Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Cumberland County plant and maintain these educational demonstration gardens located on the grounds of Claremont Nursing & Rehabilitation Center near Carlisle in Middlesex Township.
Penn State started a program called The Gardener's Select Program in the year 2000 which was created to increase public awareness of exceptional plants that do well in our area. This program was meant to be maintained by Master Gardeners, and each year Penn State distributed a few annuals, perennials and shrubs to each participating county Extension office for that purpose. Because of that program, our Trial and Idea Gardens were created on the grounds of Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. There were two existing beds on the grounds, one encasing the Claremont sign and the other featuring the infamous wooden bears. The trial plants were interspersed between those two garden beds for the first year. In 2001, a separate bed was created solely to showcase each season's trial plants. After the program was discontinued in 2006, the Trial Garden was able to continue due to the desire of the committee and the generosity of local businesses.
Through the years, the gardens expanded. The Rock Garden was added in 2003 and created from leftover debris and rocks from construction at Claremont. In 2004, the Shade Garden was created to encompass our compost bins and the two large white pines on the grounds. Our sixth and, so far, final garden was started in 2007 as a memorial to the heroes of 9/11 where a Red Oak had been planted for that purpose. The bears in the Native Garden deteriorated over time and had to be replaced in 2006, this time adding baby bear. Unfortunately, again the bears declined, and they were retired for good in 2016. With a new class of Master Gardeners earning their certification through completion of a New Class Project in 2017, this bed went through a total transformation and became the new Certified Pollinator Friendly Garden which includes a solar-powered water feature, a bench, and a Little Free Library.
As Master Gardeners our goal is to educate the public. We host two educational program nights every year, one in July and one in September. Over the years our programs have included topics on how to use your garden herbs, harvesting flower seeds, pruning techniques, how to arrange cut flowers, bats, honeybees and many more. We have also hosted workshops on photography in the gardens and how to make hypertufa pots.
Six Garden Areas
- Claremont Sign Garden--With the Claremont sign and dwarf conifers as a backdrop, this garden showcases a colorful array of annuals during the summer months.
- Memorial Garden--Created in 2007 to encompass the 9/11 memorial Red Oak, this bed includes a variety of low-maintenance shrubs and perennials.
- Pollinator-Friendly Certified Garden--Formally known as the Native Garden featuring the iconic "landmark" bears, this garden was renovated in 2017 with a solar-powered water feature, bench, Little Free Library, and new design of pollinator-friendly plants to become a certified Pollinator-Friendly Garden through the Penn State Center for Pollinator Research.
- Rock Garden--Built from construction debris in 2003, this bed features plants suited to hot, dry conditions such as Blue Pacific juniper, lavender, a variety of sedums, and Knock Out® roses.
- Shade Garden--Under the white pines, a three-bin composting system is surrounded by plants suitable for dry shade. This garden features blue hollies, Prague viburnum, and Russian cypress growing near hostas, ferns, and native shade perennials.
- Trial Garden--Each year, the newest varieties of annuals and perennials are planted in this bed for trial and evaluation. Each January, a comprehensive report is created featuring the past year's trial results. Check out the latest Trial Garden Annual Report on our website in the Resources folder.
Pollinator-Friendly Gardens
Pollinator-friendly plants can be found in all six of the Trial and Idea Garden beds. Native pollinators, which include insects such as flies, beetles, butterflies, moths, and bees, provide essential services to us in both agriculture and in natural ecosystems. But many pollinating insects are facing decline due to human activities that have destroyed and fragmented their native habitats.
You can help pollinators by creating a pollinator-friendly landscape around your home or workplace. Here are some suggestions:
- Use a wide variety of plants that bloom from early spring into late fall.
- Avoid modern hybrid flowers, especially those with "doubled" flowers.
- Include larval host plants in your landscape.
- Eliminate or reduce pesticide use when possible.
- Provide water for pollinators such as butterflies.
- Leave bare ground for ground-nesting bees.
- Leave garden cleanup until spring.
- Remove invasive plant species.
Visiting the Gardens
The Trial and Idea Gardens are located on the grounds of Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at 1000 Claremont Road in Middlesex Township near Carlisle. The gardens are located at the intersection of Claremont Road and Army Heritage Drive.
Parking for the gardens is available in a lot located just across and up from the garden on Army Heritage Drive. Please do not park on the grass at the garden site.
The garden is open daily to the public, free of charge, from dawn to dusk. Mailboxes located at each of the garden areas are also filled with free gardening literature. Enjoy your visit and thank you for stopping by!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in gardening and horticulture, I want to share with you some fascinating information about the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Cumberland County and their educational demonstration gardens located on the grounds of Claremont Nursing & Rehabilitation Center near Carlisle in Middlesex Township.
The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Cumberland County are a group of dedicated individuals who have a deep understanding and passion for gardening. They have been entrusted with the task of planting and maintaining these educational demonstration gardens. These gardens serve as a platform to showcase exceptional plants that thrive in the local area.
The Gardener's Select Program, initiated by Penn State in the year 2000, was designed to increase public awareness of plants that perform exceptionally well in the region. Under this program, Master Gardeners were responsible for maintaining the gardens, and each year, Penn State distributed a selection of annuals, perennials, and shrubs to each participating county Extension office. This program laid the foundation for the Trial and Idea Gardens at Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Initially, two existing garden beds were utilized for the trial plants. One bed surrounded the Claremont sign, while the other featured wooden bears that have become quite iconic. In 2001, a separate bed was created specifically to showcase the trial plants of each season. This expansion allowed for a more organized and comprehensive display of the plants.
Although the Gardener's Select Program was discontinued in 2006, the Trial Garden at Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was able to continue its operations due to the dedication of the committee and the support from local businesses. Over the years, the gardens expanded further. In 2003, the Rock Garden was established using leftover debris and rocks from construction at Claremont. The Shade Garden, designed to encompass compost bins and two large white pines on the grounds, was created in 2004. The Native Garden, which initially featured the iconic wooden bears, had to be renovated in 2017 due to their deterioration. It was then transformed into the Certified Pollinator Friendly Garden, complete with a solar-powered water feature, a bench, and a Little Free Library. Lastly, a memorial garden was started in 2007 to honor the heroes of 9/11, featuring a Red Oak tree.
The primary goal of the Master Gardeners is to educate the public about gardening. They host two educational program nights every year, one in July and the other in September. These programs cover a wide range of topics, including the use of garden herbs, harvesting flower seeds, pruning techniques, flower arrangements, bats, honeybees, and much more. Workshops on photography in the gardens and creating hypertufa pots have also been organized.
Now, let's delve deeper into the six distinct garden areas that make up the Trial and Idea Gardens at Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
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Claremont Sign Garden: This garden, with the Claremont sign and dwarf conifers as a backdrop, showcases a vibrant display of annuals during the summer months.
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Memorial Garden: Created in 2007, this garden surrounds the 9/11 memorial Red Oak tree and features a variety of low-maintenance shrubs and perennials.
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Pollinator-Friendly Certified Garden: Formerly known as the Native Garden, this area underwent a renovation in 2017. It now boasts a solar-powered water feature, a bench, a Little Free Library, and a new design incorporating pollinator-friendly plants. This garden is certified as Pollinator-Friendly through the Penn State Center for Pollinator Research.
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Rock Garden: Built in 2003 using construction debris, this bed is populated with plants that thrive in hot and dry conditions. It showcases Blue Pacific juniper, lavender, various sedums, and Knock Out® roses.
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Shade Garden: Nestled under the white pines, this garden features a three-bin composting system and plants suitable for dry shade. Blue hollies, Prague viburnum, Russian cypress, hostas, ferns, and native shade perennials create a tranquil environment.
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Trial Garden: Each year, the Trial Garden is home to the newest varieties of annuals and perennials. These plants are carefully selected and evaluated for their performance. A comprehensive report is created annually, featuring the trial results.
In addition to these gardens, all six of them incorporate pollinator-friendly plants. Native pollinators, such as flies, beetles, butterflies, moths, and bees, play a vital role in agriculture and natural ecosystems. Unfortunately, many of these pollinators are facing decline due to habitat destruction and fragmentation caused by human activities. To help these essential insects, it is recommended to create a pollinator-friendly landscape around your home or workplace. This can be achieved by:
- Using a wide variety of plants that bloom from early spring to late fall.
- Avoiding modern hybrid flowers, especially those with "doubled" flowers.
- Including larval host plants in your landscape.
- Reducing or eliminating pesticide use when possible.
- Providing water sources for pollinators, such as butterflies.
- Leaving bare ground for ground-nesting bees.
- Delaying garden cleanup until spring.
- Removing invasive plant species.
If you're interested in visiting the Trial and Idea Gardens, they are located on the grounds of Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at 1000 Claremont Road in Middlesex Township, near Carlisle. The gardens can be found at the intersection of Claremont Road and Army Heritage Drive. Parking is available in a lot located just across and up from the garden on Army Heritage Drive. Please refrain from parking on the grass at the garden site. The gardens are open to the public free of charge from dawn to dusk every day. Additionally, mailboxes located at each garden area are filled with free gardening literature for visitors to enjoy.
I hope this information has piqued your interest in the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Cumberland County and their beautiful demonstration gardens. Whether you are an avid gardener or simply appreciate the beauty of nature, a visit to these gardens will undoubtedly be a delightful experience.
