Morris Arboretum

One place my husband and I always wanted to visit is Morris Arboretum in the Chestnut Hill part of Philadelphia. We finally had the opportunity to go to the arboretum on Jay's birthday, which was May 11. The sun was shining, the temperature was comfortable, and we were in the company of two very good friends. Things couldn't have been any more perfect.

Pictured: grounds of Morris Arboretum

Pictured: water feature

Pictured: pond inside the Fernery
We spent about two hours walking around in the morning. Some of the features we visited were the Dorrance H Hamilton Fernery, the only remaining free-standing Victorian fernery in North America; the Treehouse, where we saw some amazing views; and the Log Cabin, built in 1908 as a spot to entertain visitors of the owners of the property. After lunch, we wandered through the Japanese and English gardens, and watched swans, ducks and geese in the Swan Pond.

Pictured: fern inside the Fernery

Pictured: flower

Pictured: pine cone
The grounds were beautiful and very well maintained. Even though there were a lot of people visiting, many with small children, the arboretum still managed to give off a very serene vibe. It's easy to imagine John and Lydia Morris, the estate owners, enjoying the scenery surrounding their home at the turn of the 19th century. In fact, visitors can find statues of them in one of the gardens.

Morris Arboretum is a great place to visit. According to the official website, there are over 2,500 types of plants growing there. Just be sure to bring walking shoes so you can explore the 92 acres of the property in comfort.