Nature Nook: Winter Series
2025-02-14 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-21 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-28 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-28 09:00 - 2025-04-28 11:00 (America/Detroit) | Wister Center – Gillespie Room, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA, United States
Fridays, Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31 and Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28
Calling all little nature explorers! Join Celeste Sullivan and Rachel Warren at the Scott Arboretum for mornings full of singing, stories, crafts and dancing. Each session is seasonally themed around nature and the garden. This program is designed for children ages 2 – 3 years old with their caregivers.
Registration Cost (includes all 8 sessions):
Members: Free
Non-Members: $40
Did you know a Family level membership to the Associates of the Scott Arboretum is only $55 and includes benefits for two adults and up to four children? Become a member of the Associates of the Scott Arboretum here.

Register for Session A: 9 to 9:45 am
Register for Session B: 10:15 to 11 am
Program Details

Registration is required. Registration includes 8 sessions.
Class size is limited.
Registration for members includes participation for up to 4 children and their caregivers.
Registration for non-members includes one child and their caregivers.
Sessions will start in the Wister Center with a story and craft, followed by a short walk to explore a garden.
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.

Japanese Maple Pruning Workshop
2025-02-15 09:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Copy of PPAvisitDM 047
Inclement weather date: Saturday, February 22
Learn pruning techniques beyond the basics from Scott Arboretum & Gardens Gardener Andrew DeGothseir. Andrew will demonstrate how to artfully and correctly prune Japanese maples to highlight their natural beauty throughout the seasons.
After the workshop, join Education Programs Manager Mackenzie Knight-Fochs for a guided hike through the Crum Woods.
The entire class will be held outside, so be sure to dress for the weather and to walk around the campus. Please hold both dates on your calendar; reimbursements will not be made if you can’t make the inclement weather date.
Registration Cost:
Members: $35
Non-Members: $45
Become a member of the Associates of the Scott Arboretum here.

Register Now

Program Details

Inclement weather date is February 22.
Registration is required.
Class size limited to 18.
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.

About the Presenter
Andrew DeGothseir, Gardener, joined the staff in 2019. He holds a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture and Environmental Design from Delaware Valley University. Before joining the horticulture staff, he worked at Haverford College, The Westtown School, Henry Schmieder Arboretum, The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, and Germantown Friends School where he was instrumental in creating the Betty Cary Arboretum.

Japanese Maple Pruning Workshop
2025-02-15 09:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Copy of PPAvisitDM 047
This workshop will be held on Saturday, February 15 and will not use the inclement weather date. The entire class will be held outside, so be sure to dress for the weather and to walk around the campus.
Learn pruning techniques beyond the basics from Scott Arboretum & Gardens Gardener Andrew DeGothseir. Andrew will demonstrate how to artfully and correctly prune Japanese maples to highlight their natural beauty throughout the seasons.
After the workshop, join Education Programs Manager Mackenzie Knight-Fochs for a guided hike through the Crum Woods.
The entire class will be held outside, so be sure to dress for the weather and to walk around the campus. Please hold both dates on your calendar; reimbursements will not be made if you can’t make the inclement weather date.
Registration Cost:
Members: $35
Non-Members: $45
Become a member of the Associates of the Scott Arboretum here.
Registration closed.
Program Details

Inclement weather date is February 22.
Registration is required.
Class size limited to 18.
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.

About the Presenter
Andrew DeGothseir, Gardener, joined the staff in 2019. He holds a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture and Environmental Design from Delaware Valley University. Before joining the horticulture staff, he worked at Haverford College, The Westtown School, Henry Schmieder Arboretum, The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, and Germantown Friends School where he was instrumental in creating the Betty Cary Arboretum.

Crum Woods Winter Hike
2025-02-15 13:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | PA
Come experience what the Crum Woods has to offer in the winter. Delight in the colors of the holly berries, listen to the babbling creek, and take a deep breath as you enjoy a meditative moment in the woods. Our Crum Woods hike will be led by a horticulturist on staff who can answer your plant questions and provide you with a rich wealth of knowledge during your tour.
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 brief, uphill 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.

This event is free, but registration is encouraged to receive program updates.

Register Now

Program Details

This tour will depart from the front of the Matchbox building.
Please park in the Field House Parking Lot and walk to the departure location, following Arboretum logo signs.
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

Crum Woods Winter Hike
2025-02-15 13:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | PA
Come experience what the Crum Woods has to offer in the winter. Delight in the colors of the holly berries, listen to the babbling creek, and take a deep breath as you enjoy a meditative moment in the woods. Our Crum Woods hike will be led by a horticulturist on staff who can answer your plant questions and provide you with a rich wealth of knowledge during your tour.
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 brief, uphill 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.

This event is free, but registration is encouraged to receive program updates.

Program Details

This tour will depart from the front of the Matchbox building.
Please park in the Field House Parking Lot and walk to the departure location, following Arboretum logo signs.
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

School’s Out: Winter Delight
2025-02-17 09:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Copy of PPAvisitDM 047
Drop by the Scott Arboretum & Gardens on your day off from school to learn about the delights of the winter gardens. Complete a winter themed nature craft and go on a scavenger hunt throughout the gardens. Bring a picnic and enjoy spending the day outside in the Arboretum & Gardens! Join us at 10:30 am for a free, family-friendly tour of the Arboretum & Gardens.
This is a free, drop-in program and no registration is required. It is designed for children ages 3 to 12 with a caregiver.
Pick up our newly released Winter Discovery Guide and explore hollies, witchhazels, and tree rings. Join us at 10:30 am for a free, family-friendly tour to complete the Winter Discovery Guide with our Assistant Education Programs Manager, Rachel Warren.
Event Schedule:
9:30 am – 12:00 pm: Winter Nature Crafts and Scavenger Hunt
10:30 – 11:00 am: Family-Friendly Tour of the Arboretum & Gardens

Program Details:

This event will be held in the Wister Center.
All children must be accompanied by an adult.
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 Lunchtime Tour: February Highlights
2025-02-17 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Copy of PPAvisitDM 047
Take your lunch break in the garden to learn about plants blooming in February at the arboretum & gardens with a tour led by our horticulture staff. Gardeners and plant enthusiasts of all levels are welcome.

Register Now

Program Details

Registration is free, but encouraged to receive program updates.
Tours begin in front of the Scott 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 Lunchtime Tour: February Highlights
2025-02-17 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Copy of PPAvisitDM 047
Take your lunch break in the garden to learn about plants blooming in February at the arboretum & gardens with a tour led by our horticulture staff. Gardeners and plant enthusiasts of all levels are welcome.

Program Details

Registration is free, but encouraged to receive program updates.
Tours begin in front of the Scott 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

Travels @ 12: Jumping Over to Japan
2025-02-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | PA
Public Horticulture Intern Seamus Lewin recently returned from his trip touring gardens and temples in Japan. Explore the horticultural allure of Kyoto, Tokyo, and Nara in the fall with this presentation.
Travels @ 12 is an online series for plant enthusiasts to vicariously experience gardens and natural spaces throughout the world.
Registration is free, but required to receive the Zoom webinar and recording links.

Register Now

Program Details

The webinar link will be included in the confirmation email received after registering online.
Recording link will be available 2 days after the webinar and accessible for 2 weeks after the presentation.
Participants must download Zoom.
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.

Travels @ 12: Jumping Over to Japan
2025-02-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | PA
Public Horticulture Intern Seamus Lewin recently returned from his trip touring gardens and temples in Japan. Explore the horticultural allure of Kyoto, Tokyo, and Nara in the fall with this presentation.
Travels @ 12 is an online series for plant enthusiasts to vicariously experience gardens and natural spaces throughout the world.
Registration is free, but required to receive the Zoom webinar and recording links.

Program Details

The webinar link will be included in the confirmation email received after registering online.
Recording link will be available 2 days after the webinar and accessible for 2 weeks after the presentation.
Participants must download Zoom.
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.

Nature Nook: Winter Series
2025-02-21 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-28 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Copy of PPAvisitDM 047
Fridays, Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31 and Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28
Calling all little nature explorers! Join Celeste Sullivan and Rachel Warren at the Scott Arboretum for mornings full of singing, stories, crafts and dancing. Each session is seasonally themed around nature and the garden. This program is designed for children ages 2 – 3 years old with their caregivers.
Registration Cost (includes all 8 sessions):
Members: Free
Non-Members: $40
Did you know a Family level membership to the Associates of the Scott Arboretum is only $55 and includes benefits for two adults and up to four children? Become a member of the Associates of the Scott Arboretum here.

Program Details

Registration is required. Registration includes 8 sessions.
Class size is limited.
Registration for members includes participation for up to 4 children and their caregivers.
Registration for non-members includes one child and their caregivers.
Sessions will start in the Wister Center with a story and craft, followed by a short walk to explore a garden.
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: Colors of Winter
2025-02-27 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | PA
Take your lunch break virtually and explore the colors of winter in the Harry Wood Garden. Tune in on our YouTube channel.

Members-Only Tour: Behind the Scenes of the Geoexchange Plant
2025-03-05 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | PA
Join Jim Adams, Director of Sustainable Maintenance at Swarthmore College, to take a behind the scenes look at the College’s geoexchange plant and learn how it contributes to the goal of carbon neutrality on campus by 2035. This tour will begin in front of the Dining Center and Community Commons.

Become a member of the Associates of the Scott Arboretum & Gardens to attend this new tour!

Program Details

This members-only event is free, but registration is encouraged to receive program updates.
This tour will begin in front of the Dining Center and Community Commons.
Email us if you have accessibility needs for this program.
For more information, review our program and event policies or call the Scott Arboretum office at 610-328-8025
Please note this tour has a different departure location than other tours.

Nature’s Narratives: How to Catch a Mole: Wisdom From a Life Lived in Nature
2025-03-12 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Detroit) | https://www.scottarboretum.org/calendar/natures-narratives-how-to-catch-a-mole-wisdom-from-a-life-lived-in-nature/
Nature’s Narratives is the monthly book discussion group for Scott Arboretum & Gardens. Join fellow garden enthusiasts and book lovers to discuss books about plants, nature, and the environment.
This month’s selection is Marc Hamer’s memoir How to Catch a Hole: Wisdom From a Life Lived in Nature. Kneeling in a muddy field in the Welsh countryside, clutching a creature that is soft and blue-black, Marc Hamer vows he will stop trapping moles—forever. In this earnest, understated, and sublime work of literary memoir, the molecatcher shares what led him to this strange career and what caused him to stop: from sleeping among hedges as a homeless teen, to toiling on the railway, to weeding windswept gardens in Wales and witnessing the beauty of every living thing.
Participants are encouraged, but not required, to read each month’s selection prior to the discussion. Discussions are led by horticulturist and book-lover Elizabeth Haegele and participants are welcome to share or simply listen.
Register Now
Registration is free, but required to receive the Zoom meeting link.

Program Details

Registration is free, but required to receive the Zoom meeting link.
The meeting link will be included in the confirmation email received after registering online.
Participants must download Zoom.
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 Lunchtime Tour: Wister Garden
2025-03-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Detroit) | Wister Center – Gillespie Room, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA, United States
Take your lunch break to explore the beauty of the Wister Garden with a member of our horticulture staff. This woodland garden surrounds the former home of Gertrude and John C. Wister, the Arboretum’s first assistant director and director, respectively. The garden features sweeps of early spring blooming plants and rhododendrons. Narrow winding paths lead around the gently sloping plantings and connect to the Crum Woods trails.
Gardeners and plant enthusiasts of all levels are welcome.
Accessibility: The garden paths are narrow and rocky, so walking sticks and sturdy shoes are recommended. This tour is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.

Register Now
Program Details

Registration is free, but encouraged to receive program updates.
This tour will begin at 735 Harvard Avenue, Swarthmore, PA
Parking is available along Harvard Avenue.
The tour will be canceled in case 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
Please note this tour has a different departure location than other tours.

Nature Nook: Spring Session
2025-03-14 10:00 - 22:45, 2025-03-21 10:00 - 22:45, 2025-03-28 10:00 - 22:45, 2025-04-04 10:00 - 22:45, 2025-04-11 10:00 - 22:45 (America/Detroit) | Wister Center – Gillespie Room, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA, United States
Calling all little nature explorers! Join Celeste Sullivan and Rachel Warren at Scott Arboretum & Gardens for mornings full of singing, stories, crafts, and dancing. Each session is seasonally themed around nature and the garden. This program is designed for children ages 2 to 4 years old.
Registration Cost:
Members: Free
Non-Members: $40
Did you know a Family level membership to the Associates of the Scott Arboretum is only $55 and includes benefits for two adults and up to four children? Become a member of the Associates of the Scott Arboretum here.

Register Now
Program Details

Registration is required. Registration includes all 8 sessions.
Class size is limited.
Registration for members includes participation for up to 4 children and their caregivers.
Registration for non-members includes one child and their caregivers.
Sessions will start in the Wister Center with a story and craft, followed by a short walk to explore a garden.
Email us if you have accessibility needs for this program.
For more information, review our program and event policies or call the Scott Arboretum office at 610-328-8025.

Scott Medal & Award Presentation
2025-03-16 16:30 - 18:00 (America/Detroit) | The Inn at Swarthmore, 10 South Chester Rd, Swarthmore, PA, United States
Join us to recognize Andrea DeLong-Amaya, Director of Horticulture at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the recipient of the 2025 Scott Garden and Horticulture Medal and Award of $20,000.
Registration Cost:
In-Person Event
Members and Special Guests: Free
Non-Members: $40 (includes a one-year Individual level membership to the Associates of Scott Arboretum & Gardens)

Virtual live stream: Free for all

Andrea DeLong-Amaya – 2025 Award Recipient
Andrea DeLong-Amaya (ahn-DRAY-ah di-LONG ah-MY-ah), 2025 Scott Garden & Horticulture Award awardee, is a leader in native plant horticulture with over 30 years of experience in native plant gardening, ecology, and design. As Director of Horticulture at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, her work emphasizes the ecological benefits of using native plants to create resilient landscapes that support biodiversity. She is also the author of The Texas Native Plant Primer to be published in March 2025 by Timber Press. Tom Smarr, Executive Director of Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens in Pennsylvania, describes her as having a “considerable impact on the horticulture industry as it grapples with the need for greater representation and escalating environmental challenges.” Her work inspires gardeners to connect with nature while creating beautiful, sustainable gardens that reflect regional identity and ecological health. For her impressive body of horticultural work, she will receive the 71st Scott Garden & Horticulture Award from Scott Arboretum & Gardens in Swarthmore, PA.
De-Long-Amaya teaches classes in native plant horticulture and has contributed numerous gardening articles to publications such as Taunton’s Fine Gardening, Rodale’s Organic Gardening, American Public Gardens Association’s Public Garden, Neil Sperry’s Gardens and e-Gardens, Texas Gardener and Wildflower (the Center’s member magazine). Keep an eye out for her upcoming book, Texas Native Plant Primer (Timber Press), in March of 2025.
DeLong-Amaya has appeared numerous times on Central Texas Gardener, PBS’s long-running television program, and was a two-time guest on WNYC’s Science Friday. Jennifer Jewell featured Andrea’s work in her 2020 book, The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants, and interviewed DeLong-Amaya on the podcast Cultivating Place.

Program Details

Advance registration is required by March 7, 2025.
All registrations include access to the live stream.
In-person registration is limited to 270. Due to limited seating, virtual registrants cannot attend in person.
Registration is free but required in advance for members of the Scott Associates.
Email us if you have accessibility needs for this program.
For more information, review our program and event policies or call the Scott Arboretum office at 610-328-8025

Tool Maintenance Workshop
2025-03-20 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Detroit) | Wister Center – Gillespie Room, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA, United States
Proper care and maintenance of garden hand tools prolongs their life and keeps them in good working order. A care regimen that includes maintenance before each use, seasonally, and yearly ensures your tools are clean, sharp, and ready when you need them. Scott Arboretum & Gardens horticulture staff will lead this demonstration and hands-on workshop focusing on how to properly clean, sharpen, and generally maintain hand tools. Participants are encouraged to bring their own pruners to clean and/or sharpen during this hands-on workshop
All maintenance and cleaning supplies needed will be provided for use during the workshop, along with a list of supply recommendations to take home. Supported brands for cleaning and sharpening are limited to Felco and Corona; Fiskar and Niwaki tools will only be sharpened.
Registration Cost:
Members: $35
Non-members: $45
Become a member of the Associates of the Scott Arboretum & Gardens here.
Register Now
Program Details

Registration is required.
Class size limited to 12
Email us if you have accessibility needs for this program.
For more information, review our program and event policies or call the Scott Arboretum office at 610-328-8025.

Virtual Lunchtime Tour: The Wister Garden
2025-03-25 12:00 - 12:30 (America/Detroit) | https://www.scottarboretum.org/calendar/virtual-lunchtime-tour-the-wister-garden/
Take your lunch break virtually and explore the beauty of the Wister Garden, a woodland garden surrounding the former home of Gertrude and John C. Wister, the Arboretum’s first assistant director and director, respectively. The garden features sweeps of early spring blooming plants and rhododendrons. Narrow winding paths lead around the gently sloping plantings and connect to the Crum Woods trails.
Tune in on our YouTube channel.

Crum Woods Spring Hike
2025-04-05 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Detroit) | Field House Parking Lot, 500 College Ave, Swarthmore, PA, 19081
Experience the early spring awakenings in the Crum Woods! Discover flowers, listen to the babbling creek, and take a deep breath as you enjoy a meditative moment in the woods. Our Crum Woods hike will be led by a horticulturist on staff who can answer your plant questions and provide you with a rich wealth of knowledge during your tour.
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 brief, uphill 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.

This event is free, but registration is encouraged to receive program updates.
Register Now
Program Details

This tour will depart from the front of the Matchbox building [link: https://map.concept3d.com/?id=713#!m/87181?share].
Please park in the Field House Parking Lot and walk to the departure location, following Arboretum logo signs.
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
