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 10, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University will celebrate the campus and its gardens at the 11th annual Rhapsody in Bloom. This year's event will also celebrate the founding of the Division of Architecture and Environmental Design in the Tyler School of Art.

"In 2016, Temple's departments of Architecture, Planning and Community Development, Landscape Architecture and Horticulture, and the Center for Sustainable Communities, the programs joined together to become the Division of Architecture and Environmental Design. We are very excited about this transition and the departments and Center continue to be an essential part of Ambler Campus," said Dr. Vicki Lewis McGarvey, Vice Provost for University College and Acting Executive Director of Temple University Ambler. "Rhapsody in Bloom will celebrate the wonderful synergy between the programs, which provides opportunities to combine resources, research and expertise, benefiting our students and further strengthening Temple University Ambler's offerings."

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 more than 100 years! Some of the most accomplished horticulturists and landscape architects studied and taught here," said Crisbel Baez, Manager of Administration at Temple University Ambler, who is coordinating the 2016 event with Development Associate Eric Rivera. "The gardens will be transformed into a magical space filled with music and good company, all designed to support Temple Ambler's continually unfolding history."

Rhapsody in Bloom will include cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, garden tours, music and a live auction, which has proven very popular in recent years. Auction items this year will include a diverse range of entertainment packages, trips and plant specimens

Tickets are limited for Rhapsody in Bloom. Ticket prices are: $100 Friend, $500 Patron, $1,000 Benefactor, $2,500 Guardian and $5,000 Champion. Champions, Guardians, Benefactors and Patrons are invited to arrive at 5 p.m. for a special cocktail reception.

This year, Temple University faculty and staff are additionally invited to attend Rhapsody in Bloom at the specially discounted price of $50 per person.

"I know that there are many members of our faculty and staff that love the Arboretum and want to support it, too," said McGarvey. "We hope that faculty and staff will join us for a lovely evening in the Formal Gardens and support the Arboretum."

Proceeds from the Rhapsody in Bloom garden party and the live auction will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University.

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 or to register for the event, contact Eric Rivera at 267-468-8011 or ericrivera@temple.edu.