Allen Road Gardens

Alcove Garden: Certified PA Pollinator Friendly Garden

The Alcove Garden is next to the Youth Garden, in between the wings of the building on the north side of the Allen Road building. The site is windy and mostly sunny, with some areas receiving half sun and half shade. This garden was renovated to be certified as a Pollinator-Friendly Certified Garden in 2019.

In deciding on a theme for this garden, the Master Gardeners focused on developing a haven of pollinator plants to sustain native pollinators and wildlife. Plants selected for bloom times throughout the growing season from spring to fall provide nectar and pollen for native pollinators, and fruiting plants provide sustenance for native songbirds.

Butterfly puddling stations and a fountain are positioned throughout the garden to provide water sources for pollinators. A rock pile, deadwood, and man-made bee houses serve as overwintering and nesting sites.

The fountain was purchased with a donation from the Newville American Legion Post 421. We thank them for their generosity.

A visit to the Alcove Garden will inspire you with ideas and information about host and nectar pollinator plants that you can use in your own home garden.

Entrance Garden

The Entrance Garden is located at the back entrance to the building, along the concrete path leading to the Extension office entrance. A paver patio was installed right next to the concrete walkway to the door, to improve and enhance the entry into the building. The pavers extend out into the garden as a path that bends to return to the concrete walk. This garden features Japanese maple trees, a fringe tree, 'Annabelle' smooth hydrangea, anise hyssop, and yellow wild indigo.

Groundcover Garden

Renovated in September 2021, the Groundcover Garden is located at the northwest corner near the front building facing Allen Road. This garden features two Pawpaw trees (Asimina triloba) and a demonstration of several groundcovers including epimedium, liriope, mountain mint, Solomon's seal, sweet woodruff, wild geranium and wild ginger.

Herb Garden

The Herb Garden is located at the back entrance of the building and was created in spring of 2013 by the Master Gardener Class of 2012 as their class project. Without the labor intensive step of removing the sod, the garden was created using layers of cardboard and newspaper to cover the grass followed by layers of top soil, manure, and compost to make the raised beds. This method of establishing a garden is good to use where drainage is poor or where it may be too rocky to work the soil easily.

The garden has five sections. The center of the garden features a classical armillary sundial as its focal point. The surrounding oval is divided into four sections, including household herbs, fragrance herbs, culinary herbs, and herbal tea plants. The household herbs section features feverfew, comfrey, and Sweet Annie. Fragrance herbs were selected for their fragrance and their use in dried potpourri. These includes pineapple mint, rose, and ornamental oregano. Culinary herbs were selected for their use in cooking and can be dried, frozen, or infused into vinegars and oils for later use. Culinary herbs selected include sweet basic, French tarragon, and Greek oregano. The Herbal Tea section features chocolate mint, orange mint, and spearmint, as well as Stevia, bee balm, and German chamomile.

Pollinator Garden

Established in 2013, the Pollinator Garden features numerous pollinator-friendly plants. This garden was specifically used in conducting bee research through the Penn State University Pollinator Preferences program. When it was renovated in the spring of 2023, plants beneficial for pollinators were chosen with an emphasis on providing blooms from spring through frost. Bees, birds, butterflies, and moths all rely on plants like these for nectar, pollen, and seeds. These plants can also host caterpillars of butterflies and moths and provide nest sites or above ground nesting material for nesting bees.

Rain Gardens - Large and Small Rain Gardens

Established by the Cumberland County Conservation District and maintained by the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, the small and large rain gardens are educational demonstration areas for both county programs. Both gardens were renovated by the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners in 2019. The Large Rain Garden is located near the back entrance to the building between the Herb Garden and Winter Garden. The Small Rain Garden is located on the south side of the building near the side driveway which connects the front and back building parking lots.

Rooftop Garden

The Rooftop Garden is located on the roof of the garden shed on the southeast corner of the building by the back parking lot. This garden is accessible via the stairs to the left of the shed and features numerous species of succulents.

Patio Garden

The Patio Garden features a sculpture, selected annuals and perennials, and shrubs. In 2021, Master Gardeners transformed this garden into one that features Plants of the Year including the Perennial of the Year (2021 Perennial of the Year is Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas') and Supertunia petunias. The sculpture was created by the campers at the 2014 Youth Summer Garden Camp.

Tree Tenders

Numerous trees have been planted throughout the Allen Road campus including black gum, dawn redwood, hawthorn, and paperbark maple and sugar maple.

Winter Garden

The Winter Garden was created in 2010 and is designed with both native and non-native plants that provide seasonal interest throughout the year. It is located along the long east wall of the building, where it receives morning sun and afternoon shade. The five main shrubs are oakleaf hydrangeas, a native plant with white flowers, beautiful foliage that shades to maroon in fall, and exfoliating bark that is interesting in winter. Two white crapemyrtles provide partial morning shade to the hydrangeas.

Xeriscape Garden

A weather station was installed in 2013 near the northwest corner of the Youth Garden. Weather data for the Allen Road Gardens is transmitted to a remote console and then uploaded to Weather Underground, a weather data website. Check the current weather conditions on the Weather Underground webpage for the Allen Road Gardens. The Xeriscape Garden was renovated in 2023 and features plants which are heat- and drought-tolerant in keeping with the changes in weather expected as a result of climate change.

Visiting the Gardens

The Allen Road Gardens are located at the Cumberland County Service Center at 310 Allen Road, Carlisle, PA 17013 which houses the Penn State Extension office in Cumberland County.

Parking for the gardens is available in the front parking lot accessible from Allen Road and the back parking lot accessible from Logistics Drive or the driveway connecting the front and back parking lots. Please do not park on the grass.

The garden is open daily to the public, free of charge, from dawn to dusk. Enjoy your visit and thank you for stopping by!