Botanical Society of Lower Merion

Botanical Society of Lower Merion The Botanical Society of Lower Merion purchased half of the land for Merion Botanical Park, and has been planting and maintaining its specimens since 1944.

The Botanical Society of Lower Merion was funded in 1944 when a group of local residents decided to raise funds to purchase a rat infested abandoned lot and turn it into a public botanical garden. The purchased parcel was then given to Lower Merion Township. The Township purchased the adjacent parcel and the two parcels together became the Merion Botanical Park. The Botanical Society developed and

has been maintaining the plantings from annual dues and private donations. The Society’s mission is to collect plants native to Pennsylvania and educate people about them. Interestingly, Laura L. Barnes, who by 1944 has spent two decades developing the Barnes Arboretum’s collection of exotic species was one of the founding members.

Become a Tree Tender and help us plant and care for trees in Merion Botanical Park and throughout Lower Merion. Zoom cla...
09/09/2021

Become a Tree Tender and help us plant and care for trees in Merion Botanical Park and throughout Lower Merion. Zoom classes start soon. Recordings are also available if you need to miss some of the sessions.

Become a neighborhood greening hero! Learn everything you need to know about tree care and planting in this upcoming PHS Fall Tree Tenders Basic Training webinar.

Want to help the Merion Civic Association plant trees this weekend? Sign up here:https://phs.volunteerhub.com/.../merion...
04/21/2021

Want to help the Merion Civic Association plant trees this weekend? Sign up here:
https://phs.volunteerhub.com/.../merionc.../events/search...

Will start with a demo on Merion Road on Saturday, so everyone learns the right way to grow healthy trees 😊

If weather forecast is terrible for Sunday we might do some on Friday and finish the rest on Saturday. If both Saturday and Sunday are bad... hm. not sure yet. If you sign up we will have a way to contact you about change of plans.

The Merion Civic Association's street tree planting is less than two weeks away! Join us on Apr 24-25 to help plant. Reg...
04/12/2021

The Merion Civic Association's street tree planting is less than two weeks away! Join us on Apr 24-25 to help plant. Register here:

https://phs.volunteerhub.com/lp/merioncivicassociation/event/e5aa6f3a-8721-4013-96cf-aa20881a4479

https://phs.volunteerhub.com/lp/merioncivicassociation/event/6a616cf1-7f36-4b78-93d0-a97d81c61c89

Click on the link above
Create an account (if you don’t have one yet) – Click “Create Account”
Click “Sign Up” (In this process, you will acknowledge the PHS COVID-19 waiver)
Sign into your account if you aren’t already

Buy your native plants and support the Barnes Arboretum at the same time. Plant sale is virtual this year.
03/18/2021

Buy your native plants and support the Barnes Arboretum at the same time. Plant sale is virtual this year.

The Merion Civic Association is launching a tree planting program this spring to fill the canopy gaps along our streets....
02/16/2021

The Merion Civic Association is launching a tree planting program this spring to fill the canopy gaps along our streets. Trees serve us in many ways: they provide beauty, increase property values, reduce flooding, mitigate climate change. They also provide habitat for wildlife. Did you know a native oak can support over 500 different species of insects, which is then food for birds or other wildlife?

Please, support this program by donating to the Tree Fund, volunteer to plant, or allow volunteers to plant a tree on your property or in the verge by the street. You can sign up here:
https://forms.gle/RqyjE9ocSfUnT8WE6

Many problems plague our trees, both natural and man-made, like diseases, flooding, construction damage etc. These incre...
02/11/2021

Many problems plague our trees, both natural and man-made, like diseases, flooding, construction damage etc. These increase risks of storm damage and kill trees young.

Learn how to plant and take care of your trees for a healthier, happier life for both you and your trees during this free presentation at the Bala Cynwyd Library.

March 1 at 7:30 pm
Registration required.
https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=LMLS&curID=489777

Winter tree id is not as difficult as you might think.
01/10/2021

Winter tree id is not as difficult as you might think.

Invasive plant walk organized by the Merion Civic Association:this Sunday, Jan 10 at 11 am. We'll start from the outboun...
01/05/2021

Invasive plant walk organized by the Merion Civic Association:

this Sunday, Jan 10 at 11 am. We'll start from the outbound side of the Merion Train Station and walk through Merion Botanical Park.

Please wear a mask for this event.

Picture: Amur cork tree - Phellodendron amurense

Providing habitat is the best way to support birds and other wildlife. It is also easier, less expensive than seeds for ...
11/11/2020

Providing habitat is the best way to support birds and other wildlife. It is also easier, less expensive than seeds for the bird feeder.

Don't be a neatnik.

Prepare your yard for winter by leaving the leaves. Leaf litter provides a winter home for insects and the insects provide food for songbirds like the Hermit Thrush and American Robin. Leaf litter can be raked away from structures and pathways and used as mulch in garden beds.

Don't deadhead your annuals and perennials. Instead, leave the seedheads intact for the Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch and White-crowned Sparrow to enjoy a winter bounty of seed. If you can't resist deadheading, tuck the clippings around your garden beds so the seedheads are still available for the birds.

If you have the space and it is fire-safe to do so in your area, create a brush pile with trimmings from trees and shrubs. Brush piles provide shelter for many ground-dwelling and mid-story songbird species like California Towhee and Bewick's Wren as well as insects.

Don't be a neatnik. A less tidy garden will provide songbirds and the insects they love with food and shelter all winter long.

If you are planting spring bulbs now, you might be wondering if there are any native species among them. Not really, but...
11/08/2020

If you are planting spring bulbs now, you might be wondering if there are any native species among them. Not really, but here is an article on native spring ephemerals, many with rhizomes or other underground storage organs, similar to bulbs.

Spring ephemerals are among the first plants to pop up in spring and the first to flower. These native plants emerge early to take advantage of the sunlight that penetrates through the bare branches of the late winter deciduous woodland.

Annual Meeting scheduled for October 26 at 7 pm via Zoom. During the annual meeting 5 directors are elected for the 3 ye...
10/06/2020

Annual Meeting scheduled for October 26 at 7 pm via Zoom.

During the annual meeting 5 directors are elected for the 3 year-term by the members. Nominations may be sent to the secretary.

Please, become a member and support Merion Botanical Park's maintenance and improvement projects.

Address

Botanical Society Of Lower Merion, P. O. Box 218
Merion Station, PA
19066

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Botanical Society of Lower Merion posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Botanical Society of Lower Merion:

Shortcuts

Share

Our Story

The Botanical Society of Lower Merion was founded in 1944 when a group of local residents decided to raise funds to purchase a rat infested abandoned lot and turn it into a public botanical garden. The purchased parcel was then given to Lower Merion Township. The Township purchased the adjacent parcel and the two parcels together became the Merion Botanical Park. The Botanical Society developed and has been maintaining the plantings from annual dues and private donations. The Society’s mission is to collect plants native to Pennsylvania and educate people about them. Interestingly, Laura L. Barnes, who by 1944 has spent two decades developing the Barnes Arboretum’s collection of exotic species was one of the founding members.