Summer of Swings Photo Contest Our  Summer of Swings  exhibition includes 10 swings across the Arboretum, and we want to see you capture the magic and joy of soaring on a swing in our gardens. Image Calling all photographers—professionals, hobbyists, and everyone in between! Our  Summer of Swings  exhibition includes 10 swings across the Arboretum, and we want to see you capture the magic and joy of soaring on a swing in our gardens.   HOW TO ENTER Visit the Morris Arboretum and take a photo of you and/or a loved one on a swing. Post it on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Follow and tag @morrisarboretum with the hashtag #summerofswings.    THE PRIZES The winning photograph will be featured (with credit) on our  Summer of Swings  webpage An  INDIVIDUAL YEAR MEMBERSHIP  to the Arboretum, which includes: FREE unlimited admission for an entire year 10% Discount in The Shop and Compton Café Complimentary one-time use general admission guest passes Discounts on educational classes, field trips, and excursions Free member plant at the Member Plant Giveaway event Reciprocal admission privileges to more than 300 gardens and arboreta    THE DETAILS Contest closes Thursday, August 25 at 11:59pm EST. Winners will be announced on Monday, August 29 and notified via direct message, as well as tagged in the winner announce post across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Reminder: account must be set to public to enter TAP LINK IN BIO FOR MORE IMPORTANT CONTEST INFO    JUDGING Contest entries will be judged by a jury of four highly specialized Arboretum employees with impeccable photographic taste, otherwise known as the Marketing department, on the following criteria: Representation of Morris Arboretum (50%) – Points for showcasing the unique sense of place that can only be found within our gardens. Creativity (25%) – Points for originality. Photo (25%) – Points for aesthetic appeal, including balanced color and lighting.   CONTEST RULES All entries  must  tag and follow …

Why Trees Are Losing Leaves & What We Can Do To Help Maybe you've noticed that some trees in your neighborhood are losing leaves at an alarming rate, as if it's the second week of October instead of August.  Maybe you've noticed that some trees in your neighborhood are losing leaves at an alarming rate, as if it's the second week of October instead of August. That's because they are going dormant to conserve energy during the heatwave and drought we're experiencing in Philadelphia. Morris Arboretum's Executive Director Bill Cullina and Director of Horticulture Vince Marrocco spoke with  The Philadelphia Inquirer ,  Fox 29 , and  KWY  to explain what's causing this leaf drop so early in the season, and what we can do to help keep our trees hydrated.  Another heat wave gets underway in Philly, and trees are losing their leaves too soon   - The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog Image August 9, 2022 … Why Trees Are Losing Leaves & What We Can Do To Help …

White Pine Removal at the Arboretum Earlier this month, our arborist team removed most of a damaged white pine that became a hazard to surrounding trees. Earlier this month, our arborist team removed most of a damaged white pine that became a hazard to surrounding trees. What's left is about 20 feet of trunk for cavity nesters, who rely on standing dead wood, or snags, for habitat. Watch the video below for the removal process and more information. Blog Image July 27, 2022 … White Pine Removal at the Arboretum …

Celebrating Penn’s Iconic ‘Quad’ Elm There are few trees that rival the American elm’s historical significance in Philadelphia. Most notably, the original ‘Treaty’ elm was a large, wide-spreading tree under which William Penn and Tamanend, a chief of the Lenni-Lenape nation, signed a treaty of peace in 1683. Image Penn’s ‘Quad’ Elm had a beautiful, spreading crown under which many students enjoyed its relaxing shade. There are few trees that rival the American elm’s historical significance in Philadelphia. Most notably, the original ‘Treaty’ elm was a large, wide-spreading tree under which William Penn and Tamanend, a chief of the Lenni-Lenape nation, signed a treaty of peace in 1683. Descendants of this elm are still scattered around the area at various arboreta and gardens including one on Penn’s campus. Over the years, propagation staff at Morris Arboretum have produced many clones of the tree to distribute. Penn is home to another historic and majestic American elm known as the ‘Quad elm.’ Located in the heart of Penn’s Quadrangle dormitories, the tree has remained a preserved and solidified centerpiece over its long life. The tree grew as the University grew, spreading about 85 feet wide and almost ten feet in circumference at its peak. Countless generations of students have enjoyed the benefits that the tree has provided: its far-reaching shade, abundant fresh air, and picturesque fall foliage. The tree has a rather unique appearance relative to other American Elms—it’s not as tall, and the branches arch slightly downwards, resulting in an almost closed, dome-like crown. The origins of the tree are uncertain, leaving the variety or cultivar up for speculation. Image The ‘Quad’ Elm in May 2015. Image The ‘Quad’ Elm in early spring before leaf-out, 2021. Photo via Eric Sucar, Penn Communications.                   Unfortunately, the tree has been steadily declining over the last few years. Despite exhaustive efforts from Penn staff, Morris Arboretum Urban …

Plant Names Tell Their Stories: Hypericum spp. (St. John’s wort) The genus  Hypericum  has a memorable etymology from the Greek:  hyper , meaning “above” and  eikon , meaning “image,” referring to the practice of hanging these flowers above icons. Image H. frondosum  ‘Sunburst’ attracts bees, which are rewarded with pollen. The genus  Hypericum  has a memorable etymology from the Greek:  hyper , meaning “above” and  eikon , meaning “image,” referring to the practice of hanging these flowers above icons. Why is the common name St. John’s wort? During medieval times, these mystical plants were burned at Midsummer’s Eve bonfires to ward off evil spirits; the fact that the flowers looked like miniature suns and bloomed at the time of the summer solstice was considered remarkable. The Christian calendar designated June 24, Midsummer, as the feast day of St. John the Baptist; thus, the association of this long-revered plant and the saint. Wort is a word applied to plants, often those historically used to cure diseases. There are over 490 species in the genus  Hypericum  with a nearly world-wide distribution. The source of the St. John’s wort herbal remedy for mood disorders are the leaves and flowers of  Hypericum perforatum , a Eurasian species named for the translucent dots of glandular tissue that look like perforations on the leaves. Image H. patulum  ‘Sungold’ has a long season of bloom and provides excellent cut flowers. Image H. kalmianum  ‘Ames’ is a cultivar of a species native to the Great Lakes region of the USA.                     The Morris Arboretum boasts six different species of this shrub that are grown for their landscape interest and support of pollinators: H. frondosum  ‘Sunburst’ –  frondosum  meaning “especially leafy” H.  x  hidcoteense  ‘Hidcote’ –  hidcoteense  meaning “from Hidcote,” an English town and garden H. hypericoides  ssp.  Hypericoides  –  hypericoides  meaning “resembling Hypericum” H. kalmianum  ‘Ames’ –  kalmianum  honoring Pier …

Plant Names Tell Their Stories: Pulmonaria spp. (lungwort) Pulmonaria  spp. (lungworts) are spring-flowering plants named for the spotted leaves of the type species,  P. officinalis . Pulmonaria  spp. (lungworts) are spring-flowering plants named for the spotted leaves of the type species,  P. officinalis . The genus  Pulmonaria  means “lung” as the spotted leaves resemble diseased lungs.  P .  officinalis  was touted as medicine for lung ailments,  officinalis  meaning “sold in stores” and denoting a plant with culinary or medicinal use. The common name is lungwort; “wort” is an old English suffix that means “plant.” Image Pulmonaria  sp. with spotted foliage, growing in a shaded area at the Morris Arboretum. The red and yellow flower is Spigelia marilandica. Photo by Katherine Wagner-Reiss. Image 1834 anatomic drawing of pulmonary consumption (tuberculosis). Lungwort has spotted leaves reminiscent of the diseased lung seen on top. (CC BY 4.0)                     The Doctrine of Signatures is a pseudoscience held forth in various forms since ancient times that theorized the resemblance of a plant part to a human organ correlated with its ability to cure diseases of that organ: walnuts, with the brain-like appearance of their nuts, would strengthen the brain; and liverworts, with their liver-shaped leaves, would cure jaundice. Despite the magical appeal of “sympathetic medicine,” the spots on pulmonaria foliage did not evolve to direct humans to a cure for lung diseases; rather, the spots are air pockets just under the leaf surface that may serve to cool the leaf. In addition to the leaves, the flowers are also of interest, providing bees with much needed nectar in early spring. The flowers of most pulmonaria species show pink or violet buds maturing to that distinct shade of blue that is often seen in Boraginaceae (the borage family), which includes  Mertensia virginica  (Virginia bluebell) and  Myositis scorpioides  (forget-me-not). Image Pulmonaria  sp. …

Tulip-tree Inspection at the Historic Anglecot Residence The Morris Arboretum Urban Forestry Consultants recently inspected a tulip-tree ( Liriodendron tulipifera ) at the historic Anglecot property in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. The consultants first assessed this tree in 2009, after a resident expressed concern about a large cavity at the tree’s base. The Morris Arboretum Urban Forestry Consultants recently inspected a tulip-tree ( Liriodendron tulipifera ) at the historic Anglecot property in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. The consultants first assessed this tree in 2009, after a resident expressed concern about a large cavity at the tree’s base. The mature tree measured 235’’ in circumference at 2’ above the ground, and was roughly 100’ tall. We estimated the age to be upwards of 130 years old, meaning that it may be one of the original landscape trees planted on the property when it was built in 1883. Because of its impressive size, the tree could strike the nearest building or land on Stenton Avenue if it failed at the base. The cavity is located at the very base of the trunk and appeared to be quite extensive. We measured its size (Photo 1, below) and compared it to our 2009 measurement. In those 13 years, the cavity has grown 9” wider and 14” taller (Photo 2, below). Image Image We used a stick to probe the extent of decay within the cavity (photo 3), and found that the decay extended throughout the majority of the base. A new vertical crack above the cavity was also observed, which was absent in our 2009 analysis. You may be wondering if there is anything we can do to save a tree in this condition. Can we chip away the decayed wood and fill it with concrete or foam? While this may seem like a good idea, it is unfortunately not very effective and may actually speed decay or damage the tree even further. Decay organisms like fungi will remain inside the cavity even if it’s filled, and filling the cavity creates a cool, damp, and dark environment in which …

Plant Names and Provenance: Narcissus spp. (daffodils) Narcissus is an ancient name for native Mediterranean bulbs that produce showy yellow and white flowers in the spring. Image Echo and Narcissus by J.W. Waterhouse , 1903. Notice the white narcissus flowers by the foot of Narcissus. (Public Domain) Narcissus is an ancient name for native Mediterranean bulbs that produce showy yellow and white flowers in the spring. Narcissus is also the name of the mythical Greek youth who died of unrequited love for his own reflection. In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the body of Narcissus is replaced by a flower with white petals surrounding a yellow heart. From this description it is not possible to be sure that Ovid was describing what we now know as Narcissus spp.; nonetheless, linking the flower and the legendary youth, both with the same name, has piqued the human imagination over the centuries. A more mundane etymology was put forth by Pliny the Elder, the famous Roman naturalist, who specified that the narcissus flower was not named for the lad, but instead comes from the Greek narkao , meaning "I grow numb" and referring to the intoxicating fragrance of some species. Others associate the “numbness” with the poisonous nature of the bulbs, leaves, and flowers—a defense against creatures such as rabbits, squirrels, and deer. The common name for most Narcissus spp. is daffodil, the result of adding, for some uncertain reason, an initial “d” to asphodel, the name of another flowering bulb native to the Mediterranean. Asphodel flowers do not resemble Narcissus spp., but they are also white or yellow and associated with death in Greek mythology. Narcissus jonquilla has a particular common name: jonquil. Image Yellow asphodel growing on Crete. The word daffodil is the result of adding an initial “d” to asphodel. Notice that the asphodel lacks the central corona/trumpet/cup of the daffodil. (H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0) Image Narcissus  spp. at the Morris Arboretum. Daffodils multiply, both …