5 Ways Retreating Outdoors is Good for Your Well-Being

I remember being a kid standing at the entrance of the Morris Arboretum, and having the distinct feeling of stepping through the gates into a sanctuary. I stepped away from parked cars and the busy street into a softer world that smelled of boxwoods, roses, and jasmine.
This nature was a sanctuary: a retreat and place to pretend I was a princess, a lion, or a swan whisperer. As an adult, a retreat into the Morris Arboretum taps the same child-like sanctuary of wonder and well-being.

As adults we stand at the gates of our well-being and ask:
How many hours do I sit at a desk or inside?
When will I have time to exercise?
Where can I go to enjoy myself and rejuvenate? 

Here are five ways retreating locally into nature can enhances your well-being:

1. Induce a meditative mindset. In a yoga practice, this is called Pratyahara. We withdraw from our busy habitual behaviors and mainstream outer listening and turn our focus to inner listening and attention. We restore our respect for our needs. Accompanied by a tall tree, a gentle breeze or bird song, we return home to our skin, the present moment, and the restorative beauty of silence.
2. Slow down, relax, restore and rejuvenate the body. The constant flux and changes in nature give us a wise backdrop and context to enjoy the body. The body seeks harmony, fluidity, flexibility, and balance just like nature. Gentle, mindful yoga, reintroduces us to the flux, flow and wisdom of our well-being.
3. Disconnect from the addiction of stress, technology, and business. Let go of the addictive reliance on email, cell phones, and technology, in exchange for a pure sky, a sunset, and a canopy of elms. A hawk flies overhead, a bunny darts behind the holly branches, and the light sparkles over our face. We unplug and return to our senses.
4. Enjoy the flow of nature and beauty. Emerson wrote, “A nobler want of man is served by nature, namely, the love of Beauty.” Slow steady breaths. Even with the daily pressures of life, we can make time to enjoy ourselves -  our bodies, our minds and to share the time with others in the beauty of nature.
5. The fun of self-reflection and self-awareness. Natural meditative environments draw our minds and hearts towards an acceptance of what is. Whether by meditation, meeting new people, conversation with others, journaling or walking, nature can be an immense catalyst for personal happiness, creativity, wholeness, and embracing change.

At the core of our mental, physical and emotional wellness Mother Nature’s meditative beauty restores our sanity and preserves our sense of wonder and ease.

Will you slow down to enjoy your health?
The challenge is for us to practice being a culture that supports true well-being. We can support one another in a deliberate process and practice of mindfully re-connecting to all that sustains us - the fluidity of body and mind. The pure blue sky.

Join Jennifer Schelter, for the Mini-Radiant Retreat - Yoga Retreat at the Morris Arboretum on June 13, 10:00am - 2:00pm. Register Now

Article contributed by Jennifer Schelter, Founder, Radiant Retreats, Co-Founder, Yoga On The Steps

A Spring Evening of Brew Sampling!

Morris Arboretum has joined up with Weyerbacher Brewing Company for an awesome spring evening of beer tasting!  

We'll sample five beers that represent the breadth of styles and richness in flavor the brewery has to offer. Enjoy and learn more about their wildly popular and award-winning Belgian-style tripel, Merry Monks. Then take this unique opportunity to be among the first to try a brand new, soon to be released, tart style beer. These brews will be paired with complementary food designed to play off of the flavors of the beer, from refreshingly light to full-bodied and complex. Bring your friends and explore a world of unique and exciting beer!

Beer Tasting at Morris Arboretum

Wednesday, May 20

6:30 - 8:30pm

Register Now!

Weekend Picks: Hit the Pavement and the Drums

This weekend take to our garden pathways for fitness, fun, and discovery.
 

Friday, April 10

Stroller Strides | 10:00 - 11:00am

Stroller Strides® is a total fitness program that moms can do with their babies - it includes power walking, strength-training intervals, and body toning exercises using exercise tubing, the stroller, and the environment. Taught by a certified and specially trained instructor, it is a great workout for any level of exerciser. Registration required. Try just one class or register for a package here.

Photo: Fit4Mom Chestnut Hill/Plymouth Meeting

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Saturday, April 11

Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival | 10:00am - 3:00pm

Join us as we celebrate the beauty of our cherry tree collection in bloom. The day will feature traditional Japanese cultural activities. Can't make it this weekend? The celebration continues on Saturday, April 18. All events are free with garden admission. See the full line-up here. 

Taiko drumming

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Sunday, April 12

Sculpture Scavenger Hunt | On-going, All Day

Come explore art in the garden at Morris Arboretum with our latest kids activity - Sculpture Scavenger Hunt. Pick up a clue sheet and map at the Visitor’s Center or download one here. Solve the riddles to find the sculptures, each with a secret code. Guests who decipher the message will receive a complimentary pack of Play Doh® to create their own work of art.

Don't forget to check out the latest addition to our sculpture collection - Patrick Dougherty's A Waltz in the Woods! 

'A Waltz in the Woods' by Patrick Dougherty at Morris Arboretum 2015

Looking for more weekend activities? Check out our events calendar.

3 Steps to Big Beautiful Roses

1. Prune! Now's the time to start pruning your repeat-blooming roses: hybrid teas, floribundas, and modern shrub roses. An easy rule of thumb is "Prune when the forsythia bloom." If you have species or old garden roses, wait until after flowering to prune, or else you'll cut off their spring blooms.
2. Feed After pruning your roses, give them a boost with organic fertilizers. Compost, manure, blood meal, kelp meal, and fish emulsion are just some of the great nutrient sources your roses need for big, beautiful blooms.
3. Deadhead After your roses have started to bloom, keep up on deadheading to keep your repeat-flowering roses looking great and blooming all season long.

Want your roses to be the envy of the neighborhood? 
Join our upcoming class, Rose Pruning Basics, for even more great tips! Register Now

5 Fun Facts about Fungi!

Fungi are some of the most overlooked organisms, despite making up 25% of the world's biomass and having an estimated 1.5 to 5 million species on Earth.

Did you know...

1. Fungi are more closely related to Animals than to Plants
2. Only 2-6% of all fungi on Earth have been discovered and named
3. 95% of all plants rely on fungi for efficient nutrient uptake
4. Bakers yeast is a fungus and a distant cousin of truffles
5. Fungi don't require sunlight to grow

Intrigued? Learn more in our upcoming class, Fungi and Plants: A Love-Hate Relationship, on April 28, 2015.  Register Online Today

5 Reasons new moms need this popular class..

Stroller Strides®! This class is a total fitness program that moms can do with their babies - it includes power walking, strength-training intervals, and a unique blend of Pilates, barre, yoga, and stroller-based exercises designed to help moms build strength and muscle tone and improve posture. Taught by certified instructor (and fellow mom), Jacqueline Walsh, it is a great workout for any level of exerciser. Jacqueline will weave songs and activities into the routine designed to entertain and engage baby, while moms are led through a series of exercises specific to her role as mom.

Top 5 Reasons new moms need to sign up for Stroller Strides:

1. To get out of the house and experience the unique natural surroundings of Morris Arboretum
2. To exercise and engage with baby
3. To form new friendships and future playdates with other moms
4. To improve your health and well being
5. To get back that pre-baby body (or better)!

Spots are limited, register today! 
https://online.morrisarboretum.org/growingminds

In the case of inclement weather, class will be modified in order to be comfortably held indoors. You must be at least six weeks post-partum to participate in this series. 

Pausing for the little things: One member's insight into birding.

Most people can watch birds from the comfort of their homes.  In fact, according to a 2003 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service birding report, 88% of birders are backyard birders while 22%, or 18 million Americans, take trips away from home for the sole purpose of observing birds. Though birding has been a popular activity for a couple decades, some people are hesitant to go on birding trips due to lack of knowledge about the field. Fortunately, Susan Marshall, birding enthusiast and Morris Arboretum member, agreed to share her insights and tips on birding with us.

Q1. Hi Susan, how did you become interested in birding? Have you been birding for quite a while?

Birding has always been something on the back of my mind. My husband and I would hike, but not stop and take a look at the little things. After we retired, we looked for activities that we could enjoy doing together, so we signed up for birding classes with Ruth Pfeffer, whom I now consider a friend. I really enjoyed it and wanted to continue learning more.  Ruth has been a great teacher and influence. 

Birding has now become a large part of our lives and we incorporate it into our travels.  For example, when in Florida, we visited the Everglades, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and The J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. 

We recently caught sight of the Least Bittern – birding is a great hobby, it’s one of those things you don’t learn completely so it never gets boring.


Q2. What steps do you take to improve your knowledge and recognition of birds?  How do you know when it is the best time to spot birds?



You can approach birding from multiple ways – audio experience, make a life list (though it is not our focus), observe bird behavior, or enjoy birds when out in the woods.
One of the things I enjoy about birding is that it is an excuse to be outside. My husband and I used to have jobs that kept us indoors a lot, and now we can spend much of our time outdoors. It’s helpful when guides point things out and talk about bird behavior.  A friend and I were recently talking about birding as a way of living in the moment while enjoying nature. 

You can catch birds at any location best during migration. Also, after the sun comes up, the insects are buzzing around, attracting birds.

Q3. What have been some of your favorite Morris Arboretum birding trips?  Do you ever submit your photographs to online publications?


My husband and I have shared a few trips; Costa Rica, in particular, was a fabulous experience. We’ve visited three times already. It’s perfect because there are a variety of birds to see and there isn’t a large time zone difference. Magee Marsh in Ohio, with its large concentration of spring warblers, is a wonderful regional spot. Birding has allowed me to visit places I might never have explored otherwise!

Q4. What advice can you provide to a novice birder or someone who is intimidated by lack of bird knowledge?

A good way to learn more about birding is to register for birding trips and walks, get a basic birding field guide, and learn from your guides. Birders are usually very nice and will help you if you have questions. Also, you definitely need a decent pair of binoculars – they make such a difference! Audubon Magazine and the Nature Conservancy have lots of information on birding as well. 

Now that you’ve gained a bit of insight on birding, you might want to explore some of the Morris Arboretum’s birding trip offerings  this spring!
 

Great blue heron pair, building a nest in Florida.

A resplendent quetzal in Costa Rica, flying to its nest with an avocado in its beak for its chicks.
(Morris Arboretum trip)

Prothonotory warbler at Magee Marsh in northern Ohio, a premier birding spot for spring warblers.
(Morris Arboretum trip)

Wonderful Witchhazels!

It's about this time of year when most of us have had quite enough of bleak winter weather and are longing for the vibrancy of spring. It seems nature has a way of knowing this and provides a mid-winter reprieve: colorful, sweetly-scented witchhazels!

Join us Sunday, February 17 from 1:00 - 3:00pm for our annual Witchhazel is Your Favorite family event, a day of outdoor fun and garden exploration! Follow the prepared scavenger hunt map to discover the many varieties of witchhazels growing at the Morris Arboretum. Ranging in color from yellow and orange to pink and red, witchhazels are some of the first harbingers of spring, and the Arboretum’s witchhazel collection is unparalleled in the area. The scavenger hunt invites visitors to compare the different varieties’ beautiful flowers and take in their heady scent. After the hunt, visitors can stop back at the Visitor Center to make a fun craft. This event is free with regular admission and registration is not required.

Download the scavenger hunt map (also available at the Visitor Center): http://bit.ly/14UBeTs

Don't Forget: Kids under 17 visit Free in February!

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Can't get enough of witchhazels? Register for an exclusive, inside look at the collection with Morris Arboretum Director of Horticulture, Anthony Aiello.

An Inside Look at the Witchhazel Collection 
March 2, 1:00 - 3:00pm Register Today

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Jump-Start Your Spring Planting


"And so ye faithful, there is no shadow to see

An early Spring for you and me." -Punxsutawney Phil

What better way to jump-start your garden plans than by attending one of our many Spring course offerings. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or an eager novice, there's something for everyone! Below are a few course highlights.  Click here to see our full offering of classes.

Planting Design for the Home Landscape  
with John Shandra, Registered Landscape Architect
Five Wednesdays: March 20, 27, April 3, 10, 17 
• 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Register Now

Topics include: site analysis, developing functional diagrams, and considerations of color, form, and texture in the garden.

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American Idols: Native Plants to Love
with Catherine Renzi, Owner, Yellow Springs Farm Native Plant Nursery
Saturday, March 16 
• 10:00a.m. - 12:00 noon 
Register Now

Learn about great native plants for your garden. They require less maintenance, do not need watering (except during establishment), chemical pesticides and fertilizers, or frequent cutting back.

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Three Seasons of Outrageous Color from Perennials 

with Kerry Ann Mendez, Garden Designer and Owner of Perennially Yours

Friday, March 22 
• 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. 
Register Now

Discover spectacular perennials for sun and shade that will brighten your landscape from spring through fall.

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Great Hardy Native Ferns

with Gregg Tepper, Director of Horticulture, Mt. Cuba Center
Wednesday, March 27
 • 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Register Now

Gregg will discuss native fern identification, growth habits, as well as culture, and point out the many redeeming qualities that make ferns a pleasure to grow and show in the garden.

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Rhododendrons for Your Landscape
with Karel Bernady, American Rhododendron Society 
Saturday, May 18 
• 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Register Now

In this class you will learn what a rhododendron is and how to choose plants that will do well in our area and how to care for them once they are planted.

Integrated Pest Management Training

by Stephen Pyne, Martha J. Wallace Plant Propagation Intern

One of the benefits of being an intern at Morris Arboretum is the opportunity to take some of the amazing classes that the arboretum offers. I just finished taking an especially good one: The School of Arboriculture’s Integrated Pest Management Training. This three day class was taught by two entomologists from the University of Maryland; Dr. Michael J. Raupp, and Dr. Paula Shrewsbury. Three days is a lot of time to spend in the classroom, but the presenters made sure that we were never bored. It was obvious that Dr. Raupp and Dr. Shrewsbury both love their work, and their enthusiasm was infectious. Their presentations were full of interesting anecdotes and stories, and yet they always steered the class back to real life and practical information that I thought would be very applicable in my work as a horticulturalist.

During the breaks we were able to look at the professors’ extensive collections of bugs and see examples of specific insect damage. Breaks also were a great time to talk to the other people taking the class -- a diverse and interesting group of horticultural professionals.

At the end of each day we had some lab time. On the first day we walked out into the arboretum grounds where we looked at plants, identified their problems and the pest causing those problems, and came up with ideas for a remedy. The second day had us dissecting bagworm bags to find eggs, signs of parasitism, and other clues to help form a plan of treatment. We also looked at scale and several other examples of problem insects. Finally on the last day our tasks were feeding and observing beneficial insects. The young praying mantises were not all that hungry (they had just eaten a bunch of fruit flies), but the lacewing larvae chowed down on the aphids we provided.

I think you can tell from the photos, we all had a great time, and learned a lot.


Learn more about upcoming classes by visiting:
http://online.morrisarboretum.org/Classes