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May 2021
Spring Night Hike
Welcome the first days of spring with a walk along our moonlit trails as we discover the forest in a whole new way. On this guided hike, we’ll look and listen for the nocturnal animals while taking in the beauty and peacefulness of the forest at night. The hike will begin at the Visitor Center. Participants should bring a flashlight. We’ll hike rain or shine so please dress for the weather. Space is limited; registration required. Masks are required throughout…
Find out more »Spring Fungi Hike with the Philadelphia Mycology Club
Morels, chicken of the woods, and oyster mushrooms–with the temperate weather and rainy days of spring, the forest starts to come alive with different varieties of fungus. We’ll go on a slow hike, focusing on fungi biodiversity and citizen science, but there is always a chance that wild edibles will be found along the way. Registration is required. Due to COVID, space is limited so please let us know if you register and can no longer attend. Masks are required…
Find out more »The Philly Tree Plan: Growing Our Urban Forest
Though parts of Philadelphia are shaded by a beautiful canopy of trees, much of the city is not-- and our overall tree canopy sadly declined 6 percent between 2008 and 2018. To address this, the city is creating an urban forest plan-- and needs your help. Erica Smith Fichman, the city’s Community Forestry Manager and the project lead for the Philly Tree Plan, presents the city’s efforts to create a 10 year plan for the planting and care of our…
Find out more »A Botanical Paradise: Kazakhstan & the Altai Mountains
Paul Meyer presents an illustrated lecture on his recent botanical travels in northeast Kazakhstan. The world’s largest landlocked country, few travelers from the western world have visited this extraordinarily beautiful region, noted for its rich steppe and alpine flora. In addition, Meyer will share stories of the people, architecture, and culture. He is the retired F. Otto Haas Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum, not to mention an exceptional photographer, writer, and speaker.
Find out more »Kickoff Ceremony for Al-Mudhif
Join us as we kick off the construction of our next art installation, Al-Mudhif, with a dedication ceremony and a day building together in community. American veterans, Iraqi refugees, and the public will join environmental artist Sarah Kavage and Iraqi designer Yaroub Al-Obaidi in constructing an Iraqi guest house, called a mudhif, traditionally made with reed grasses called phragmites. The building process involves tying bundles of reeds into 20-foot-long columns, and then shaping them into huge parabolic arches. Hand-woven mats are then tied…
Find out more »June 2021
Green New Deal: A Roundtable
The Green New Deal has been a source of extreme controversy ever since it was first proposed more than two years ago. But while a lot of ink has been spilled about the GND, few people know much about what it actually proposes. We’d like to change that. State Senator Nikil Saval, State Representative Elizabeth Fiedler-- two candidates who ran, in part, on the proposal-- and the Sierra Club’s Zakia Elliott answer all your questions about the Green New Deal.
Find out more »Freshwater Mussels, Our Blue-Collar Bivalves
Freshwater mussels are THE most imperiled animals in both America and the Delaware River watershed, and restoration of mussels has become a national priority, especially as these hard-working animals perform the vital service of filtering our water. A coalition of public and private partners has ambitious plans, including propagating as many as a million mussels annually in labs and ponds to restore their populations. Lance Butler, senior scientist with the Philadelphia Water Dept, one of the partners, presents the astonishing…
Find out more »Black to Nature: Reconnecting with our Natural Roots
Join us for a lively panel discussion on the historic relationship of African-Americans to nature and the land, and how these relationships have been strained by societal and structural forces. We’ll highlight local organizations working to help Black people rediscover their connection to nature, and discuss how cultivating positive experiences in nature can help us heal from personal and shared trauma. Panelists: Latiaynna Tabb and Pamia Coleman, co-founders of Black Girls with Green Thumbs Camila Rivera-Tinsely, Director of Education at…
Find out more »Grand Opening of Al-Mudhif, Iraqi Guest House
It’s our first in-person public event since March 2020! Join us for the opening of the mudhif, the first Iraqi guesthouse built outside of Iraq. You’ll learn the 5,000-year history of this structure—constructed entirely out of phragmites reeds—while meeting its inspiring builders. Our gallery will be open for a stroll through the new exhibition that accompanies the art installation Al Mudhif outside. The evening includes land acknowledgement by Trinity Norwood and Reverend John Norwood of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation, remarks by Al-Obaidi and…
Find out more »July 2021
Sowing Seeds – A Gathering
Join us for an exploration through the gallery exhibition in conjunction with Al Mudhif – A Confluence and an Iraqi tea ceremony in the sanctuary guest house on our grounds. Sharing space in Philadelphia, the artists will speak about the migration of plants and people. Featuring: Environmental Artist Sarah Kavage Iraqi designer Yaroub Al-Obaidi Director of Environmental Art Tina Plokarz
Find out more »The Artist Is In
Meet the artist Iraqi designer Yaroub Al-Obaidi at the Iraqi guesthouse (Al Mudhif) for conversation and reflection. A mudhif is where special community events like weddings and birthday celebrations occur, but also where conflicting parties go to discuss and resolve differences. Special coffee ceremonies are held there as well, often hosted by the local sheikh, the tribal leader or elder. Conceived and created by Iraqi designer, immigrant Yaroub Al-Obaidi along with environmental artist Sarah Kavage, the mudhif is constructed entirely of…
Find out more »August 2021
The Artist Is In
Meet the artist Iraqi designer Yaroub Al-Obaidi at the Iraqi guesthouse (Al Mudhif) for conversation and reflection. A mudhif is where special community events like weddings and birthday celebrations occur, but also where conflicting parties go to discuss and resolve differences. Special coffee ceremonies are held there as well, often hosted by the local sheikh, the tribal leader or elder. Conceived and created by Iraqi designer, immigrant Yaroub Al-Obaidi along with environmental artist Sarah Kavage, the mudhif is constructed entirely of…
Find out more »September 2021
Reconciliation – A Healing Encounter
Two decades after the trauma of 9/11 and subsequent American military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, the moral injuries experienced by veterans fundamentally unsettled their beliefs. We brought together Iraqi refugees, U.S. veterans and the public for the construction of Al Mudhif — an Iraqi ceremonial guesthouse entirely made out of invasive wetland reeds. Visitors will be led on a walk with wildlife expert Elizabeth Ellman, enjoy Iraqi tea/coffee, and listen to the sound recordings of veteran voices speaking about…
Find out more »The Artist Is In
Meet the artist Iraqi designer Yaroub Al-Obaidi at the Iraqi guesthouse (Al Mudhif) for conversation and reflection. A mudhif is where special community events like weddings and birthday celebrations occur, but also where conflicting parties go to discuss and resolve differences. Special coffee ceremonies are held there as well, often hosted by the local sheikh, the tribal leader or elder. Conceived and created by Iraqi designer, immigrant Yaroub Al-Obaidi along with environmental artist Sarah Kavage, the mudhif is constructed entirely of…
Find out more »October 2021
The Secret Life of a Goldenrod Field
For thousands of insect species, goldenrod is a critically important, life-giving plant, the last chance for pollen and nectar before winter settles in. For migrating monarch butterflies, it is fuel that powers the trip to Mexico. Honey bees depend on it for the last burst of honey-making. Crab spiders and praying mantises rely on it for luring insects for them to eat. For people, it is a tragically misunderstood plant. And for peacock flies? We’ll let that be a surprise.…
Find out more »Filthadelphia: The City’s Trash Crisis
Philadelphia’s long struggles with solid waste and recycling programs deepened and were brought into high relief in the pandemic. Trash pickup became increasingly erratic, the controversial street sweeping program was suspended, and so many people working from home created more residential waste. We’ll dumpster-dive into the future of a cleaner city with former sanitation worker Terrill Haigler, better known in social media circles as Ya Fav Trashman, and Nic Esposito, the city’s former Zero Waste and Litter Director.
Find out more »Restoration Volunteer Workday
Connect with nature and make new friends as we work to improve the health and biodiversity of our forest. For this workday, we will be planting and caring for trees as part of the Treevitalize grant program. We recommend wearing long pants and sturdy boots and bringing a pair of gloves if you have them available. No experience necessary—we provide gloves (if needed), tools, and instruction. Please bring your own water bottle. Please note: our volunteer workday will be canceled…
Find out more »The Monarch’s Amazing Migration: a Status Report
The monarch butterfly undergoes one of the most extraordinary migrations in the animal kingdom, butterflies across America and Canada flying south to only a handful of Mexican mountain valleys. But that phenomenon is endangered as monarch numbers have plummeted in recent years, compromised by climate, Midwestern “milkweed deserts,” and logging in Mexico. How are this year’s monarch’s doing? National monarch expert Dr. Chip Taylor, founder and director of Monarch Watch, the organization that has started placing monarch waystations across the…
Find out more »Cultural Roots: Jewish-Iraqi Food and Conversation
Enjoy spicy and aromatic Jewish-Iraqi cuisine with chef Annabel Rabiyah of Awafi Kitchen (Boston), and discover the rich history of the Jewish Iraqi diaspora in the United States. Chef Annabel will demonstrate traditional recipes, and participants will taste a hearty Iraqi style beet stew (Kubba Schwandar) with optional meat dumplings, served with tea. While breaking homemade bread in our Iraqi guesthouse, we’ll talk with Iraqi-American artist Michael Rakowitz, cook Annabel Rabiyah, and artists of Al Mudhif Yaroub Al-Obaidi and Sarah Kavage, together exploring food, culture, and belonging. Space…
Find out more »A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds
Even as scientists make astounding discoveries about the navigational and physiological feats that enable migratory birds to cross immense oceans or fly above the highest mountains, go weeks without sleep or remain in unbroken flight for months at a stretch, humans have brought many migrants to the brink of extinction. Based on his newest book "A World on the Wing," author and researcher Scott Weidensaul takes you around the globe-- with researchers in the lab probing the limits of what…
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