The Penn State Extension Office at 88 Chenango Street in Montrose is the site of several Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens, including the Edible Education Garden, Pollinator Preferences Gardens, and Trial Project Gardens.
Educational Demonstration Garden
The Edible Education Garden became a reality by receiving a grant through the Susquehanna County Conservation District. Donations were also received from Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, Susquehanna County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Montrose Borough, Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center, area businesses, individual Master Gardeners, and friends of the Master Gardeners. The design and installation of the garden was a project of the Master Gardener Class of 2017. The Educational Demonstration Garden showcases eleven types of gardens, seven of which are raised beds. All are easily replaceable for unique physical spaces or budgetary concerns. Other trending gardening styles exhibited in the 1,500 square foot space include a walk-through trellis, sturdy DIY tomato cages, apple trees, blueberry bushes, and container-grown herbs. The garden also houses a greenhouse for seed starting and hardening vegetable seedlings. The garden features sustainable water and soil conservation measures, including drip irrigation, permeable pavers, rain barrels, compost bins, pollinator-friendly plantings, and a large living roof garden shed. The garden serves as a centerpiece of learning for the Master Gardeners who plant, tend, and harvest vegetables for donation to local food banks and senior housing.
The Pollinator Preferences Gardens were established as monitoring plots as part of statewide Penn State Extension research trials to study the attractiveness of select plants to pollinators, including species of bees and butterflies. Three separate multi-year trials monitored Agastache, Helenium, Physostegia, Coreopsis, Monarda, Joe Pye Weed, and Goldenrod varieties.
Penn State Extension Master Gardeners are currently participating in a statewide Grow-Save-Repeat project. These trial plants are in a garden bed at the Penn State Extension office. The Grow-Save-Repeat project aims to show home gardeners of all experience levels how to save seeds from their garden and breed their own unique varieties of vegetables through a few simple steps. The 2024 trial garden plot has Master Gardeners growing, tending, observing, and sampling squash plants for differences in growth and taste while also practicing cross-pollinator techniques to develop their plant breeding skills.
These gardens are located on the grounds of the Penn State Extension office at 88 Chenango Street in Montrose and are open to the public all season long.
