James G. Kaskey Memorial Park – Home of the BioPond and Biology Greenhouse

The James G. Kaskey Memorial Park honors its past as the first Botanic Garden of the University of Pennsylvania, bolsters research and educational opportunities within the Department of Biology, and enriches community well-being by creating a verdant oasis for plants and people.

This month in the park:

A view of the BioPond from under the shade of Taxus baccata.
The large ruffled flowers of our tree peony.
Our stand of Neviusia alabamensis, Alabama snow wreath, is over 100 years old!
The diminutive flowers of Viola labradorica 'Purpurea' stand out against its dark leaves.
Davidia involucrata, dove tree, has unique flowers, whose white bracts flutter gracefully in the breeze.
A brown snake, Storeria dekayi, hiding in the cracks of a stone wall.
Early blooms of Virginia bluebells, Mertensia virginica, come in many shades of blue, pink, and white.
Tulipa 'Antoinette' happily contrasts with the delicate flowers of Brunnera macrophylla.
Ficaria verna, also known as lesser celandine, is an introduced invasive species that, unfortunately, thrives in the moist soils of the park.
Newly emerging fronds unfurling in the fernery.
The foliage of Hosta 'Fire Island' emerges as a shocking lime green.
Summer annuals growing in the greenhouse, waiting for warmer weather to be planed in the garden.
Bleeding hearts, Lamprocapnos spectabilis, line the Main Path.
A closer view of the unique flowers of Lamprocapnos spectabilis.
Fresh foliage emerges around the BioPond.
Flowers of Cornus florida, illuminated by April morning sunshine.
Species tulips, like this Tulipa saxatilis, dominate the Rock Garden.
A mixture of native spring blooming plants, Delphinium tricorne, Mertensia virginica, and Stylophorum diphyllum, amongst a backdrop of azaleas.
The dynamic, twisting flowers of Uvularia perfoliata.
Dodecatheon meadia are pollinated through "buzz pollination", bumble bees vibrate releasing the pollen.
The small flowers of Daphne x transatlantica create an outsized fragrance.
These Illicium flowers may be subtle in appearance, but they have a bold spicy scent.
The apetalous flowers of Fothergilla sp.

What’s happening today? Follow us on Instagram and Facebook