Morris ArBOOretum & Gardens
October is ArBOOretum month at the Morris!
18th Annual Scarecrow Walk
From Saturday morning classics to modern animated icons, this Halloween we’re celebrating the colorful, quirky, and beloved world of cartoons!
Scarecrows will be on display October 1 – November 2. Visitors will vote for their favorite scarecrow on-site October 1 – 20 to determine the winners. The top three scarecrows win a cash prize: $300, $200, and $100.
Scarecrow frames generously provided by Tague Lumber.
Morris Pumpkin Cottage
As part of ArBOOretum Month, we invite kids of all ages to enjoy the Morris Pumpkin Cottage, a 100-square-foot exhibition covered in hundreds of pumpkins of various shapes and sizes. The Cottage, a throwback to when the area around the Morris used to be known as “Pumpkintown,” is tucked at the end of the Pumpkin Promenade, a small trail lined with pumpkins, gourds, scarecrows, and more.
ArBOOretum Events
Goodbye Pollinators, Hello Autumn!
Tuesday, September 30 • 11 am
Free with general admission
As the weather turns, we’ll take this opportunity to say goodbye to our migrating butterflies and hummingbirds with songs, poems, and crafts — and make room for a new season!
Fall First Friday (Kids and Families): Botanical Potions
Friday, October 3 • 11 am
Free with general admission
Learn about plants and their mythological histories then make your own botanical potion for the spooky season.
Fall First Friday (Adults): Seasonal Pause
Friday, October 3 • 12 pm
Free with general admission
A moment to process and reflect together in the Garden as we move through a change of seasons. Participants will participate in a shared reading, discuss themes of change and transition, and then process with a slow craft.
October Storytime
Wednesday, October 15 • 10:30 am
Free with general admission
This month, we’re reading Babushka Baba Yaga by Patricia Polacco. Baba Yaga is a witch famous throughout Russia for eating children, but this Babushka Baba Yaga is a lonely old woman who just wants a grandchild—to love. Reading will be followed by a short movement practice and crafting.
Spooky Season Crafting
Thursday, October 30 • 11 am
Free with general admission
Get ready for trick or treating by making your own bat, insect, or even monster to take with you!