Scott Arboretum Hosts YDU Families for Japanese Festival

Submitted by Rachel Warren, Assistant Education Programs Manager for Youth, Families and Diverse Audiences at Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College

On Saturday, April 6th, Swarthmore College’s Scott Arboretum was buzzing with people enjoying the springtime festivities. In the Wister Center there was a Japanese flower exhibition called the Ohara School of Ikebana. Outside under the tent children were invited to make their own Japanese flower arrangements under the guidance of the arrangers. They were given curly willow branches, iris flowers and mountain laurel leaves. The arrangements turned out fantastic! Children were also invited inside to see the exhibition and complete a scavenger hunt. Across the street the Swarthmore College students were hosting a Cherry Blossom Festival with free food trucks, musical performances, crafts and activities. The cherry trees were in full bloom and invited families to take photos and enjoy the day! 

Scott Arboretum is free and open to the public from dawn to dusk 365 days a year. Their next event: Come celebrate Arbor Day with us on Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 10 am to 1 pm! Bring your family to the Scott Arboretum and receive a free Carpinus carolinian (american hornbeam) or Chionanthus virginicus (white fringetree) sapling (one per family, while supplies last) and participate in tree-related fun and activities for the whole family.

Special thanks to Eddystone mom Sandy Ziegler, who submitted many of the photos featured on this page. (The rest were supplied by Rachel Warren.)

Jeannine Anckaitis