
Chubb
The Hill at Whitemarsh
Springer Capital
Harth Builders
Johnson Controls Security Solutions, LLC
Johnson, Kendall, & Johnson
INTECH Construction
TD Bank
Team Whetzel
Think Green
Video Production:
Edith R. Dixon
Cocktail Mixers:
Shechtman Tree Care
Live Plants:
Sarah and Ted Lodge
Lee Laden
Gabrielle Baugh
Christine Bamberger
Ruth Chang
Amanda Cobb
Amy Coleman
Kelly Culley
Allison DeCaro
Jessie Deming
Gail Detweiler
Kim Frisbie
Melissa Greiner
Katharine Hager
Ellen Nalle Hass
Natalie Collins Hirshorn
Margaret O’Neill
Jennifer Ratner
Rebekah Rendell
Elizabeth M. Salata
Sarah Salmon
Erin Standring
Christine Wilmerding
Chairing the 2021 Moonlight & Roses Planning Committee is Gabrielle Baugh. Gabrielle is a Philadelphia native and a longtime member of the Moonlight and Roses committee and the Arboretum’s development committee. She is also an active member of the Penn Towne Chapter of The Links Inc. and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. An award-winning competitive floral arranger, Gabrielle is the 2020-2021 chair of the arrangement classes of the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show.
The 2021 Honorary chair is Lee Laden. Lee, along with her late husband, Steven, became involved with the Arboretum more than three decades ago. They often hosted the Arboretum guides and interns at their West Mt. Airy home. Steve was a member of the Marketing Committee and was instrumental in helping to connect University of Pennsylvania students with the Arboretum. In 2010, Lee established the Steven Laden Marketing Endowment which provides support for Marketing and Social Media efforts. Lee has served on the Marketing Committee since 2010 and is a member of both the Lydia Morris Legacy Society and the Directors’ Guild. She was also a volunteer education guide for many years. Lee’s philanthropy extends beyond the Arboretum to the Curtis Institute of Music and the Wayne Art Center as well. She now lives nearby the Arboretum at The Hill at Whitemarsh.
As a longstanding Arboretum tradition, the Moonlight & Roses gala, which always takes place in early June, is unsurpassed.
The lively garden party we now know as Moonlight & Roses has had a colorful evolution. In the early 1970s, it was dubbed the Spring Fling, and was held on the lawn behind Gates Hall. The late Jane O’Neill was instrumental in the success of the gala in those early days.
In the 1980s, patrons and contributors donned their garden party attire for the event that was rechristened Moonlight & Roses . The evening traditionally begins with cocktails served in the Rose Garden, while dinner, served by a professional catering staff, is held in a festive tent atop the hill near the Widener Visitor Center. Music and dancing round out the evening of friendly conversation and gourmet dining.
Moonlight & Roses has always provided an intimate setting unique to Philadelphia charity events, and is enjoyed by a capacity crowd each year. The Morris Arboretum's annual fundraising gala, Moonlight & Roses , has become a tradition among friends, families, and colleagues in the Delaware Valley.
The Arboretum is open as usual. Click here for hours.
Please note: The Rose Garden is closed for maintenance every Thursday morning until noon.
Weather conditions may limit garden access to certain features even if the garden is open – please check the web site or call (215) 247-5777 for updates before visiting. Our visitors’ safety in the garden is our top priority. Therefore when inclement weather is predicted, we will make decisions about closing the garden accordingly.
