Morris Arboretum of the
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 2011
The 92-acre arboretum was
established in 1932 and it is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. My strongest impression in
visiting is of a pastoral English landscape. The rolling,
green hills and majestic trees remind me somehow of a
Constable painting, which is high praise.
The many stone bridges, stairways and structures add to the
pastoral feel.
The naturalistic landscape is grand, but the Morris
Arboretum is much more than that. One of the newer exhibits
is a canopy walk called “Out on a Limb” that gives visitors
a totally different view of the landscape, from a walkway
high above the ground. This modern metal structure has a
totally different feel than the rest of the arboretum, but
is a marvelous experience all its own.
Sculptures are scattered throughout the landscape. Some are
whimsical, some are majestic but all are a wonderful
counterpoint to the sculptural nature of the trees. They
highlight the plants rather than detract from them.
One of my favorite exhibits is about tree roots. An
interpretive sign talks about the structure and importance
of roots, while painting on the road surface depicts the
actual distribution of roots for a tree. I’ve never seen an
exhibit that gives a better feel for what tree roots are
really doing.
The Fernery is a beautiful Victorian looking greenhouse,
and there are a number of beautiful fountains.
There is also a spectacular plant collection that features
more than 13,000 plants representing more than 2,500 taxa
from North America, Asia and Europe. Three of the
arboretum’s collections (maples, firs and oaks) are
recognized by the North American Plant Collections
Consortium (NAPCC).
The landscape is beautifully maintained, the plants are
well-labeled and directional signage makes it easy to find
one’s way around. This is truly a spectacular arboretum.
They do important conservation work while providing a great
visitor experience. Whether one visits to enjoy the
peaceful tranquility or to learn about trees, the
experience will be rewarding.
Click here to visit the arboretum's website.
To see more photos of the Morris Arboretum, click
here.