Spring Blooms at Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens … Admission Free!
Often described as “the best-kept secret on the Main Line”, Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens (631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon, PA 19333) is a 10 min. drive from the Great Valley House. Jenkins Arboretum is open 354 days a year — Gardens open daily 8 a.m.-dusk, Education center open daily 9-4. Paved walkways through gardens provide vistas of woodland gardens with azaleas, rhododendrons, native wildflowers, and ferns. Jenkins Arboretum is located in a rare remnant of a hardwood forest. The stream and pond provide habitat for a variety of flora and fauna not normally found in a woodland setting. Listen to the sounds and watch for the wildlife that abounds in this natural, complex ecosystem. The 1.2 mile, self-guided walking tour provides a wonderful back trek through nature.
Springtime at Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens
Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens is a testament to a husband’s love. The home and 20 acres on which the Jenkins Arboretum was first planned were formerly the property of H. Lawrence and Elisabeth Phillippe Jenkins, given to them in 1928 as a wedding gift by Mrs. Jenkins’ father B. Pemberton Phillippe. Elisabeth was an avid gardener and wildlife enthusiast and loved the property. As a living memorial to his wife, H. Lawrence Jenkins placed the property in trust in 1965. The Elisabeth Phillippe Jenkins Foundation forever preserves the property as a living memorial to wife.
In his will, Mr. Jenkins directed that the property become a “public park, arboretum, and wildlife sanctuary for the study of arboriculture, horticulture, and wildlife for educational and scientific purposes.” He also stipulated in the terms of the foundation that admission to the arboretum should be free for everyone. The property developed as a public garden and in 1971 doubled in size when friend Louisa P. Browning donated her home and the adjoining 26 acres of untouched woodland. Jenkins Arboretum and gardens opened to the public in 1976.
Admission: Free
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