Now that autumn is in full swing and winter is just around the corner, the cold weather has returned once again. Even during the colder months, Tyler Arboretum is still a place you should visit. Its beautiful blooms may be resting, but there is still so much to enjoy at Tyler. If you are looking for an activity to enjoy at Tyler during the cold seasons and are fascinated by history, the arboretum has plenty to offer.

One way to continue enjoying Tyler during the autumn and winter seasons is to take a stroll around the arboretum and read the educational signs to learn more about Tyler and its history. There are various signs on display around the arboretum year round, but the ones I personally find the most fascinating are the “History Walk” signs currently on display in honor of Tyler’s 80th anniversary as a public garden. It took only a recent visit for me to notice these History Walk signs! These ten signs are scattered around the grounds and are full of information on Tyler’s history, including some interesting facts, as well as a tidbit of world history corresponding to the year that the History Walk sign spotlights.

A Window Into The Fragrant Garden’s Past

On my last visit to Tyler, I decided to stop and smell the roses (literally and figuratively) as I started my stroll at the Fragrant Garden. It was there that I was able to notice one of the History Walk signs. This sign highlighted the history of the Fragrant Garden, which was created in 1949. From just this one History Walk sign alone, I learned so much about the arboretum’s history, local Pennsylvania history, and its connection to a prominent historical figure.

I was fascinated to learn that the Fragrant Garden was originally called the Garden for the Blind and was inspired by a small- town English garden. The original Fragrant Garden was designed to be accessibility-friendly by including guide rails and Braille text. People were encouraged to touch and smell the plants, which allowed for an enjoyable visitor experience made even more enjoyable for those with disabilities, especially the visually impaired. Additionally, various Pennsylvania organizations played a role in creating the Fragrant Garden, such as the Media Lions Club, the Women’s Club of Delaware County, and the Philadelphia Chapter of the Herb Society of America. Moreover, I was amazed to learn that Tyler was recognized by deaf and blind activist Helen Keller, who sent a congratulatory letter to the arboretum for its efforts.

Deepening My Appreciation for Tyler Arboretum

Learning about the Fragrant Garden’s origins and its positive impact on the disabled community made me appreciate it even more than I already did. Ever since my first visit to Tyler I had come to love the quaint little garden that offered a place to sit and enjoy a beautiful view of the arboretum. Now I found new reasons to love it even more. I took a seat next to my husband in the chairs nestled in the Fragrant Garden and reflected on my newfound admiration for the little garden with such a big history. Learning about how the Fragrant Garden was originally designed so that the visually impaired could utilize their other senses to enjoy nature and how disability activist Helen Keller herself had recognized the value of such a garden made me appreciate Tyler Arboretum as a whole even more.

Taking the time to find and read the History Walk signs around Tyler Arboretum is such a fulfilling activity. It can be a solitary activity done on a stroll around Tyler or something done as a family with young children. It can even be made into a game for young children to find all ten History Walk signs around the arboretum! No matter how old you are, educating yourself on a place’s history and its contributions to its community helps to increase your appreciation and understanding of that place. I encourage you to make a visit to Tyler Arboretum at some point during this cold season to learn more about its history – you may learn something new!

Stopping to read the signs in the Fragrant Garden and throughout Tyler Arboretum is a wonderful activity to enjoy while strolling the grounds in the colder months.