BOB GUTOWSKI, Former Director of Visitor Experience and Education, Morris Arboretum & Gardens

Join us for a special after-hours wander through the Garden! Together we will discover tree silhouettes against the moonlight, listen to the sounds of the night, and maybe hear the hoot of an owl. Using red lights to keep our night vision intact, we’ll see what plant details emerge once the sunlight has faded. This special after-hours experience will be led by Bob Gutowski, an experienced horticulturist, naturalist, educator, and Morris historian. We will stick to level paths and start from the Welcome Center. This program will be held twice; register for each program separately.

Thursday, October 23
6:30 – 8:30 pm

Members: $30 | Non-members: $35

SAM BUCCIARELLI, President of the Philadelphia Mycology Club

Join the Philadelphia Mycology Club on a walk around the Morris, looking for fungi growing behind the scenes of the main garden display! We will explore the grounds for fungi growing in the garden beds and amongst the trees and discuss how to document and identify them. We'll also discuss the important roles these fungi might be playing in the overall health of the gardens.
Leading the tour is Sam Bucciarelli, president of the club. Sam is an educator with a passion for ecology, especially as it pertains to fungi and the role they play in helping our ecosystems thrive.

Saturday, November 1
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Members: $25 | Non-members: $30

SHARON MEEKER, Experienced Birder and Trip Leader

Each fall, migrating raptors begin their journey southward by the thousands. The Militia Hill Hawk Watch has been running for 27 years to record their passage, and the Hawk Watch Observation Deck is a great place to see migrating broad-winged hawks and many others. After spending time at the observation deck, we will also enjoy the surrounding trails in Fort Washington State Park, hoping for the arrival of a variety of sparrows including the white-throated sparrow. Woodpeckers and late migrants are all on our target list!

Bring binoculars. Meet at the Militia Hill Hawk Watch Observation Deck at 420 Militia Hill Road, Fort Washington, PA 19034.

Monday, November 3
9:00 – 11:00 am

Members: $30 | Non-members: $35

Dr. Cindy Skema, Botanical Scientist, Morris Arboretum & Gardens

Do you hope to install “living systems” or self-sustaining habitats in your garden/landscape designs? To do so, you need to understand the fundamentals of why and how plants evolve and reproduce, as well as how we capitalize on these natural processes to propagate plant materials for our own use. Expand your concept of designing landscapes to include a need to design plants themselves as genetically and evolutionarily unique entities. We will learn what ecotypes are, how they could impact the success of a landscape project, and why plant provenance really matters. You will be introduced to the plant phenotype and learn what underlies it biologically, what plant plasticity is, and how it may show up in your garden. The course format is two in-person lectures. 

This course is open to the public, with priority registration offered to individuals enrolled in Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ Certificate in Ecological Horticulture. Completion of this course counts toward the requirements of the certificate program. This course has been submitted to carry 3 CEUs with LA CES, ISA, PLNA, and the NJ Board of Tree Experts. 

TWO WEDNESDAYS
December 3, 10
6:00 – 7:30 pm

Members: $80 | Non-members: $85

Please go to our Certificate Program in Ecological Horticulture section to register for this course.

MARGARET SAYLOR, Artist; Member, American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) and the Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators

Join us online for a five-week Botanical Art Exploration, where you’ll create detailed study sheets centered around a plant, plant family, or theme of your choice. Using graphite and watercolor, we’ll dive into the finest details of your subject, including its structure, growing habit, and natural habitat. Throughout the course, you’ll learn essential drawing skills and painting techniques to help you accurately render botanical subjects, while also gaining insight into the exciting world of contemporary botanical art. This class welcomes all levels and offers a supportive environment for both beginners and those looking to refine their botanical illustration skills.

A Zoom link and recommended materials list will be emailed to all participants prior to the program.

Margaret Saylor is the editor/designer of ASBA’s The Botanical Artist journal. She earned a certificate in botanical art and illustration, graduating with distinction from the NYBG.

5 TUESDAYS: October 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18
6:30 – 8:30 pm

Members: $160 | Non-members: $185

NICOLE DUPRÉE, Educator, Natural Materials Artist, and Creative Producer of Indigo in Green

Explore the living collection of oaks on the Bloomfield Farm side of the Morris with natural materials artist Nicole Duprée. In this immersive session you will learn how to identify different parts of oak trees and ways that they can be transformed into tools and materials for artmaking. Using a centuries-old recipe, we will brew richly pigmented, indelible ink from oak galls (growths on oak trees that are rich in tannins), including how to identify and responsibly harvest the galls. Finally, we will experiment with the ink and ways to incorporate oak leaves, acorns, bark, and twigs into drawing, printmaking, and fine writing practices. 

All tools and ingredients included, no experience necessary! Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather; aprons are encouraged to protect against stains.

Saturday, October 25 
1:00 – 3:30 pm

Members: $55 | Non-members: $60

OLIVER BUZZARD (they/xem), Artist, Educator, Song Carrier

Songs can call us into witnessing our individual and collective change, and the grief and joys that come with transition and release. In this singing workshop, we will come together for nourishment, play, and connection. If there is collapse, how do we tend to each other and ourselves? How do we love one another, and hold one another in celebration, in emptiness, despair, and hope? Holding these questions, we will sing songs of resilience and healing. 

All voices are welcome! Non-singers, shower singers, professional singers—anyone who can make a noise, you are welcome here in this community tending space. We will learn songs from the community singing movement, where melodies and stories are passed from song carrier to song carrier. These short potent songs are taught in the oral tradition using call and echo, or call-and-response form. The class will meet in front of the Welcome Center. If the weather allows, we’ll sing together outdoors. Dress accordingly.

Thursday, November 6
2:00 – 3:30 pm

Members: $20 | Non-members: $25

JESSICA LIDDELL, Owner, Bella Mosaic

Mosaic art is an amazing medium for creating unique pieces for both indoor and outdoor spaces. In this hands-on, two-session course, students will learn about mosaic design, cutting tile, assembling, and grouting projects. You will work on creating your own unique wall hanging for indoor use.

Instructor Jessica Liddell has been teaching ceramics to adults and children since 1995. She has exhibited her work nationally and has directed collaborative public arts projects in community centers, camps, and schools. This is a two-session class. Materials will be provided.

2 Fridays: November 7, 14
12:30 – 2:30 pm

Members: $90 | Non-members: $100

SARA ROBBINS, Award Winning Fiber Artist; Educator

Do you have a garden? Do you not have a garden? Either way is fine, because this basket has as many uses as you can think of. For the gardener, it will carry your small plants to be put in the ground, your gardening tools or your harvested flowers and herbs. If you’re not a gardener, this basket can be used as a catch-all, mail basket, and so much more! 

The basket is appropriate for beginners and experienced weavers alike—no experience necessary. Your finished basket will measure about 14"L x 11"W x 4"H (not including the handle). 

Second session added!!  Choose from the 2 dates below.

Friday, November 14 or Friday, November 21
10:30 am – 2:00 pm

Members: $135 | Non-members: $140

HEATHER BISHOP, Horticulturist & Artist, HSB Garden Designs; Calluna Plants & Gifts

Create a festive winter wreath for your home this season! In this 90-minute guided workshop, you will combine fresh cut seasonal foliage along with ribbons and natural embellishments to adorn your greenery wreath. All materials will be 
provided! Please bring a pair of pruners and gardening gloves.

This is a single-session class that will be held twice on the same day, register for the time that works best for you!

Friday, December 5
10:00 – 11:30 am
OR
1:00 – 2:30 pm

Members: $65 | Non-members: $70

Al Paris, Professional Chef/Restaurateur

These demonstration classes will cover the creation of a meal focused on products from Erdenheim Farm. Each class will include a discussion about how the food is raised or grown on the farm, followed by a cooking demonstration by Chef Al Paris, and finish with a chance to eat and savor the creation. Chef Al Paris has owned and created the culture and cuisine of 13 award-winning restaurants—most recently Paris Bistro in Chestnut Hill. He believes that all cooks can create their own distinct cuisine through the clarity of their vision and the use of the freshest seasonal ingredients.

The class meets at the Sheep Barn parking lot at Erdenheim Farm (5051 Flourtown Road, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444).

A different seasonal menu is offered, and typically changes monthly. Please sign up for each session separately.  

Registration and menus located below.

MENU: Orange zucchini bread. Cream of Musque de Provence. Pumpkin soup with toasted hazelnuts. Scottish lamb ravioli with lamb ragu. For dessert, Chef will serve a date pudding cake with cider toffee apple marmalade. The meal features Erdenheim Farm lamb, eggs, honey, apples, squash, and apple cider. 

Saturday, October 18
12:00 – 3:00 pm

Members: $110 | Non-members: $120

MENU: Sumac-onion herb buns. Jerusalem artichoke bisque with a garlic leek confit. Black Angus beef and feta stuffed eggplant with Georgia Candy Roaster chard gratin. For dessert, Chef will serve an almond galette with rosewater petal mascarpone. The meal features Erdenheim Farm beef, eggs, squash, sunchokes, honey, and greens. 

Saturday, November 15
12:00 – 3:00 pm

Members: $110 | Non-members: $120

MENU: Pennsylvania yule bread. Farm greens with a honey-poppyseed vinaigrette. Thai basil-basted beef tenderloin with chard, vermicelli cakes, and baby beech mushrooms. For dessert, Chef will serve individual lemon curd and clementine tartlets, with a quick cranberry coulis. The meal features Erdenheim Farm honey, beef, eggs, and greens. 

Saturday, December 13
12:00 – 3:00 pm

Members: $125 | Non-members: $135

A Deep Dive into Experiencing Honey
JOSH BRUCE, Arborist Apprentice, Morris Arboretum & Gardens

The French term terroir sums up all the environmental factors and cultural practices that influence the characteristics of wine. Wine connoisseurs spend years learning how to pick apart the subtle differences in taste, scent, texture, and color of wines from different regions and years. This same concept can be applied to most natural products, but perhaps none more appropriately than honey.

In this class your senses will feast on a selection of startlingly and subtly different honeys. We will practice describing the differences and learn some of the factors that produce these unique traits. You may not be a honey connoisseur when you leave, but you’ll be well on your way. Make sure to bring your sweet tooth and your discerning palate!

Saturday, October 25
10:00 – 11:30 am

Members: $30 | Non-members: $35

Preserve the Harvest
JOANNA EUN AND DENNIS TEO, Artisanal Crafters

Celebrate the abundance of fall with a hands-on pickling workshop using fresh ingredients from our garden and yours! Bring your extra green tomatoes, peppers, or other harvest favorites to class. We’ll explore two distinct styles of pickling (soy sauce and vinegar base) and learn techniques to safely preserve seasonal produce for long-term enjoyment. Perfect for beginners and seasoned home fermenters alike, this class will leave you with jars of goodness and the skills to savor your harvest year-round. 

Joanna Eun and Dennis Teo are the founders of the Cultured Pear, preserving cultural traditions through food, craft, and community.

Saturday, November 1
1:00 – 3:00 pm

Members: $40 | Non-members: $45

TAMA MATSUOKA WONG, Forager, Meadow Doctor, Lawyer, Author, and Owner of Meadows + More

Join master forager and author, Tama Wong, at the Morris as we discover the fascinating world of one of the oldest living tree species on Earth: Ginkgo biloba! Known as a "living fossil," the ginkgo tree offers a unique lens into plant evolution, cultural heritage, and urban ecology. We’ll delve into the ginkgo’s symbolic and medicinal roles in East Asian cultures, as well as its uses in traditional and modern cuisine in this engaging and sensory-rich course! 

A highlight of the program will be a hands-on workshop focused on the preparation and roasting of ginkgo nuts. Students will learn safe handling techniques, explore its culinary uses, and participate in a tasting session—connecting botanical science with cultural tradition. This afternoon of experiential learning will be centered around one truly remarkable tree!

Saturday, November 15
1:00 – 3:00 pm

Members: $45 | Non-members: $50

Growing Minds at Morris Arboretum & Gardens is a program series for kids and families that inspires a sense of wonder about the natural world within the beautiful setting of the Morris. The classes represented in this section offer children and their caregivers the opportunity to connect meaningfully with nature through a wide variety of creative and educational programs. Parents and caregivers are asked to stay with children for classes.

Bring a blanket to sit on and wear sturdy shoes. Siblings should register as participants. 

Four MONDAYS: October 6, 13, 20, 27
10:30 – 11:15 am 

Members: $95 | Non-members: $105

GINGER MIMMO ROHLFING, Artist and Art Educator 

Children (Ages 6-11) will discover the magic of patterns and textures found in nature by pressing leaves, pinecones, acorns, and other gathered treasures into air-dry clay. We will have fun exploring how each material leaves its mark, then bring 
our creations to life with colorful paints. These clay ornaments will be a joyful way to celebrate the season and highlight nature’s quiet beauty. 

Materials will be provided. Siblings should register as participants, and parents and caregivers are asked to stay with children for classes. Our instructor, Ginger, teaches art to students of all ages at Woodmere, Abington Art Center, and Moore College of Art. 

Saturday, November 8
1:00 – 3:00 pm

Members: $40 | Non-members: $45

GINGER MIMMO ROHLFING, Artist and Art Educator 

In this workshop, children (Ages 6-11) will delight in creating festive ornaments from natural materials themselves, no clay this time! Using the beautiful shapes, patterns, and colors found in nature’s treasures, each child will design a one-of-a-kind keepsake. These creations will bring a little piece of the autumn landscape indoors and reflect the wonder of our deciduous world. 

Materials will be provided. Siblings should register as participants, and parents and caregivers are asked to stay with children for classes. Our instructor, Ginger, teaches art to students of all ages at Woodmere, Abington Art Center, and Moore College of Art.

Saturday, November 22
1:00 – 3:00 pm

Members: $40 | Non-members: $45

LISA ZAHREN, Mindful Dance Instructor

Using gentle, easy-to-follow guidance and open, free-flowing movements, we will experience the Morris with all of our senses through embodiment practices, dance, and mindfulness. This practice invites you to dance and move in your body’s way. All bodies celebrated and welcomed. 

Each of the sessions will meet at the Welcome Center and begin with a short, mindful walk to the location for that week. Once there, we will follow a guided movement and some stillness meditation to open all the senses and connect with that area of the Morris. 

Lisa has been teaching embodied movement classes using the tools of the Nia Technique for more than a decade, including classes for cancer support groups. Nia combines elements of martial arts, yoga, mindfulness, and dance to create a movement practice that balances and energizes the body. She is also a certified teacher through Open Floor International, a global conscious dance practice.

We are offering two series this Fall, sign up for one or both below!

LISA ZAHREN, Mindful Dance Instructor

3 Wednesdays: October 15, 22, 29
10:00 – 11:30 am

Members: $70 | Non-members: $80

**Single-session walk-ins always welcome on fair-weather days $25. Exact change cash payment is required; please arrive 10-15 minutes early. (no member discount)

Aimée Alegría Barry, Owner, Centaur Tai Chi  

Join us for an outdoor tai chi series, with the beauty of the unfolding autumn season at Morris as a peaceful and grounding backdrop for your practice. Tai chi, a series of postures done slowly, promotes balance, flexibility, and strength. While teaching the tai chi form, Aimée Alegría Barry introduces the yin and yang principles that underlie this martial art. Tai chi is known as a soft martial art because it emphasizes a calm mind and relaxed body. 

All levels welcome, class will be adapted to meet participants where they are. Classes will be held outdoors with an indoor option available for weather. We will meet at the Welcome Center. Dress for the weather.

6 THURSDAYS: September 25, October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
10:30 – 11:30 am

Members: $110 | Non-members: $120

**Single-session walk-ins always welcome on fair-weather days $25. Exact change cash payment is required; please arrive 10-15 minutes early. (no member discount)

Anisa George, Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Nationally Certified Health and Wellness Nurse Coach

Shinrin Yoku, also known as Forest Bathing or Forest Therapy, is an ancient practice that is now supported by scientific research. Improved immune function, reduced cortisol levels, increased cognition and memory, and improved mood are just some of the clinical findings from this practice. Facilitated by a trained guide to help support your own relationship to the healing benefits of nature, this experience allows for mindful connection to the “more than human world.” Participants move at a slow pace and are invited to connect in a sensorial way to the beautiful surroundings of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens. Leave the hectic world behind and come explore this ancient wisdom. 

This single session course is held monthly through fall, providing a different experience as the season changes. Choose one or register for all! Meet at the Welcome Center.  The class is all outdoors. Dress for the weather.

Anisa George, Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Nationally Certified Health and Wellness Nurse Coach

Friday, October 24
10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Members: $35 | Non-members: $40

Anisa George, Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Nationally Certified Health and Wellness Nurse Coach

Friday, November 21
10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Members: $35 | Non-members: $40

KELLY McLEOD, Holden Qigong Certified Teacher; Founder, Chee Gong with Kelly Kel

Join experienced practitioner Kelly McLeod for six weeks of Five Elements Qigong amidst the tranquil beauty of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens. Embrace the arrival of the autumn season with this ancient Chinese art for fitness and healing. We will practice routines that include breathing techniques, warm-ups, stretching, invigorating exercises, gentle flowing movements, and a brief closing meditation.

Each session will let you explore the Five Elements theory of qigong as you connect your energy with the energy of the natural surroundings to feel grounded, revitalized, and at ease. Regardless of your prior experience, all are welcome to join and rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit.

6 TUESDAYS: October 7, 14, 21, 28; November 4, 11
10:30 – 11:30 am

Members: $110 | Non-members: $120

MEGHAN DWYER, Yoga Teacher

Join us for an evening of connection under the setting sun! This all-levels outdoor yoga class invites you to move with the rhythm of nature, breathe in fresh air, and soak in golden light. Surrounded by the quiet beauty of the gardens, 
we’ll celebrate the natural camaraderie between body, breath, and earth—and the shared joy of practicing in community. Come early to enjoy the grounds. Please bring your own mat and anything else you might need to be comfortable outdoors. Taught by Meghan Dwyer, a yoga instructor from Camaraderie, a mindbody studio in Ambler, PA. 

Sunday, October 26
5:00 – 6:15 pm

Members: $25 | Non-members: $30

JUDE THACHET, School Outreach Coordinator, Morris Arboretum & Gardens

Looking toward the winter holidays, many of us want to build strong bonds and create lasting memories in our families, but how? Looking to the natural world can help us create small rituals that connect to something larger and foster a sense of belonging. For this workshop, we’ll use the approaching winter equinox to explore how we might create family traditions that remind us of our connection to nature and our intentions for each other. 

Jude Thachet, from the education Department at Morris, will lead participants through a fun and joyful process of identifying what’s important in your family, connecting those values to nature, and developing simple but intentional ways to enact and embody them. After some guided and playful exploration and discussion, the group will engage in an activity using beeswax and other natural materials that can aid in your family’s celebrations. It will grow and change with the seasons and reflect your unique family identity. This program is for adults only.

Saturday, December 6
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Members: $30 | Non-members: $35

LISA ZAHREN, Mindful Dance Instructor

The invitation is to keep moving, warm ourselves from the inside out.  Each week we will combine elements of Open Floor Dance, Nia Technique and mindfulness practices as we explore the hidden gems of The Morris in winter. We will begin indoors to warm up before hiking to a location in the Arboretum to dance and move with the quiet of the season. Several scientific studies have shown that getting exposure to natural light on winter mornings helps improve mental health and sleep. (Read more HERE)
 
These classes are appropriate for all abilities and fitness levels, no experience necessary, just a willingness to explore on a winter adventure. This will be a hybrid indoor/outdoor class so please dress appropriately and in layers. In the case of very cold weather or precipitation, we will spend more time indoors. We will meet at the Welcome Center.

Lisa has been teaching embodied movement classes using the tools of the Nia Technique for more than a decade, including classes for cancer support groups. Nia combines elements of martial arts, yoga, mindfulness, and dance to create a movement practice that balances and energizes the body. She is also a teacher-in-training/apprentice through Open Floor International, a conscious dance practice. 

We are offering three sessions this Winter, sign up for one or all below!

LISA ZAHREN, Mindful Dance Instructor

3 Wednesdays: December 3, 10, 17
10:15-11:30 am

Members: $70 | Non-members: $80

**Single-session walk-ins always welcome on fair-weather days $30. Exact change cash payment is required; please arrive 10-15 minutes early. (no member discount)

LISA ZAHREN, Mindful Dance Instructor

3 Wednesdays: January 7, 14, 21
10:15-11:30 am

Members: $70 | Non-members: $80

**Single-session walk-ins always welcome on fair-weather days $30. Exact change cash payment is required; please arrive 10-15 minutes early. (no member discount)

LISA ZAHREN, Mindful Dance Instructor

3 Wednesdays: January 28, February 4, 11
10:15-11:30 am

Members: $70 | Non-members: $80

**Single-session walk-ins always welcome on fair-weather days $30. Exact change cash payment is required; please arrive 10-15 minutes early. (no member discount)

PRZEMYSLAW WALCZAK, Horticulturist, Chanticleer Garden
MATTHEW SARVER, Principal, Sarver Ecological

Chanticleer is alive with more than just beautiful plantings—recent biodiversity surveys have identified over 1,000 species of birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and fish find habitat in the garden. For the past five years, the garden has conducted biodiversity surveys, with a special focus on native bees and moths, both important pollinators and critical elements in food webs for other wildlife. 

In this special program, you’ll explore how a garden can nurture such rich biodiversity. Through both an indoor lecture and guided learning in the garden, discover how Chanticleer models ecologically sound practices by blending native and non-native plants across naturalistic and formal spaces. Learn about the garden’s biodiversity findings and how you can translate these principles into your own garden, no matter its size. A particular emphasis will be placed on the ecological value of leaving downed woody debris—like branches and logs—and creative ways to incorporate these elements into garden design without sacrificing beauty. 

This program will be held at Chanticleer (786 Church Road, Wayne, PA 19087) and is a collaboration between Chanticleer and the Morris Arboretum & Gardens. This class has been submitted to carry 2 LA CES and ISA CEUs and is an approved elective in the Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ Certificate in Ecological Horticulture.

Thursday, October 23
1:00 – 3:00 pm

Members: $55 | Non-members: $60

Jenny Rose Carey, Renowned gardener, educator, historian, and author

Join Jenny Rose for a talk based on her newest book, The Essential Guide to Bulbs. For any gardener who wants to grow bulbs in the garden or containers, Jenny shares her insights through her gorgeously photographed, comprehensive and inviting resource.
 
You will learn that, while many gardeners may be familiar with the early show of spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips or the late show of gladiolus, there are so many more bulbs to choose from that provide three-season color, drama, and spontaneity in the garden.
 
Jenny Rose has been lecturing nationally and internationally for many years. She previously worked at Temple University for over a decade, first as an adjunct professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and then as director of the Ambler Arboretum. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Meadowbrook Farm. She is an avid hands-on gardener who has gardened in both England and the United States. Her Victorian property, Northview, in Ambler, PA contains diverse garden spaces, including a cutting garden, an herb garden, a dry garden, and various mixed flower beds. Jenny Rose and her gardens have been featured on the PBS series The Victory Garden, in the Wall Street Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer, GROW magazine, and The Pennsylvania Gardener. She is co-author with Mary Anne Fry of A Century of Cultivation, the author and photographer for Glorious Shade (Timber Press 2017), and The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Guide (Timber Press 2022).
 
A limited number of books will be available for purchase. Participants who want to ensure they can purchase a book for signing at this event are encouraged to pre-order a copy here.  Please select the appropriate participant price, and also select "Book add-on”  during registration.

Wednesday, October 29
4:00 – 5:30 pm

Members: $30 | Non-members: $35
Book add-on: $29.99

Digging, Dividing, and Storing Dahlia Tubers
BILL CULLINA, F. Otto Haas Executive Director, Morris Arboretum & Gardens

Digging, dividing, and storing your dahlia tubers is the most crucial task to get right for increasing your stock, keeping your plants healthy, and saving money on expensive tubers. In this program, led by the Morris’s own Bill Cullina in his personal garden, you’ll learn tips for how and when to dig your tuber clumps for maximum storage life and minimum damage, how to identify and divide viable tubers, how to wash tubers, and get advice on different storage techniques here in our climate. 

This class will meet at the Bloomfield Farm Horticulture Center before heading outdoors.

Saturday, November 1
2:00 – 4:00 pm

Members: $35 | Non-members: $40

BETH DAVIS, Fourth-Generation Orchid Grower, Waldor Orchids

Have you ever wanted to grow orchids, or have you already taken the plunge and are enjoying their beauty? Orchids are unusual and exotic but relatively easy to grow. Come and hear all the tricks for successful orchid culture from orchid grower Beth Davis. Beth will present basic cultural information and provide a hands-on potting demonstration.  There will be an emphasis on transplanting, grooming, and some of the different ways to re-pot your orchid.

Students will pot up their own beautiful orchid to take home and enjoy (included in the cost of the class). She will have additional plants for sale. Bring a box to take your orchid home. 

Monday, November 10
10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Members: $50 | Non-members: $55

JASON LUBAR, Board-Certified Master Arborist

There are many misconceptions about trees and tree care that this class will dispel. Jason’s comprehensive presentation will inform your understanding of tree biology, how valuable trees are, and how they pay us back. We will also learn how to properly select, plant, and maintain and care for trees, in addition to how to select a tree-care professional and discuss relevant risk. Bring your tree-related questions! 

Jason Lubar is an ISA board-certified master arborist and has been a popular consultant featured on regional radio talk shows and in regional press. He is the former director of Urban Forestry at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens. This class has been submitted to carry 3 ISA and NJ Board of Tree Experts CEUs.

Thursday, November 13
9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Members: $70 | Non-members: $75

BRIAN TUEL, PA Bonsai Society

The art of Bonsai has a long and rich history in Japan and other eastern Asian countries—one that can translate easily to our region using native trees and proper techniques. Join members of the PA Bonsai Association to explore the history and fundamental elements and styles of this ancient art. Students will learn how to choose, plant, train, and provide long-term care to a young specimen tree. Instructor Brian Tuel has over 20 years of experience working with bonsai. He has numerous trees in his personal collection and has displayed at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Each participant will go home with a new Bonsai tree of their own, and will receive a year-long membership to the PA Bonsai Society (pabonsai.org) –a $45 value!

Please bring sharp pruners/scissors if you have them, garden gloves, and a flat box to transport your tree home. This class will meet at the Bloomfield Farm Horticulture Center.

Sunday, November 16
1:30–4:30 pm

Members: $120 | Non-members: $130

LEE ARMILLEI, Principal, Landscape Designer, APLD

Welcome to the world of ecological design, where environment and art intersect. Get your creative juices flowing as you combine design process & design principles with the ecology you’ve learned in prior certificate courses. Students will design a predetermined site to create a beautiful and immersive space, supportive of people and the planet.

This intensive two-day workshop starts with the basics of understanding the client, analyzing the site and drafting plans, and builds as students shape the landscape using design principles and ecological themes. Students will then develop a site-specific plant palette and apply it to foundation plantings, natural areas, and the spaces in between. Through a combination of lecture, studio-time, and homework, students will gain real time practice and feedback, learning to make informed decisions in ecological design. Although the class will be working on a predetermined site, each design is sure to be unique!

This course is open to the public; with priority registration offered to individuals enrolled in Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ Certificate in Ecological Horticulture.  Completion of this course counts toward the requirements of the certificate program. This course has been submitted to carry 10 CEUs with LA CES, ISA, PLNA, and the New Jersey Board of Tree Experts. 

2 FRIDAYS, January 23, 30
10:00 am – 3:30 pm

Members: $250 | Non-members: $260

Please go to our Certificate Program in Ecological Horticulture section to register for this course.

ANDREW CONBOY, Certified Arborist & Founder of the Community Canopy Project

From introduced exotics to nursery remnants and rare native species, there is a good diversity of plants within Wissahickon Valley Park. Andrew Conboy, urban forester and ISA-certified arborist, will lead a walk along Forbidden Drive to point out and discuss interesting trees, shrubs, and wildflowers along the way. He will teach how to identify these plants, discuss their ecological value, and point out various galls and other wildlife signs.

We will meet at the start of Forbidden Drive at the end of Northwestern Avenue. Parking is available along Northwestern Ave.

Saturday, October 25
1:00 – 3:00 pm

Members: $30 | Non-members: $35

AARON GREENBERG, Arboretum Manager, Laurel Hill Cemetery

Founded in 1869, West Laurel Hill Cemetery spans nearly 200 acres of gently rolling hills, mature trees, carved stone monuments, historic architectural features, and hundreds of mausoleums. Landmarks include the Bell Tower, built in 1887, and the Chapel of Peace, built in 1938. It is the final resting place for generations of Philadelphians from all walks of life and is renowned for its historic landscape and exceptional collection of mature trees and specimen shrubs.

Join Arboretum Manager Aaron Greenberg for a highlights tour of West Laurel Hill Cemetery, featuring notable trees and shrubs throughout the collection. Special emphasis will be given to the impressive maple collection and the cemetery’s commitment to green burial practices. From its earliest years, the arboretum has been a vital part of the cemetery’s beauty and design, overseen by founder John Jay Smith, whose passion for horticulture and landscape gardening helped shape
its development.

We will meet at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, 225 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.

Wednesday, October 29
10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Members: $30 | Non-members: $35

LORI LITCHMAN, Mindful Outdoor Guide, Author

Walking through a meadow in the wintertime is nourishing for the body and mind. Meadows tend to be rare in urban environments, but Houston Meadow is an exception and is stunning at any time of year. While the colorful blooms have faded, we’ll enjoy the quiet beauty of paper birch trees beginning to show off their bark, and wisps of seed fluff dancing in the wind. The hike will follow a 2.5-mile loop around Houston Meadow, which will take us about 2 hours at a slow pace. The path features gentle rolling hills, and relatively even terrain on a rock and dirt trail.

Park at Houston Playground, where we will meet to start the hike. If you are new to hiking, or exploring the Wissahickon, this hike will be a great introduction. If you are a hiking pro, you’ll enjoy slowing down to take in the beauty of the meadow in the winter. Bathrooms are available at the playground. Dress for the weather. Bring water and a snack. We’ll reschedule if weather presents a danger.

Lori Litchman is the author of 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Philadelphia. She is a certified mindful outdoor guide through the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership and has training in wilderness first aid.

Saturday, November 8
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Members: $25 | Non-members: $30