
2023 is the Year of Trees at Awbury!
Awbury Arboretum is a museum of trees. At least, this is how we describe it to visiting schoolchildren who may be unfamiliar with the word ‘arboretum’, defined as a place devoted to trees. The meaning, however, is clear as they step into the landscape. Awbury’s honored collection of trees includes a variety of native, state-champion, flowering, specimen, and heritage trees. We celebrate them by choosing 2023’s theme to be the Year of Trees.
The History & Design of the Landscape
The trees at Awbury are an essential design component in the English landscape style. Components of the landscape, designed in 1870 by William Saunders remain today. Awbury contains large copses (a forest understory containing smaller trees and shrubs) planted intentionally but meant to look naturally occurring. These copses generate hidden views and a sense of curiosity as carefully-curated vistas lay around every corner. The next time you drive up Awbury Road, take note of this understated landscaping strategy. Saunders additionally planted large Eastern White Pine trees in rows, meant to direct the eyes towards sweeping, distant views of the arboretum. Today, our — allee maintains the original design along Station Road near Washington train station.
Click here to view our Events Page to see if there are any upcoming tree events.

Upcoming Projects
In support of Awbury’s Year of Trees, the Arboretum will be the primary location for the final year of activities for S(tree)twork, a multi-year public art project in Philadelphia. The project aims “to animate how we live among trees, how we perceive them and how we imagine our future co-habitation”.
In 2023, S(tree)twork will facilitate the construction of a structure built on an existing barn ruin at Awbury. This space will be used for making instruments from trees that stood on Awbury’s grounds and other arts-related activities. S(tree)twork will offer a mix of tree-related programming, including a free, two-week instrument-building workshop in June that is open to a limited number of individuals, 16 years or older, that are interested in music and art. More information about this opportunity, including how to apply, will be available shortly on our Awbury’s Year of Trees landing page.
This Month’s Tree:
Paw Paw
Written by Dan Sardaro
Click here to learn more!

Year of Trees EVENTS:
❦ Sunday, January 22nd – Ken Leroy, Grand Trees of Philadelphia
❦ Saturday, March 19th at 3 pm – PHS Tree Tenders & Urban Tree Canopies presented by Mindy Maslin, Program Manager of Tree Tenders, PHS
❦ Saturday, April 22nd – Awbury Earth Day: Forest & Farm Fair
❦ May 13th – Grant Folin Tree Identification Hike
❦ May 14th – Mother’s Day Tile Workshop
❦ Saturday, June 10th at 2 pm – Family Tree ID Hike, Led by Hideko Secrest
❦ Thursday, July 13th – Dr. Elizabeth Mckenzie’s mindfulness in nature/ tree photography
❦ July TBD – Penn State Master Gardeners at Pollinator Garden
❦ Saturday, August 19th at 2 pm- Family Tree ID Hike led by Hideko Secrest
❦ Saturday, August 26th at 10 am- Forest Bathing led by Dr. Barbara Rolnik
❦ August TBD – Tree Hike led by Grant Folin
❦ Sunday, September 24th – Braiding Sweetgrass book discussion led by Sheryl Wright
❦ Saturday, October 7th – Tree photography in the field led by Troy Bynum
❦ Saturday, October 14th at 2 pm– Family Tree ID Hike led by Hideko Secrest
❦ Sunday, November 5th – Small Native Trees for Beauty and Wildlife led by Cindy Ahern
❦ November TBD– Tree Hike led by Grant Folin
❦ December– Year of Trees End Reception
Past years:
2022– the Year of Birds
2021 – the Year of Water
2020 – the Year of Citizen Science
2019 – the Year of Natural Fibers
Corresponding article series: Awbury’s 2019 Series on Natural Fibers
2018 – the Year of the Pollinator
Corresponding article series: Pollinators– from wasps to wind
2016 – Awbury Arboretum’s Centennial
Corresponding article series: The Country in the City: Natural History in Northwest Philadelphia