©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

World-class Rose Garden at Morris Arboretum

The garden dates back to 1924 when Lydia Morris transformed the area from a mixed garden of flowers, fruits and vegetables to a formal Rose Garden. In the last few years it has undergone a dramatic renewal.

The Delaware Valley is home to some of the most beautiful public gardens in the country. However, it would be difficult to find a more beautiful garden at this time of year than the Rose Garden at the Morris Arboretum. The garden, which is just now entering peak bloom, “…is nothing short of spectacular,” according to Arboretum Director Paul Meyer. “Many visitors have told us that they believe our rose garden is truly among the finest in the world.”

The garden dates back to 1924 when Lydia Morris transformed the area from a mixed garden of flowers, fruits and vegetables to a formal Rose Garden. While the garden has been the centerpiece of the Arboretum for decades, in the last few years it has undergone a dramatic renewal. Mike Tuszynski, who began as an intern at the Arboretum and is now its rosarian, has meticulously redesigned each quadrant with a mix of perennials, annuals and woody plants, with new garden ornaments added to create a look reminiscent of the Victorian era. The idea of mixing roses with other plants is not new; the Morris estate had roses blooming happily among a vast assortment of flowers and other plants. Interplanting also provides the opportunity to design with a greater array of colors and forms and provides a healthier planting system.

This past year, the planting of the last of the four quadrants was completed to mimic the style and feel of the original layout and planting while using many modern rose cultivars like Knock Out, Blushing Knock Out and Pink Knock Out. The finishing touch to the last quadrant was the placement of a reproduction of an antique urn discovered in the Morris Arboretum’s Bloomfield Farm barn. When found, the original urn was severely cracked and chipped, and there was no indication that it had been part of the Rose Garden during the time of the Morrises’ until an old sepia-toned photo from 1926 was discovered. It pictured the Rose Garden and showed the urn prominently displayed in the middle of the quadrant where Lydia Morris’ favorite spot or “seat” is located. With the help of Peter Cilio of Campania International, with whom the Arboretum has worked for a number of years on its ornament collection, the urn and its pedestal were pieced back together and a replica of the original urn was created.

With much anticipation and excitement, the urn was completed by Campania this spring and installed in the Rose Garden. As the garden came into bloom in late May, the visual impact was so rich and powerful it almost transported a visitor back to the time of the Morrises. Though the urn is distinctively Victorian - highly decorated with cherubs and ornate detailing – the urn will be offered by Campania this year for those with gardens and the panache to place this unique urn on their own property. You can view the entire Campania International collection at www.campaniainternational.com.

The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania is located at 100 Northwestern Ave. in Chestnut Hill. The 92-acre horticulture display garden features a spectacular collection of mature trees in a Victorian landscape. The Arboretum features numerous picturesque spots such as the formal Rose Garden, Japanese gardens, swan pond, meadows and the elegant Fernery. The Morris Arboretum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.