What's in Bloom: July What's in Bloom: July Image July at the Morris Image Japanese clethra Clethra barbinervis Bark Park Native to Japan, these shrubs produce racemes of fragrant, white flowers that contrast against glossy, dark green leaves. Image Bobo® panicle hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata ‘Ilvobo’ Rose Garden Large panicles of white flowers adorn these compact shrubs. While the straight species can reach heights of up to 25 feet, this cultivar is selected for its small form, reaching only up to 3 feet in height. Image Abbeville Blue chastetree Vitex agnus-castus ‘Abbeville Blue’ Rose Garden These large shrubs are native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia. In the summer, they produce long, narrow panicles of small purple flowers that attract butterflies and bees. Image Tuskegee crapemyrtle Lagerstroemia ‘Tuskegee’ ​​​​​ Oak Allée This crapemyrtle cultivar boasts showy pink, cloud-like flower clusters, adding brightness and color along the Oak Allée. Image Chinese pearlbloom-tree Poliothyrsis sinensis  Pennock Garden This tree gets its common name from its small flowers that do not fully open, remaining round and bud-like. The flowers are apetalous, meaning they lack petals—what we see instead are sepals, which are typically found enclosing petals to protect the flower in its bud form.   Image Bracken’s Brown Beauty southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’  Oak Allée Native to the southeastern United States, this evergreen magnolia displays large white, fragrant flowers throughout the summer. Unlike many other flowers, these are primarily pollinated by beetles.   … What's in Bloom: …

Public Garden - After 1974 Public Garden - After 1974 Image Collections: Public Garden — After 1974 Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania Records The 1970s was a time of considerable change for the Arboretum, set in motion when Dr. F. Otto Haas assumed the position of Chair of the Advisory Board in 1972. During his tenure as Chair, the University granted the Arboretum more freedom as a university-wide “Resource Center” and the Board began to play a more active role. In 1977, Dr. William M. Klein, Jr., an experienced botanical garden administrator, was named the Arboretum’s first full-time Director. Eight months after his Image Planning the Arboretum: Director William Klein with Colin and Carole Franklin of Andropogon Association, 1976. appointment, Dr. Klein and the Board, under the guidance of Dr. Haas, launched a comprehensive renewal program in tandem with the University’s institution-wide plan for the 1980s. The stated goal of the renewal program was to “renew and endow the Arboretum’s most precious assets and to develop a standard of excellence for those features that are fundamental to its original design and purpose as a university and public institution, as set forth by Lydia T. Morris in 1932” ( Morris Arboretum Newsletter , March-April 1978). One of the operational changes at the Arboretum was assigning horticultural staff to specific areas of responsibility rather than serving on roving crews across the entire grounds—a plan still being implemented today. Another change, led by then-Curator Paul Meyer, was implementation of a comprehensive policy for collection of shrubs and trees, also still being implemented. A third change was increased emphasis on educational programs utilizing the resources of the Arboretum. By the end of the 1970s, the Arboretum had taken the significant steps toward renewal, with the support of grants and in partnership with the landscape planning firm, Andropogon Associates. This partnership has continued with …

University Era 1933-1974 University Era 1933-1974 Image Collections: University Era - 1933-1974 Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania Records   Arboretum Directors, 1933-1974 Dr. Rodney H. True, 1933 – 1939 Dr. Jacob R. Schramm, 1939 – 1954 Dr. John M. Fogg, Jr., 1954 – 1967 Dr. A. Orville Dahl, 1967 – 1971 Dr. Hui-Lin Li , 1971 – 1974  … University Era 1933-1974 …

Exuberant Blooms is Bigger, Bolder, and Brighter Hot, bold colors dominate this year's Victorian-inspired exhibition!  Image Our annual modern take on Victorian flower carpets, Exuberant Blooms , is even HOTTER this summer with eight beds of bigger, bolder, brighter, and more beautiful flowers! Spread over more than a quarter acre of open garden, the large paisley-shaped floral “islands” contain more than 10,000 plants with heights ranging from 8 inches to 8 feet. Hot colors dominate this year’s exhibition with a wide variety of annual and tropical plants of vibrant orange, pink, red, and purple flowers all vying for attention. And while there will be new and interesting foliage for visitors to admire, we are also bringing back many of your plant favorites from last year. The color, shape, and scent of each flower not only catches our gaze but also attracts pollinators—insects and birds in search of the flower’s nectar or pollen, including lots of butterflies and hummingbirds! These animals are called pollinators because they carry pollen from the male part of the flower (stamen) to the female part of the same or another flower (stigma). What's New: Exuberant Blooms Plants List See what specific plants are growing in Exuberant Blooms by using our handy plant list .    Image Image Image Image Image Image Image 1 / PREV NEXT Blog Image August 8, 2024 … Exuberant Blooms is Bigger, Bolder, and …

What's in Bloom: August What's in Bloom: August Image August at the Morris Image plumleaf azalea Rhododendron prunifolium Native Azalea Collection One of the latest to bloom, this native azalea produces deep red/orange flowers. There are only a handful of natural populations of plumleaf azalea. Image Pink summersweet clethra Clethra alnifolia ‘Rosea’ Along creek in Azalea Meadow Native to eastern North America, summersweet clethra is a late summer bloomer that thrives in shady, swampy areas. Unlike the white flowers of the straight species, the ‘Rosea’ cultivar displays showy, fragrant light pink flower clusters on vertical racemes. Image Chinese arborvitae Platycladus orientalis Hillcrest Pavilion Small, spiked, blue-green cones adorn this evergreen tree. This plant was once considered a member of the genus Thuja (arborvitae) because of its very similar scale-like leaves. Image anemone Anemone tomentosa Mercury Loggia Native to northern China, these perennials bloom as late as October. Their grape-like leaves have white, fuzzy undersides. Image swamp rose mallow Hibiscus moscheutos Wetlands Large white flowers on these tall, native perennials line the border of the Wetlands. Although each individual flower only blooms for several days, the plant produces many new buds and will flower through early fall. … What's in Bloom: …

Digging into Native Plant Research Native plants, trees, and shrubs play a critical role in maintaining the health and stability of Pennsylvania’s ecosystem—and the Morris has been at the forefront of native plant research for nearly a century. Native plants are imperative to our ecosystem, contributing to cleaner air and water, healthier soil, climate regulation, and a welcoming habitat for wildlife. “We don’t take a breath that isn’t supported by native plants,” says Timothy Block, PhD, the John J. Willaman Chair of Botany and Director of Plant Science at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens. The University of Pennsylvania has published the story "Digging into Native Plant Research," which highlights the importance of native plants and the recently established Jan Albaum and Harry Cerino Native Plant Research Endowment in Memory of Martin Albaum. This endowment will support our Plant Science Department as well as the Morris Arboretum & Gardens Plant Science Lab, which will focus on regionally rare plant species and forest health. The lab is set to break ground this fall, and will be located on the Bloomfield Farm side of the Morris. Read More →   Image A sketch of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens Plant Science Lab, which will break ground this fall and be located on the Bloomfield Farm side of the Morris. Image Support from Jan Albaum (pictured in foreground) will provide new opportunities and an expanded effort into the study of native plant species at the Morris. Photo by Eddy Marenco.   Blog Image August 26, 2024 … Digging into Native Plant …

What's in Bloom: September What's in Bloom: September Image September at the Morris Image wood grass Sorghastrum nutans Meadows, Natural Areas Found throughout the Natural Area meadows, this tall native grass blooms from late summer to fall, displaying bright yellow anthers that gently dangle from each grass spikelet. Image kousa dogwood Cornus kousa Log Cabin After its showy summer blooms, kousa dogwood’s red fruit become its fall seasonal interest. These soccer-ball-like fruits are considered drupes, like apricots and cherries, because they contain a stone in the center. Image franklinia Franklinia alatamaha Azalea Meadow A member of the tea family, Theaceae, this small tree blooms with cream-colored flowers and bright yellow stamens. John Bartram’s son collect seed of this species before it went extinct in the wild, and now this plant remains conserved at gardens and arboreta around the world. Image Bourgainvillea golden-rain-tree Koelreuteria bipinnata Orange Balustrade/Parking Lot This medium-sized tree boasts large panicles of small, bright yellow flowers with red centers. The species epithet refers to the bipinnately compound leaves, resulting in a feathery appearance. Image monkshood Aconitum sinomontanum Widener Visitor Center Native to China, this purple-flowering perennial brings color to shady garden areas. The form and arrangement of the petals resemble a hood, hence the common name. Image Orangeberry tea viburnum Viburnum setigerum ‘Aurantiacum’ Crabapple Slope This species of viburnum typically displays showy red fruit in the fall, but this cultivar is selected for its yellow/orange fruit that persist through the season. … What's in Bloom: …

Take a Journey of Sound Through the Morris Audio artist Richard Hamilton debuted his 24-minute soundscape piece, Auscultation Points, at the Morris during a workshop in June 2024. His piece, a combination of sounds recorded from across the Morris, encourages you to immerse yourself in nature. Image Image Audio artist Richard Hamilton debuted his 24-minute soundscape piece, Auscultation Points, here at the Morris during a workshop for the University of Pennsylvania's  Program in Environmental Humanities Ecotopian Toolkits in June 2024. His piece, a combination of sounds recorded from across our gardens, encourages you to immerse yourself in nature and reflect on the parts of the Morris that we typically hear as well as those sounds we cannot hear without assistance. Richard used various microphones such as ultrasonic mics and hydrophones to record sounds from plants, animals, and bodies of water. The result is a layered soundscape that reflects the beauty of the Morris while highlighting how unheard sounds play a larger role in the health and stability of the ecosystem than we realize. On your next visit, bring your headphones and scan the QR code located on the sign outside the Welcome Center—or listen below! RPH · Auscultation Points Learn more about Richard Hamilton and Auscultation Points → Richard Hamilton is the co-owner of  Dragonfly Audio Post and an award-winning sound designer, mixer, and film/tv composer. Blog Image September 12, 2024 … Take a Journey of Sound Through the …