Visit to Hershey Gardens

by Carol Kagan, Franklin County Master Gardener

Hershey Gardens

Since this weekend was the last for the Butterfly House at Hershey Gardens and the weather was fantastic, we headed out Friday. The gardens are only 1 ½ hours away and well worth the trip.There are over 23 acres of garden including a beautiful Rose Garden of over 3 acres started in 1937.

Only a few of the 5,600 roses of 275 species

Areas include ornamental grasses, Japanese garden, herb gardens, Native American, rock garden, nut and oak groves, and arboretum. The extensive Children’s garden has many interactive stations, hideaways and a hedge maze that is so much better for youngsters than the challenging commercial corn mazes. 

Ornamental Grasses

We headed to the Butterfly House first and spent over an hour, mostly with me chasing butterflies around or patiently waiting for the Malachite butterfly to get warm enough to open its wings. My favorite was the Malachite, beautiful on the underside with wings closed. I’ve included an Internet picture of it open. Oh, I wish I could have waited.

Malacite with wings closed

Malacite with wings open (from the Internet)

Others that I enjoyed were the Julia (Dryas iulia Fabricius), native to south Texas, Florida and Brazil,

Julia

the Great Southern White (Ascia monuste), native to south Texas, Florida and Gulf Coast,

Great Southern White

the Zebra (Heliconius charithonia), official butterfly of Florida,


Zebra butterflies feeding on brown-eyed Susan seed heads

the Mexican Bluewing (Myscelia ethusa), native to Central America but obviously enamored of my blue pants that day,

Mexican Bluewing

the White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae), native to the southeastern U.S. and Central/South America,

White Peacock

and the Atala (Eumaeus atala), native to Florida, the Bahamas and Cuba, and like the Malacite, refused to open but was beautiful when closed. It is their smallest butterfly.

Atala with closed wings

Atala with open wings from Internet

A fun event coming up is the Pumpkin Glow nights in October, geared toward kids 12 and under, costumes and flashlights encouraged. Over 150 illuminated pumpkins throughout the garden and floating. Check the link below for more information. There is also a Bonsai exhibition from October 10 to November 10.

Here’s a sampling of flowers currently in bloom.

For more information about Hershey Gardens

Hershey Gardens

Pumpkin Glow at Hershey Gardens

Report on Stop and Smell the Roses-Roses 101

It was still chilly on April 6 and everyone seated around the plastic drop cloth on the Nancy Redington’s basement floor was looking down. Spread out were a variety of tools used in caring for roses. Redington, Master Gardener and rose expert, talked about hand saws, gloves, weeders, and the all-important bypass pruners as part of the Master Gardeners of Penn State Extension, Franklin County Roses 101 workshop.





Wielding those all-important pruners



President Ronald Reagan signed a resolution into law on October 7, 1986 naming the rose as the “national floral emblem” of the United States. Redington said one of her dream goals is to “plant a rose bush next to the American flag at libraries” and other public buildings in our area.

Red rose in full bloom Photo by Peggy Greb, courtesy
USDA Agricultural Research Service Image Gallery

According to Eric Cech in an Ezine Article, it's estimated that 150 million plants are purchased annually by gardeners worldwide every year and roses dominate the world's cut flower market.

“The first thing I planted …was a rose,” said Rebecca Keller, Chambersburg, who moved to the area recently.

Sylvia Kremp, Chambersburg, asked “What is the difference between the varieties of roses?” Redington and son Jim talked about the types such as old garden, English roses, miniature, hybrid teas, mini-flora, shrub, and grandiflora roses.


Jim Redington shows the size of a mini-floral rose

Once selected and purchased, however, gardeners need to know how to plant and care for their roses. Good pruning practices are an important part of rose maintenance.

“I have a Joseph’s Coat rose,” said Judy Scriptunas, Chambersburg, noting that she is interested in knowing more about how to care for it.



Nancy demonstrates correct pruning method

Redington demonstrated correct pruning methods citing her mantra - “prune the dead, diseased, dying and dinky.” Everyone got to practice on rose canes cut from her garden.



Nancy Redington prunes a tree rose while son Jim watches

Everyone bundled up, grabbed pruners and gloves and headed out into Redington’s yard. She demonstrated how to prune a tree rose, calling out why she chose each cut – “dead,” “dinky,” “dead,” “dying.” 

Nancy and Starbuck prune a miniature rose

She moved out into the yard and severely pruned a miniature rose bush. Most of those crowded around were amazed at how much she pruned out. “Come back in June and you’ll see plenty of roses," she said. "Trust me.” 


Dawn Stinson and LuAnn Munson prune a hybrid tea rose

As the hands-on workshop neared the end, participants were invited to choose a rose bush in her yard and begin practicing with those all-important pruners.

Learn more about roses



Penn State Extension: Roses- The Queen of the Flowers
Penn State Extension: Rose Disease
American Rose Society
Rogers Roses: Roger Phillips Rose ID Site (58,000 pictures)
Lilly's Rose Garden: Fun Facts About Roses