Awbury Arboretum

As Mother Nature brings us into winter, we at Awbury will not be sorry to see 2020 end. COVID-19 hurt us in many ways: we lost almost all of our social rental revenue, could only offer two weeks of summer camps, hosted only a few field trips, and shut the Cope House to all but essential staff. At the same time, Awbury has become the center of a surprising amount of activity. The increase in first-time visitors has been dramatic, and many exciting projects around the grounds a...re underway. New and long-time partners collaborated with us this summer and fall to offer outdoor, socially distanced yoga and wellness classes, art exhibits, Community Relief Concerts, and Sunday Fun Days at The Farm. Moreover, Awbury, unlike most public gardens and arboretums, remains open from dawn to dusk and free 365 days a year. Our small, hard-working staff and Board make sure every dollar you donate is wisely spent. Won't you donate today to help us serve our community in 2021? A gift of $35 or more will make you a voting member of the Arboretum. A gift of $100 or more will support the many programs and activities the Arboretum can offer for free. Please give generously; your help is much appreciated! Click here to give today! https://awbury.org/give/ -------------------------------------------------------------------- And click here to read the full message from General Manager Chris van de Velde! https://awbury.org//Letter-2020-Support-Awbury-in-providin

This #GivingTuesday help The Farm at Awbury expand its chicken program! If you have been to The Farm at Awbury recently, you know that the chickens are a star presence. Whether resting in their spacious coop (built by volunteers) or strutting about the Farm, they attract their share of welcome attention. The Awbury Cluck Patrol is currently made up of ten hens of various breeds, and their needs are growing. We would like to , build a shed for their supplies and invest in a ch...icken tractor to move them to various areas of the Arboretum, where they can forage for insect pests. One of their favorite treats is the dreaded Spotted Lanternfly! Help make the chickens' dream a reality! While the program is run entirely by volunteers, it costs around $100 a month for feed, hay, mouse repellent, and veterinary care. Our goal is to raise $1,200 this #GivingTuesday. Click this link to donate! https://secure.lglforms.com/form_e/s/KfVvCC2NkDJ589JTmVwNQw You may be wondering: why does Awbury have chickens? They are an invaluable addition to our urban farm, providing eggs and eating agricultural pests that destroy crops. As an educational asset, they allow children to witness life cycles from egg to chick to adult back to egg, all the while engaging them with their antics. While interacting with and caring for the chickens, children learn important lessons about food cycles, responsibility, and the variety of life. And, much to the delight of the volunteering families, Petra Bräuer, the director of the Awbury Cluck Patrol, lets them collect the different colored eggs that each breed lays to take home.

*RESCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8TH DUE TO RAIN* This Sunday, November 1st we have a very special guest performing at our VERY LAST Sunday Funday of the seaso...n sponsored by the @freelibrary’s Sundays on Stage program and the PCI Board of Managers. Nigerian-American & Germantown resident singer songwriter @joyikemusic will be joining us to perform two 45 minute shows - one show at 2:30pm and one show at 3:30pm. Bring a chair or blanket for the grass. Joy Ike paints with a broad palette that defies easy categorization. A write-up on NPR's All Things Considered says "The depth of subjects she tackles in her poetic lyrics are perfectly complemented by a unique blend of neo-soul, with just the right dash of pop...a truly compelling act to watch in person, with the ability to create an intimate setting in locations big and small." She will be performing as a duo this Sunday with her drummer (and sister), Peace Ike. Additionally throughout our normal Sunday Funday 2-5pm window there will be pumpkin painting (free pumpkins provided!), candy for trick or treaters, a beekeeper's tour, a farm tour, goats strolling, a mask-arade (wear your costumes!), and a nature treasure hunt. Please join us for this very fun event! Everything is FREE and open to the public. As always please wear masks and socially distance. (Rain date November 8th)

AdventureWoods open public hours will continue through November! From November 1st through December 5th, AdventureWoods is free and open to the public Saturdays & Sundays from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. (Weather permitting! Please note that AdventureWoods will be closed if it rains, and starting November 1st, if the temperature is below 45 degrees at 11AM, AdventureWoods be closed for the day.)

Tickets are still available for Sunday's concert! Deb Callahan is an exceptional blues singer who displays a deep appreciation of American roots music. Many of Deb Callahan’s compositions tell stories and have profound meaning. On her new release, Sweet Soul on Blue Pearl Records, Callahan delivers a knock-out Blues punch securing her place among the genre’s finest vocalists and songwriters Randall Parrish/Vivascene Music Magazine

The Revolutionary Germantown Festival returns Saturday, Oct. 3rd! Sixteen sites in Historic Germantown, including Awbury Arboretum, will highlight the diverse experiences of the American Revolution and the Battle of Germantown in 1777. Awbury Arboretum will explore plant use in the 1700s with an emphasis on plants grown or harvested for medicinal purposes. Plants have always played a necessary role in our lives, and during Colonial Times native plants and herbs were the most... common treatment for everything from a sore throat to a stomachache to poison ivy. Stop by AdventureWoods in the Secret Garden from 12pm to 2pm to learn more. Parking available at 6060 Ardleigh Street, Philadelphia, PA 19138. The festival is free and family friendly. Visit www.revolutionarygermantown.org and follow all the participating sites on social media. Hope to see you on Oct. 3rd!

Inspired by the issues of 2020 the pandemic, its exposure of systemic injustice, and the murders of unarmed black people by police that have rocked the country this workshop aims to stimulate open and honest conversations about race and race relations, from all of our perspectives. There are still spots available! For more information on this workshop or to register, visit https://awbury.org/events/lwf-tile-workshop/

Have you visited all 36 gardens featured in the America's Garden Capital - Greater Philadelphia Gardens Passport? Do you have the 36 stamps, stickers, code words, staff signatures, or at-home print outs in the back of your Passport to prove it? America’s Garden Capital wants to hear from you and is offering prizes to the fans that have completed this ultimate garden challenge. Learn more and submit your Passport here: http://americasgardencapital.org/contest... Due to new safety guidelines in our garden, Awbury Arboretum is only able to provide Passports during limited hours, but you can always download one here: http://americasgardencapital.org/passport, or e-mail [email protected] to request a hard copy of the Passport. #AmericasGardenCapital Photos by Afrik Armando

Tickets are still available to tomorrow evening's Community Relief Concert! Called a beacon of light in the world of female folk music, Cary’s smoky voice, emotional singing, and vulnerable writing garner favorable comparisons to Melissa Etheridge, Natalie Merchant, Brandi Carlisle, and even Bruce Springsteen. Cary’s raw honesty and ability to connect with her audience through high-energy tunes and masterful storytelling has made her one of the industry’s most sought after... female singer-songwriters. Join us for this special performance at Awbury Arboretum, at the Cope House's tented patio. All concerts will take place outdoors, safely distanced, and all audience members must wear masks.