Bartram’s Garden is the oldest surviving botanical garden in North America. Located in an urban neighborhood, it is a gem of nature that may seem incongruous to first-time visitors. In the 1720s, botanist John Bartram built a stone house overlooking the Schuylkill River, and began farming the 107 acres of land around it. In his spare time, Bartram followed his interest in native plant species, and traveled widely collecting plants and seeds from as far north as Nova Scotia to the southern tip of Florida, founding a botanical garden in the five acre plot between the house and the river and developing a nursery that sold native plants and corresponded with other botanists on both sides of the Atlantic, To this day, Bartram’s Garden is one of the most accessible places to visit nature close to the neighborhoods of Philadelphia.

Bartram's Garden: The Seasons is an exhibition of photographs taken by Robert G. Smith on his walks through Bartram’s Garden. Come join us for the opening reception on Saturday, August 8 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. The exhibit will be up through early November, 2026 with regular gallery hours on weeknights and during all Studio 34 Arts and Fringe Festival events.

Bartram's Garden: The Seasons

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 8, 5:00–7:00 PM

Gallery Hours: M–F, 5:00–7:30 PM

and during Studio 34's arts events (click here for our upcoming schedule)

Accessibility Note: Studio 34 is located on the second floor up a long flight of stairs.

Contact the host of Bartram's Garden: The Seasons