August 24, 2012
 WHERE: Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Formal Perennial Gardens, 580 Meetinghouse Road
WHEN: Saturday, September 15, 5:30 to
7:30 p.m.
A place of quiet tranquility. A place of healing. A place of research. A place of history.
The Ambler Arboretum of Temple University is a living treasure that provides experiences and resources as diverse as the people who study, conduct research, or simply stroll through them.
On Saturday, September 15, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University will celebrate the campus and its gardens at the 7th annual Rhapsody in Bloom. The event will highlight the rich history of the Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association (WNF&GA), which started at the Ambler Campus and continues to support Temple University Ambler to this day.
Rhapsody in Bloom will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Perennial Garden at the Ambler Arboretum.
“The gardens that comprise the Ambler Arboretum and the campus itself have such a wonderful history and have enriched the lives of so many for 100 years! Some of the most accomplished horticulturists and landscape architects studied and taught here,” said Linda Lowe, Director of Development and Alumni Affairs at Temple University Ambler. “We invite everyone to join us for an evening of merriment and memories. Put on your best garden party attire, and don’t forget your turf-tolerant shoes to explore the wonderfully diverse gardens at Ambler!”
Rhapsody in Bloom will include cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, garden tours and music. During the event Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum will pay special tribute to the Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association whose history has been intertwined with that of Temple University Ambler for nearly a century.
“Throughout 2011, we celebrated our 100th anniversary. The Ambler Campus began as the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women in 1911 and became part of Temple  University in 1958,” said Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey. “This momentous anniversary promoted a thorough examination of our history and the ‘100 Year Club’ was formed. Members spent countless hours poring over old photographs, yearbooks and memorabilia. The results of our work can be seen in the wonderful new artifacts collection in the Hilda Justice Building and in ‘A Century of Cultivation,’ the book I co-authored with alumna Mary Anne Fry and assistance from the 100 Year Club.”
According to Carey, the campus site is also where the Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association was founded in 1914.
“The organization has always been a strong supporter of the campus and its students going back nearly 100 years. This year we wanted to pay special tribute to their dedication to the campus, the Arboretum and its mission to instill a sense of ecological responsibility in our students, visitors and supporters,” she said. “Recently, the WNF&GA raised funds to support the formation of the new Visitors’ Center, which will be housed in the ‘Head House’ of the campus’ original greenhouse. This is an ideal location to welcome visitors to the campus!”
Tickets are limited for Rhapsody in Bloom. Ticket prices for this special anniversary event are: $100 Friend, $500 Patron, $1,000 Benefactor, and $5,000 Champion. Champions and Benefactors are invited to arrive at 5 p.m. for a personal stroll through the gardens with Jenny Rose Carey.
“We would like to sincerely thank our Champion sponsors: Barbara and Phil Albright, Jenny Rose and Gus Carey, Margaret and Joseph McMahon, and Faith and Joseph Tiberio,” said Lowe.
 Proceeds from the Rhapsody in Bloom garden party in 2012 will go to further the progress of the Visitor’s Center, which will be named in honor of the Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association.
Temple University Ambler has a long history of horticulture, landscape design, and environmental stewardship. Established as the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women in 1910 and opened to students in 1911, the 187-acre campus represents a unique mix of natural and designed landscapes. The gardens serve as excellent outdoor learning laboratories for numerous classes and as a source of inspiration for the campus and local communities.
The Ambler Arboretum has a diverse range of learning gardens including the formal perennial garden, an herb garden, a groundcover garden, a native plant garden, a rock wall, a woodland garden, a sustainable wetland garden, an annual trial garden, a green roof garden, a winter garden, a healing garden, and a conifer garden.
The mission of the Ambler Arboretum is to serve as a living, learning laboratory that promotes love and knowledge of horticulture, understanding of the relationship between people and the environment, and awareness of both the need for and means to achieve greater environmental responsibility. The Ambler Arboretum is committed to celebrating the achievements of the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women and preserving the historic significance of the campus. Its three areas of focus are sustainability, the health benefits of gardens, and the history of women in horticulture, agriculture, and design.
For more information about the Ambler Arboretum, visit www.temple.edu/ambler/arboretum.
For more information on Rhapsody in Bloom, contact Linda Lowe at 267-468-8440 or linda.lowe@temple.edu. To register for the event, contact 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu.
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