Create a colorful glass suncatcher using pressed flowers and other botanical materials, then take home a keepsake that captures the beauty of the garden and shines with the light of the day. Led by local naturalist and former environmental educator Carrie Barron, whose nature-inspired projects are designed to sprinkle a little outdoor magic into your home—think beauty, creativity, and a whole lot of fun!

The first botanical prints employing the cyanotype process were made by the English botanist and photographer, Anna Atkins, who placed seaweed on sensitized paper exposing it to the sun and capturing its negative form. Discover one of photography's oldest processes by arranging leaves and flowers on light-sensitive paper. Each piece develops into a striking blue-and-white botanical print. This experience is presented by internationally recognized artist Sam Van Aken, whose work explores the intersections of art, nature, history, and horticulture. 

Create an original gesso print using leaves gathered from the Arboretum and pigments made from the Ambler campus's own soil. Inspired by local artist Rebecca Kamen's ongoing exploration of the resilience of the natural world through her installation, Kernels of Truth. Rebecca's work first brought her to collaborate with the Temple Ambler Field Station and Ambler Arboretum through her interest in the hidden stories found within our tornado impacted soil. Her work has been exhibited internationally and marries art with science in a way that challenges the viewer to think more deeply about their everyday world. 

“Sharing the experience of creating a bonsai moves many individuals to seek a closer relationship with the natural world. Temple's initiative to bring together various masters and craftsmen motivates individuals to deepen their life experiences and to continue endless learning” (Persiano 2025). Bonsai master Michael Persiano demonstrates how thoughtful pruning, healthy roots, and careful soil management shape these remarkable trees. Learn how patience and horticultural skill work together to create living works of art. Michael is an accomplished, and internationally recognized bonsai artist and educator who enjoys sharing the timeless techniques and philosophy behind this living art form. 

Join Ambler Campus Horticulture students in the Beech Grove to plant bulbs that form an ephemeral path connecting the woodland garden with the beech grove. This growing tradition, begun at Amber in Bloom in 2024, and expands year by year — a gift to the Arboretum’s future gardens. 

Explore handcrafted pieces created from trees lost during the 2021 storm, giving new life to wood that once shaded the Arboretum. These works celebrate the resilience of our landscape and remind us that every tree's story continues, even after it falls. Pieces turned by Ambler Arboretum Committee member Bob Dugan. 

Featuring an acoustic guitar duo with Boyer College of Music and Dance Jazz Performance alumnus Chris Dolhancryk and current Boyer Music Education student Patrick Crowling, who will keep live music flowing throughout the gardens!  

Dive into conversation with our professional oyster shucker, who will dress to impress in a crisp white leather uniform and steel mesh glove. Find them roaming the garden and expertly opening oysters to-order, combining strength with artistry to reveal the fresh, briny delights within. They will not only serve up delicious oysters but also share their passion and wealth of knowledge about the shucking process, the nuances between different oyster species, and the reasons behind our preference for oysters from select U.S. waters.