Trial and Idea Gardens

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!