Morris Arboretum Presents a Lecture by Local Author Robert McCracken Peck, The Remarkable Nature of Edward Lear
Wednesday, November 15, 2pm at the Ambler Theater, 108 E. Butler Ave in Ambler
Robert McCracken Peck, Senior Fellow, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, is the author of the new, profusely illustrated book The Natural History of Edward Lear. Best known and much loved for “The Owl and the Pussycat” and other nonsense poetry, Edward Lear (1812-1888) was also a fine painter of birds, mammals, reptiles, and landscapes and an adventurous, worldwide traveler. In his talk, Mr. Peck will detail the remarkable life and natural history paintings of this beloved children’s writer, who abruptly and mysteriously abandoned his scientific work soon after he achieved preeminence in the field. Mr. Peck is the curator of art and artifacts at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, and was a guest curator of a bicentennial exhibition of Edward Lear’s natural history paintings at Harvard University’s Houghton Library.
“I know Edward Lear from his poems and I’m interested to learn of his studies in nature,” relayed Maureen Flanagan, Morris Arboretum member and friend. “Bob Peck is a wonderfully evocative speaker, so I know he will bring Mr. Lear to life.”
This lecture is being presented by Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania in partnership with the Ambler Theater and will be held at 2pm on November 15 at the Ambler Theater at 108 East Butler Avenue, Ambler, PA. The cost for this lecture is $15 for Arboretum and Ambler Theater members and $20 for non-members, which includes a reception with refreshments. Advance tickets are required. Register at:http://bit.ly/peckTalk or call 215-247-5777, ext. 125.
Morris Arboretum lectures are supported in part by the Klein Lecture Endowment given in memory of Dr. William M. Klein who served from 1977-1990 as the Arboretum’s first full-time director; the Laura L. Barnes Lecture Endowment of The Philadelphia Foundation, given in memory of Laura Barnes by students and alumni of her school of horticulture; and the Byron Lukens Lecture Endowment, given in memory of educator and Arboretum volunteer, Byron Lukens and his wife Elizabeth.
The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania is located at 100 East Northwestern Avenue in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. The 92-acre horticulture display garden features a spectacular collection of mature trees in a beautiful and colorful landscape. The Arboretum includes numerous picturesque spots such as a formal rose garden, historic water features, a swan pond, and the only remaining freestanding fernery in North America. A new permanent nationally award winning exhibit, Out on a Limb – a Tree Adventure Exhibit adds to Morris Arboretum’s allure by transporting visitors 50 feet up into the treetops on a canopy walk that requires no climbing. The Morris Arboretum’s new Horticulture Center Complex has received Platinum Level LEED® Certification, the highest sustainability rating of the U.S. Green Building Council. For more information, visitwww.morrisarboretum.org.
Photo Credit: Courtesy, Robert Peck
Photo Caption: Morris Arboretum presents a lecture by Robert Peck, senior fellow of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and author of a new book, “The Natural History of Edward Lear” onWednesday, November 15, 2pm entitled, The Natural History of Edward Lear. This lecture is being presented by Morris Arboretum in partnership with the Ambler Theater, and will be held at Ambler Theatre at 108 East Butler Avenue, Ambler, PA. The cost for this lecture is $15 for Arboretum and Ambler Theater members and $20 for non-members, which includes a reception with refreshments. Advance tickets are required. Register at: http://bit.ly/peckTalk or call 215-247-5777, ext. 125.