Jenkins Arboretum In Tredyffrin Township Offers Tranquility And Beauty

TREDYFFRIN TWP - A burst of colorful azalea blooms at the Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens is bound to lift your spirits after living through more than two years of a pandemic.

The garden showcases a world class collection of rhododendrons and azaleas along a 1.2-mile paved trail along a hill off Berwyn Baptist Road in Devon.

At the foot of a hill, walkers can relax on benches and watch the water glisten in a large pond.

All of the flowers, shrubs and trees are labeled, providing an education to first-time visitors and horticulture aficionados alike.

The history of the arboretum dates back to the love of horticulture between H. Lawrence Jenkins and his wife, Elisabeth, in the late 1920s.

They lived in a house on 20-acres, on what is now Berwyn-Baptist Road. When Elisabeth died in 1963, Lawrence preserved the property in memory of his wife.

Five years later, Lawrence died and gave the property to the community for educational and scientific research.

George Edwin, a Philadelphia architect, landscaped the property for a public garden. In 1973, Louise P. Browning, owner of a neighboring property, donated her land, expanding the park to 46 acres.

An education center opened in 2009. The park provides different flowers and trees for every season.

Tom Smarr, executive director, in a letter to family and friends said he is grateful the park remains healthy despite the challenges of severe weather and the pandemic.

Even in tough times, Jenkins offers a beautiful botanical collection,engaging programming and free admission for all of our visitors,” Smarr wrote in the letter.

The arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through April 30, and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. to Aug. 31.

The education center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The main entrance is at 631 Berwyn Baptist Road, about a mile from Routes 30, 202, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

More information is available here.