In 2005, Penn State Master Gardeners of Beaver County undertook management of two large traffic island ornamental beds at the intersection of State Route 18 and Brodhead Road in Center Township.
Penn State Master Gardeners as well as corporate and community volunteers working together on planting day.
From early summer to the first frost, these beds explode with rivers of colorful annuals and beautiful ornamental grasses. Beds are planned and plants are ordered in late fall, and in early winter, the flower plugs are delivered to local growers to raise to transplants. In early May, the beds are tilled and marked in preparation for planting day, when Penn State Master Gardeners along with local high school students, employee volunteers from several Route 18 corridor corporations, and community volunteers work in tandem to plant between 3000 & 4000 annuals and to mulch the beds in a single day! Throughout the growing season, Master Gardeners work weekly to weed and fertilize the beds and maintain the irrigation system, monitoring disease or insect issues and general performance of the plant selections.
This project would not be possible without the continued support from the Beaver County Board of Commissioners, generous corporate and individual donors, and the surrounding community.
Beaver County Board of Commissioners:
Daniel C. Camp III, Tony Amadio, Jack Manning
Donors for 2021 include:
BASF Corporation
Center Township Police Department
Center Township Water Authority
Clearview Federal Credit Union
Joseph M. Dragonjac, DMD
Michael F. Dragonjac, DMD
Harper & Hodge Investment Advisors
Heritage Valley Health System
IBEW Local Union #712
Johnstone Supply
Styropek
The Tin Man
