- Hershey Gardens
Hershey Gardens (23 acres) are nonprofit
botanical garden s andarboretum located at 170 Hotel Road,Hershey, Pennsylvania . They sit on top of a hill overlookingHersheypark . They are open daily year 'round; an admission fee is charged.History
When American chocolate magnate
Milton S. Hershey (1857-1945) was approached to sponsor a national rosarium in Washington, D.C., he instead decided to open a rose garden in Hershey, PA where he and the community could enjoy it. Work began on the Gardens in 1936. The Hershey Gardens first opened to the public on June 2, 1937 as arose garden occupying convert|3.5|acre|m2. Due to increasing popularity, Milton S. Hershey had more gardens added each year. By 1941 the gardens had been enlarged to their current size, 23 acres.After World War II, tourism resumed and many interesting plants were added to the gardens. These plants include: weeping trees, dwarf conifers, boxwoods, Japanese Maples, daylilies, chrysanthemums and other herbaceous species.
Later in the 1960s the Hershey Gardens met some financial problems. An admission fee was instituted in 1973. To increase visitation horticultural improvements were made. The most significant of these changes was the creation of six theme gardens. However in the 1980s it was apparent that there was still a financial problem in 1989 the Gardens became a part of the non-profit organization: The M.S. Hershey Foundation.
In the 1990s the Butterfly house was added. In 2003, the Children's Garden opened. [" Hershey Gardens: The Cornfield that Blossomed with Roses" by Mary Davidoff Houts. 2006.]
Today the gardens include an
arboretum , The Children's Garden,herb garden,Japanese garden ,magnolia grove,oak grove, ornamentalgrass collection, perennial garden, conifer collection, two substantialrose garden s, and a seasonal flower garden. The rose garden contains about 7,000rose bushes representing 275 varieties. The gardens also contain a butterfly house featuring 300 butterflies of some 25 varieties.Attractions
Hershey Rose Garden:
This is where it all began in 1937. Enjoy thousands of rose bushes making up 275 wonderful varieties.
Italian Rose Garden:
This is an extension of the original rose garden. It is famous for its sunken rose garden and beautiful pilars covered with climbing roses.
Children's Garden:
An educational garden filled with hideaways, play areas, and lovable characters. There are 32 themed gardens within this one acre area. The young and young at heart are sure to enjoy this garden!
Butterfly House:
Walk through hundreds of North American butterflies as they fly from plant to plant. While inside the house, you can observe and learn about their entire life cycle.
Oak Grove:
Mighty oaks provide a quiet and shaded place to sit and rest and admire the beauty of the gardens.
Japanese Garden:
This peaceful garden contains rare
sequoia s andDawn Redwood trees and a relaxing gurgling stream and reflecting pond with large coy fish.Ornamental Grasses:
Enjoy a variety of hardy grasses from
fescuse to giant reed grasses.Arboretum:
This garden includes trees such as
horsechestnut ,willow oak ,bald cypress ,beech ,hemlock s,snowbell s.Conifer Collection:
This garden's landscape features textures and colors with dwarf evergreens,
dogwoods , Japaneses Maples, and English and Americanholly .Mrs. Hershey's Rose Garden:
This Garden features old garden roses that
Catherine Hershey (Milton Hershey's wife) would have grown at their home at High Point Mansion. These roses climb arbors that have been relocated from High Point Mansion to The Herhsey Gardens.Herb Garden:
A wonderful experience for your senses! Feel the
lambs' ear , smell thebronze fennel ,lemon thyme ,basil andchives .Perennial Garden:
From spring to fall there are wonderful displays of dafodils,
rhododendron s, summerconeflowers ,black-eyed susans , andjoe-pye weed . In the fall there are ornamental grasses and bold-colored chsyanthemums.Memorial Garden:
Five flags of the U.S. Armed Forces accompanied by a fountain and red and white annuals pay tribute to the men and women who fought and are fighting for America.
Square Garden and Fan Garden:
In the spring there are more than 30,000 tulips. In the summer colorful annuals, and the fall features chrysanthemums.
Bill Bowman Garden:
This garden is dedicated to a Hershey Garden's director features a bronze sculpture "Knock Out" roses among other colorful plants.
Yearly Bloom Schedule:
April-May
Over 75,000 striking
tulips ,daffodils and other spring and summer bulbs with the perfect backdrop of flowering trees!June-August
More than 7,500 roses along with
rhododendrons ,azaleas ,peonies ,wisteria ,annuals ,perennials , herbs, and shrubs.September-November
Late season bloom of roses,
chrysanthemums , late flowering annuals and perennials, amazing ornamental grasses and plenty of luminous fall colorsDecember-March
Winter blooms such as
witchhazel ,winter aconites ,hellebores ,winterberry , Christmas rose, and more as well as striking tree architecture.Special events:
For a complete list of special events and dates please see the Hershey Gardens Website [http://www.hershegardens.org]
April: Date TBA: Biergarten (additional fee) must be 21 years of age or older to attend
MayMother's Day: Moms admitted free
June:Date TBA: A Day of Wines and Roses (additional fee) must be 21 years of age or older to attend
Father's Day: Fathers Admitted free
July:Date TBA: Butterfly Festival
September:Date TBA: Gardenfest: Free admission
Admission Rates
Admission rates subject to change--for most up to date rates, visit [http://www.Hersheygardens.org the Hershey Gardens' Website]
Adults: $10.00
Juniors (3-12) $6.00
Seniors (62 and over) $9.00
Under 3: Free!
Hershey Gardens Members: Free!
updated July 20, 2008
See also
*
List of botanical gardens in the United States References
External links
* [http://www.hersheygardens.org/ Hershey Gardens]
* [http://www.hersheyarchives.org/Default.aspx?Page=HersheyGardens Hershey Community Archives on the Hershey Gardens]
* [http://www.ahs.org Reciprocal Admissions Program of the American Horticultural Society]
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