SAFETY ALERT: Owing to a fire early on October 27, the area around the Eastwick Pavilion will be closed until further notice. The rest of the Garden remains open.

Loading Events
  • This event has passed.

Curator’s Tour: Franklinia

August 7, 2021 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Bartram’s Garden
5400 Lindbergh Blvd.
Philadelphia, 19143 United States

Curator Joel Fry will lead a garden tour focusing on Franklinia, the rare native plant from Georgia, saved from extinction by the Bartram family. Several examples of Franklinia alatamaha will be in bloom in early August, and we will visit a few to see the daily blooms and the development of seed pods from last season.

John and William Bartram first encountered the Franklinia tree on October 1, 1765, after getting lost while searching for the ferry crossing the Altamaha River at Ft. Barrington in Georgia. There were no flowers present to identify the botanic identity of this very curious shrub. William Bartram returned to the same location on his southern travels 1773-1776 to see the flowers, which he illustrated for the first time. William gathered seeds and plants for his London patron, Dr. John Fothergill, and returned to Philadelphia in January 1777 with seeds, which preserved the species in the Bartram botanic garden.

 

TICKETS:

$25 General Admission / $15 Members 

$2 Southwest Neighbors or ACCESS Cardholders

FREE for student with STAMP Pass

 

Franklinia flower with buds and leaves

Franklinia flower and buds, 8/17/2017.

 

illustration of Franklinia flower with buds and leaves

William Bartram illustration of Franklinia alatamaha, engraved as one of 8 extra plates for his book Travels, published in Philadelphia in 1791. (American Philosophical Society, Barton-Delafield Collection).

 

[header photo: Franklinia alatamaha in bloom by Joel Fry.]

General Admission (incl. Members & STAMP)

Register Here

SW Neighbors & ACCESS Cardholders

Register Here

As of July 30, 2021, Bartram’s Garden again requires that all people wear masks in all of our indoor spaces. To help limit the spread of COVID, please follow the current City of Philadelphia guidelines for visiting an outdoor public space.

All attendees will be expected to sign a COVID waiver.

This is a rain or shine event that will take place entirely outdoors. Please bring rain gear and comfortable walking shoes, as we will be traveling a few hundred yards on foot. ADA Accessible bathrooms will be available onsite. We’re happy to make accommodations for guests with mobility limitations. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out ahead of the event.

 

LEARN MORE: Finding Franklinia alatamaha, by Joel Fry

 

OTHER FRANKLINIA EVENTS:

Related Events

I'm interested in:

Biking & Walking

Birds

Boating & Fishing

Flowers, Plants & Trees

Gardening

History

Kids' Activities

Sankofa Community Farm

Southwest Philadelphia

Water Quality

Workshops, Wellness & Culture

Youth Internships

I'm interested in:

Biking & Walking

Stroll the Schuylkill River Trail or join us for biking!

Birds

Look up! More than 100 species of birds rely on this ecosystem.

Boating & Fishing

Enjoy all that the Tidal Schuylkill River has to offer.

Flowers, Plants & Trees

See what’s blooming, find a favorite tree, and stroll the gardens and natural lands.

Gardening

Bring the Garden home! Shop for plants or grow food, trees, and more.

History

Uncover the interconnected stories of this historic site.

Kids' Activities

Join us year-round to learn, make, share, and wonder.

Sankofa Community Farm

“Go back and get it!” Growing food sovereignty with an African Diaspora focus.

Southwest Philadelphia

Resources and opportunities especially for neighbors in Southwest Philly.

Water Quality

Find our latest data on the river’s bacteria levels and recent rainfall.

Workshops, Wellness & Culture

Enjoy upcoming workshops, self-care, and events. Are you a Southwest artist? Let’s partner!

Youth Internships

Calling Southwest students: paid internships available with the river, the farm, and the trees.