Ring in spring at Morris Arboretum

As winter wanes, visitors to Penn’s Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill can delight in seeing March’s blooming trees and plants ushered in by Mother Nature’s unseasonably high temperatures. The 92-acre garden is ready to burst with activity with a new exhibition of garden art, a robust roster of classes for young and old, and the highly anticipated annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

The exhibit “Morris Arboretum in Motion: The Kinetic Sculptures of Lyman Whitaker” will open on Saturday, April 1, and runs through Oct. 9. It will feature organic handcrafted sculptures set in motion by their natural surroundings.

“More than 50 kinetic sculptures, up to 25 feet tall, will be exhibited throughout the garden, propelled entirely by wind,” says Susan Crane, marketing director at the Arboretum. All sculptures will be available for purchase at the Leopold Gallery, with 25 percent of sales benefitting the Arboretum.

Composer and musician Nicholas Escobar will perform at 11 a.m. as part of the exhibit’s opening celebration. A junior at Penn, Escobar will play the keyboard accompanied by a seven-piece string ensemble comprised of Penn student musicians.

“There’s more in motion as plants spring to life, flowers pop, and leaves unfurl,” Crane says.

Arboretum visitors can explore the garden on their own or in a class (more than 65 courses are offered.) Registration is underway for Saturday yoga classes in the garden, mindful meditation walks on Sundays, and a new spring course called “Wild Edible Plant Walk.” Class offerings for the younger set include “Growing Minds,” “Storytime Nature Yoga,” “Nature Sleuths for Kids 5-7 Years Old,” and “Science Discovery for Homeschoolers.”

Courses take birders on explorations of the Arboretum’s natural areas, in addition to wetlands, meadows, and woodlands along the Wissahickon Creek. Information about registration and class costs is available on the Arboretum website.

The Morris Arboretum Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, in partnership with the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia, will take place on Saturday, April 8, and Saturday, April 15. The event will feature traditional Japanese cultural activities such as Taiko drumming, a showcase of colorful kimonos with a talk about the garment’s history, and a Japanese tea demonstration. All events are free with admission.

A celebration of Arbor Day rounds out the Arboretum’s April events. On Saturday, April 29, the garden will hold “Arbor Day Family Day - Unearth the Science of Flowers!” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Arboretum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on weekends beginning in April from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free for PennCard holders, members, and children under 3.

For more information, call 215-247-5777 or visit the Arboretum website

Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival