Arboretum PHANs
The event originally scheduled for October 7th was pushed back one week due to rain and what a beautiful day it was last Sunday (Oct. 14). Members of the Philadelphia Haverford Alumni Network, PHAN enjoyed an afternoon back on campus hosted by the Arboretum.
Arboretum Director, Bill Astifan treated the group with a short power point presentation in Sharpless auditorium to begin the afternoon. This pictorial journey featured many images from the college archives and some dated back as far as the nineteenth century. The group was given a glimpse of how the campus evolved from its singularity of Founders Hall to what Haverford has become today, with emphasis on the landscape. The scope of guests ranged from Class of ’71 to the Class of ’09.
Hot off the heals of the official dedication of Haverford’s two newest dorms the day before, Tritton and Kim Halls, we set out into the landscape. I explained to the group that these were the first new dorms to be built since the late 1960s. We talked about the obstacles that lie ahead for the horticulturists and grounds crew. 
The design was accomplished by a landscape architecture firm from New York City and installation of the plantings handled by a landscape contractor. Now, we are given the reigns to maintain the space. It poses no shortage of challenges but in time we are excited to cultivate this new landscape.
As we meandered our way up to The Peace Garden, a few moments were spent discussing the majestic trees on Founders Green.
Horticulturist, Carol Wagner informed the group about the history of peace gardens world-wide and how Haverford’s Peace Garden came to be through the efforts of then student, Jenn Weitz ’08. The garden has become a quite sanctuary along a busy route to the dining center.
Our final destination transported the group to the orient. The Asian gardens welcomed the group with a well deserved resting place. A wine and cheese reception ended a wonderful afternoon. It is the hopes of the Arboretum staff that by bringing back alums, the memories of their beloved college and its landscape are being thoughtfully cultivated for future generations of ‘Fords.
