» Outside help: Word is, the most popular trips this summer are those closest to home. Start by exploring the nearest arboretum or nature center.
• Visit Chanticleer Garden (786 Church Road, Wayne) July 17-19 for its annual Summer Garden Photography Weekend Workshop, where Allen Rokach will share his techniques for capturing the most dramatic shots amidst the abundance of flowerbeds, water gardens and woodlands. The former director of photography at New York Botanical Garden will offer instruction on natural light, mastering floral close-ups and much more. Call (610) 687-4163 or visit chanticleergarden.org.
• On July 13, Andrew Bunting, curator at Scott Arboretum (500 College Ave., Swarthmore), leads a free guided tour of the facility. Get a look at the collections, gardens and plant selections through the eyes of the man in charge. Call (610) 328-8025 or visit scottarboretum.org.
• Jenkins Arboretum (631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon) hosts its Iris Show July 18. Sponsored by the Delaware Valley Iris Society, it features the sublimely beautiful flower in a variety of types. Call (610) 647-8870 or visit jenkinsarboretum.org.
