Gallery: TU Ambler Holds Arboretum Tour as Part of 100 Year Celebration

Even though the temperature on Wednesday evening lingered around eighty degrees, the celebration of Temple University’s Ambler Campus’s “100 Years of Academic Excellence” continued to hold strong and beat the heat.

 On Wednesday evening, Ambler staff, students, alumni, and local residents joined together for the “Summer Stroll” tour of the Ambler Campus arboretum, which was led by Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey.  This tour was only one of many celebratory events that make up the yearlong celebration of Temple’s Ambler Campus. All donations from these events will help to support and maintain Temple University’s Ambler Campus Arboretum. 

 The tour began at Ambler’s Administration Building, which is one of the original buildings that existed even before Jane Bowne Haines officially established the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women in 1911. “The Administration Building was built in the 1700s. It is colonial,” said Carey. 

Haines’ school later became known as the Ambler Junior College, where women and men could obtain an Associates Degree in Science. Temple University merged with Ambler Junior College to become Ambler Junior College of Temple University in 1958. A Bachelor’s Degree Program in Landscape Architecture and Horticulture was not available at the Ambler Campus until 1987.

 Throughout the arboretum exploration, Carey highlighted how Temple Ambler has transformed over their 100 years of excellence.  Today, the existing original buildings from 1911 combine with the newer buildings, such as Dixon Hall, to give Temple Ambler an updated look, but still honor those who contributed to its success. 

Dixon Hall is the home for science, landscape architecture, and horticulture courses and labs on Ambler’s Campus.  It was constructed in the location of the old dormitory, which burned down in 1958.  Dixon Hall acts as a gateway to the Formal Perennial Garden. 

 While the Formal Perennial Garden is a beautiful place for tours, studying, and relaxation. “This garden is a nice gathering place.  We also held a graduation party here this year,” said Carey.

However, the garden also serves as a classroom for Temple University Ambler students. Carey explained to the tour group how the garden is “a learning garden for students” and has a variety of plants as a result of different students planting in one area. In addition, Carey paralleled the Formal Perennial Garden’s structure to “the style of an English garden.”

 Not only did Carey guide participants through the campus’ various garden formations, but Carey also paid tribute to the campus’ many female contributors.  Many of the gardens and buildings have been dedicated to prominent female figures, such as the Ernesta Ballard Healing Garden and the Louise Stine Fisher Garden.  The Hilda Justice Building, located next to Dixon Hall, will be dedicated in November as the Hilda Justice Artifacts Collection, and will include many historical documents and photos that follow the theme of celebrating Temple Ambler’s “100 Years of Excellence.”

 During the tour, participants had an array of questions, from plant names and the best time to prune different plants to the popularity of the Horticulture field. Ambler alumni that were present on the tour also shared their memories and stories from their time on Temple University’s Ambler Campus.

 The tour concluded with a forum for questions to Jenny Rose Carey, along with some food and refreshments. Carey encouraged participants to take part in the certificate programs offered on Ambler, as Temple Ambler always “encourages young people to study Horticulture” and others to return to Temple for a second degree.

Temple University Ambler’s celebration of “100 Years of Excellence” will continue on throughout the summer and into the fall.  For more information on Temple University Ambler’s celebratory series, visit temple.edu/ambler.