As an arboretum campus, Swarthmore has no shortage of beautiful greenery and little nooks that are perfect for picnicking with friends or studying beneath the sun. Being on campus over the summer for the first time as a tour guide for the admissions office, I felt like a freshman again, blown away by how consistently lush the environment has been across all my tours. It felt like the perfect opportunity to revisit some of my favorite locations on campus and document my thoughts about them during a season where almost every plant on campus is in full bloom.
Tucked between the Intercultural Center and Clothier Hall is a lovely little courtyard, housing two neighboring benches which are surrounded by vibrant bushes and vines. The space is quiet in a way that feels almost surprising, hemmed in by greenery on all sides so that the rest of campus disappears. Despite being situated mere feet away from one of the major pathways leading down to south campus, I find that the courtyard is almost always deserted. It seems to be mostly used as a transitional space to walk through rather than a destination, which is a shame in my opinion. It’s one of my favorite locations to spend time without having to stray too far from the center of campus… but perhaps it’s a good thing that it’s quiet, so I can keep monopolizing it.
The Cherry Border is a contender for my single favorite spot across all of campus. Although it’s beautiful year round, during spring is when it really shines. I still recall my freshman spring semester, walking along the grass revitalized by spring rain and watching the pink cherry blossoms scattering all about. On top of its natural beauty, it’s also home to Swarthmore’s Cherry Blossom Festival (a spring celebration featuring food, musical performances, and student-made craft stalls), which was one of the first events on this campus where I really understood how privileged I was to be part of such a diverse, vibrant community. It’s the one event I await eagerly every year.
The grandeur of the Scott Outdoor Amphitheater is clearly evident at first glance. It’s a location I frequent very often, being a prime spot for picnics with friends, lowkey birthday celebrations, and just a way to be completely surrounded by nature without having to tread into the Crum Woods. I also harbor plenty of fond memories of my entire class year filling up the space, all watching the sun set while gathered for First Collection (a freshman year tradition where all the students gather to be officially inaugurated into Swarthmore). It’s another location that I think is criminally underutilized, especially since the large footprint means that multiple groups can make use of it without interfering in each other’s space.
While the entirety of the Crum Woods makes for a lovely little getaway from the rest of campus, there is one spot I find particularly fascinating. Located at one end of the trail lies one of the more peculiar spots on campus, simply known as Crumhenge. As the name implies, it’s a strange little structure consisting of stones arrange roughly in the manner of the famous Stonehenge. Outside of feeling like you’ve stumbled upon an odd alien monument when first discovering it at 10 PM, the location is surprisingly picturesque, with the stones offering natural seats and the open clearing allowing for a great gathering space.
Last but certainly not least, we come to the heart of one of our campus’ defining features, the Scott Arboretum itself. While their grounds staff work hard on maintaining the range of plantlife around us, the series of gardens right outside the arboretum offices are also a lovely sight, sporting many different flowers over the different seasons. While the Cherry Border takes the cake as my favorite spot during spring, the small goldfish pond and accompanying cat statue are my go-to study spot for the rest of the year. Sitting in the shaded courtyard and enjoying the breeze reminds me how amazing an opportunity we’re afforded on this campus to be surrounded by so much nature, a privilege that’s easy to take for granted until you head into Philadelphia and feel the familiar smog hit your lungs. I hope to cherish these spots during my last year here, and perhaps find even more nooks to settle into before I graduate.
