Scott Arboretum & Gardens

Virtual Lunchtime Tour: Early Summer-Blooming Perennials
2026-06-26 12:00 - 12:30 (America/Detroit) | Virtual Meeting
Take your lunch break virtually and explore beautiful summer blooming perennials with our horticulture staff. Tune in on our YouTube channel.

In-Person Highlights Tour
2026-06-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Scott Arboretum Offices, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA, United States
Take your lunch break to explore early summer blooms throughout the Arboretum & Gardens. A member of our horticulture staff will lead this tour, sharing their insights and expertise with attendees.
Register Here
Program Details

This event is free, but registration is encouraged to receive program updates.
Tours begin in front of the Scott Arboretum & Gardens offices (Cunningham House).
The tour will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
Email us if you have accessibility needs for this program.
For more information, review our program and event policies or call the Scott office at 610-328-8025.

Members-Only Experience: Forest Bathing
2026-07-15 09:00 - 11:00 | Scott Outdoor Amphitheater, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA, United States
Due to the forecast of extreme heat, we are rescheduling this program for September. Details to come! Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe during the heat.
Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is a Japanese practice that invites participants to slow down and connect with nature through the senses. Join Campus Engagement Manager Sue MacQueen in the Crum Woods for a guided members-only experience of this calming approach. Over the course of two hours, Sue will lead the group with gentle prompts to notice the sights, sounds, textures, and scents of the forest. The pace is slow, but participants should be able to walk up to 1.5 miles over steep, uneven terrain and sit on the forest floor.
Because of the quiet, reflective nature of the program, this is an adults only event.
Become a member of the Scott Associates to attend this event!
Accessibility

This program is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
Participants must be able to walk on unpaved, hilly surfaces for about 1.5 miles, with exposed roots and rocks.
Participants must also be able to sit on the forest floor.

Program Details

This members-only event is free, but registration is encouraged to receive program updates.
The tour will depart from the Scott Outdoor Amphitheater.
Email us if you have accessibility needs for this program.
For more information, review our program and event policies or call the Scott office at 610-328-8025.
Please note this hike has a different departure location than other tours.

Driving/Parking Notes

Navigate to 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081 and follow the event/parking signs to Swarthmore College’s North entrance.
Free parking is available in the Whittier parking lot.
Arboretum directional signs will direct you from the parking lot to the meeting location.

Woody Plant Conference
2026-07-17 09:00 - 16:30 | Lang Performing Arts Center, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA, United States
Mark your calendars for the 30th annual Woody Plant Conference at Scott Arboretum & Gardens. This popular, day-long conference focuses on great woody plants for the Mid-Atlantic region and how to use them in the landscape.
This conference is co-sponsored by Chanticleer, Longwood Gardens, the Morris Arboretum & Gardens, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and the Scott Arboretum & Gardens.
The conference is ideal for professionals in the horticulture and landscape field, and avid gardeners.
Learn More

Green Roof Tour
2026-07-22 09:00 - 10:00 | Scott Arboretum Offices, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA, United States
Learn about the inner workings, benefits, sustainability, and beauty of green roofs at the Arboretum. A member of our horticulture staff will lead this tour to lend their insights and expertise while you explore one of the many green roofs on campus. All participants must be 18 or older.
We are currently experiencing issues with our online registration system.
To register, call 610-328-8025.
Program Details

This event is free, but registration is encouraged to receive program updates.
Tours begin in front of the Scott Arboretum & Gardens offices (Cunningham House).
The tour will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
Email us if you have accessibility needs for this program.
For more information, review our program and event policies or call the Scott office at 610-328-8025.

In-Person Highlights Tour
2026-07-25 14:30 - 15:30 | Scott Arboretum Offices, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA, United States
Take a leisurely tour of Scott Arboretum & Gardens to explore flowering highlights and shady areas. After the tour, enjoy the music of the Chester Children’s Chorus at their free summer concert on campus.
We are currently experiencing issues with our online registration system.
To register, call 610-328-8025.
Program Details

This event is free, but registration is encouraged to receive program updates.
Tours begin in front of the Scott Arboretum & Gardens offices (Cunningham House).
The tour will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
Email us if you have accessibility needs for this program.
For more information, review our program and event policies or call the Scott office at 610-328-8025.

Virtual Lunchtime Tour: Patriotic Plants
2026-07-30 12:00 - 12:30 | Virtual Meeting
Celebrate America 250 with this virtual tour!
Take your lunch break virtually to explore plants with patriotic roots throughout Scott Arboretum & Gardens to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial. Tune in on our YouTube channel.

In-Person Highlights Tour
2026-08-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Scott Arboretum Offices, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA, United States
Take a leisurely evening tour of Scott Arboretum & Gardens with a member of our horticulture staff.
We are currently experiencing issues with our online registration system.
To register, call 610-328-8025.
Program Details

This event is free, but registration is encouraged to receive program updates.
Tours begin in front of the Scott Arboretum & Gardens offices (Cunningham House).
The tour will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
Email us if you have accessibility needs for this program.
For more information, review our program and event policies or call the Scott office at 610-328-8025.

Summer Crum Woods Hike
2026-08-15 09:00 - 10:30 | Scott Outdoor Amphitheater, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA, United States
Join us for a refreshing summer hike through the beautiful Crum Woods! This guided hike is the perfect opportunity to explore the lush greenery, shaded trails, and scenic views of this hidden gem. Along the way, we’ll discover native plants, listen to birdsong, and maybe even spot some woodland wildlife. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a first-time explorer, this is a great way to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of August in the woods!
We recommend this hike for adults and children ages 8 and up. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Accessibility:

This program is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
Participants must be able to hike on unpaved, hilly surfaces for about 2 miles, with exposed roots and rocks. There is a ~.3 mile walk from the parking area to the departure location.
Email us if you have other accessibility needs for this program.
Please note this tour has a different departure location than other tours.

Register Here
Program Details

This event is free, but registration is encouraged to receive program updates.
This tour leaves from the base of the Scott Outdoor Amphitheater
Navigate to 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081 and follow the event/parking signs to Swarthmore College’s North entrance
Free parking is available in the Whittier parking lot
Arboretum directional signs will direct you from the parking lot to the meeting location.
The tour will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
For more information, review our program and event policies or call the Scott office at 610-328-8025.

Virtual Lunchtime Tour: Sun, Shade, and Summer Leaves
2026-08-27 12:00 - 12:30 | Virtual Meeting
Take your lunch break virtually to explore how sun and shade shape late-summer gardens, revealing rich foliage textures, layers, and plant forms across Scott Arboretum & Gardens. Tune in on our YouTube channel.

Ohara School of Ikebana Exhibition
2026-09-18 - 2026-09-19 | Wister Center, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA, United States
The Delaware Valley Chapter of the Ohara School of Ikebana will present an exhibition in celebration of the changing of the seasons from summer to fall. Ikebana, also known as the “way of flowers,” is the art of Japanese flower arrangement and is subtle, sensitive, sophisticated, and meditative. It utilizes flowers, leaves, and branches, as well as unexpected and/or unconventional materials.
Members of the Ohara School of Ikebana will be available to answer questions about the art form and arrangements displayed throughout the exhibition.
This event is free and open to the public.
More details to come, including tours, demonstrations, and hands-on activities.
Email us if you have accessibility needs for this program.

Hidden Gardens: A Fall Celebration
2026-09-26 16:00 - 18:00 | Martin Hall, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 19081
Celebrate the beauty of fall at Scott Arboretum & Gardens during this free, family-friendly event. Discover hidden corners of the gardens through a self-guided tour or join a horticulturist for a guided experience. Enjoy seasonal bites, live music, and hands-on nature activities surrounded by vibrant autumn color.

Perennial Plant Conference
2026-10-16 09:00 - 16:00 | Lang Performing Arts Center, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA, United States
The Perennial Plant Conference was started in 1983 to bring together locally, nationally, and internationally recognized experts on perennials for a day-long conference with an educational focus. This year’s conference features presentations about deer-resistant design, super tough native plants, design process and challenges, cut-flower perennials, gardens as social infrastructure, and the design of herbaceous plantings.
This conference is co-sponsored by Chanticleer, Longwood Gardens, Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and Scott Arboretum & Gardens.
Visit www.perennialplantconference.org to learn about the topics, presenters, and to register.
Learn More
