Scott Arboretum & Gardens

Nature Nook: Winter Series
2025-02-07 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-14 09:00 - 11:00, 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.

Nature Nook: Winter Series
2025-02-07 09:00 - 11:00, 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.

Horticultural Harmony: Exploring Éclat's Artisan Chocolates
2025-02-07 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Copy of PPAvisitDM 047
Indulge in a luxury chocolate tasting led by Master Chocolatier Christopher Curtin of award-winning Éclat Chocolate in West Chester, Pa. Participants will receive a brief history of chocolate, gain an understanding of Éclat’s creative process, and sample seven artisanal chocolates. Snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage pairings will be served.
Registration Cost:
Members: $50
Non-Members: $60
Become a member of the Associates of the Scott Arboretum here.

Register Now

Program Details

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
Éclat Chocolate’s founder and Master chocolatier Christopher Curtin set out from Madison, Wisconsin, to the House of le Compagnons du Devoir, home of the premier guild of pastry chefs and artisans in France. It was here where he worked alongside the best journeyman pastry chefs in Europe, and became the first American to be awarded the honor of German Pastry Chef and Chocolatier in Cologne, Germany.
Immersed in the realm of the World’s top chocolate makers, Christopher continued to hone his skills in the finest chocolate houses of Belgium, Switzerland, France, Germany and Japan. Here, he had the privilege of sharing in the greatest of secrets and techniques—secrets and techniques that make Éclat Chocolate a unique experience you won’t soon forget.

Virtual Lunchtime Tour: Colors of Winter
2025-02-11 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | PA
Take your lunch break virtually and explore the colors of winter in the Scott Entrance Garden and the Terry Shane Teaching Garden. Tune in on our YouTube channel.

Nature’s Narratives: The Flow: Rivers, Water, and Wilderness
2025-02-12 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | PA
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.
Amy-Jane Beer returns to the river where her friend died and remembers her connection with nature and water, and brings the reader along for the ride.
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.
Registration is free, but required to receive the Zoom meeting link.

Register Now

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.

Nature’s Narratives: The Flow: Rivers, Water, and Wilderness
2025-02-12 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | PA
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.
Amy-Jane Beer returns to the river where her friend died and remembers her connection with nature and water, and brings the reader along for the ride.
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.
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.

Travels @ 12: An Italian Odyssey: Gardens, History, and Culture, North and South
2025-02-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | PA
Charles Cresson & Nora Sirbaugh took part in a three week tour of gardens in Sicily, around Rome, and ending with a week in Venice. Share in the history of this ancient land and the historic gardens it has produced. Join them on this virtual visit to this land of love, lemon trees and gelato.
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.

About the Presenters
Charles Cresson is a gardener and plantsman trained in England and America. He is the owner of Hedgleigh Spring garden in Swarthmore.
Nora Sirbaugh is past President of the Hardy Plant Society Mid-Atlantic Group and an avid gardener. Nora studied music at Temple and Peabody Conservatory and has a passion for history.

Travels @ 12: An Italian Odyssey: Gardens, History, and Culture, North and South
2025-02-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | PA
Charles Cresson & Nora Sirbaugh took part in a three week tour of gardens in Sicily, around Rome, and ending with a week in Venice. Share in the history of this ancient land and the historic gardens it has produced. Join them on this virtual visit to this land of love, lemon trees and gelato.
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.

About the Presenters
Charles Cresson is a gardener and plantsman trained in England and America. He is the owner of Hedgleigh Spring garden in Swarthmore.
Nora Sirbaugh is past President of the Hardy Plant Society Mid-Atlantic Group and an avid gardener. Nora studied music at Temple and Peabody Conservatory and has a passion for history.

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.

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.
