Sixty trees destroyed after powerful storm hits Swarthmore arboretum
The Scott Arboretum amphitheater and Crum Woods are now closed due to damage.
A wild spring storm last week severely damaged portions of Swarthmore College’s Scott Arboretum.
According to a Facebook post on Thursday, the arboretum’s amphitheater and Crum Woods are closed until downed trees can be removed and damage repaired. Aside from those locations, Scott Arboretum & Gardens remains open.
On April 4, hail, rain, and straight-line winds affected the Delaware County area, taking out approximately 60 trees at the 350-acre arboretum on the Swarthmore Campus. Eight downed trees affected the amphitheater and even more were felled by the storm in Crum Woods, “where staff are inspecting the trails to identify damaged and unsafe trees and working with contractors to make these areas safe for recreation.”
The storm forced the arboretum to cancel its Crum Woods Spring Hike on April 5.
The arboretum’s Facebook post mourned the loss of several older, stately trees, including two Yoshino Cherry trees, a Saucer Magnolia that was in full bloom, and its “oldest and most beautiful specimen” of the Pendant Silver Linden.
“A number of other trees sustained damage when these larger specimens fell, and some of these will need to be removed,” arboretum staff wrote.
Commenters on the Facebook post mourned the trees, too.
“Such a loss of beloved beings,” one wrote. “May the cleanup and stewardship of this wonderful resource continue.”
Many magnolia and cherry trees escaped damage, the arboretum wrote, and are currently in full bloom.
The Scott Arboretum & Gardens was founded in 1929 by the family of graduate Arthur Hoyt Scott. There is no fee for admission.