Montgomery County
Cooperative Extension
1015 Bridge Road, Suite H
Collegeville, PA 19426
610-489-4315
610-489-9277 FAX
montgomeryext@psu.edu
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Welcome to The Learning Gardens at
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Montgomery County!
The Learning Gardens are located on the grounds of the Montgomery County Farm, Home and 4-H Center, Route 113, Creamery, PA 19430 and are open to the public every day from dawn to dusk. The Montgomery County Cooperative Extension Horticulture Department, Montgomery County Master Gardener Volunteers, and the horticulture industry have developed these demonstration and display gardens for your enjoyment and education. We thank the Montgomery County Farm, Home and 4-H Foundation, owners of the facility and grounds, for providing the land and support for this long-term, multi-year project beginning in 1999.
Purpose of The Learning Gardens:
These gardens have been developed as a tool for learning about multitudes of plants, planting materials and hardscape materials, as well as different ways to utilize these materials. The gardens are continually evolving with new plants and materials introduced, plants moved to new locations within the gardens, and new gardens developed. Compost bins, located in several areas of the gardens, are designed to demonstrate a few of the many types of compost bins available.
The Learning Gardens are a part of the Urban Ag-Hort Center which is located inside the 4-H Center. Our gardens are a place for visitors and staff to relax, visit with friends old and new, to enjoy the beauty in the surroundings, and most important, to learn. As each season unfolds, visitors can observe the changes and enjoy the beauty of our Learning Gardens throughout the year.
Main Gardens:
The Perennial Garden is comprised of trees, shrubs and perennial flowering and non-flowering plants.
The Bog Garden, located in the brick planter near the building entrance, features plants that are suitable to moist areas. This type of garden can be scaled down and planted in a small container.
The Herb Garden is a combination of culinary, fragrant and medicinal herbs.
The Butterfly Garden is a combination of perennials and annuals that attract butterflies, provide shelter and nourishment.
The Theme Garden , primarily annual plants, are some of the personal favorites of our Master Gardener Volunteers. The design changes from year to year.
Our beautiful Water Garden is the center piece featuring a water fall, fish, deep water plants and marginal water plants. This garden is surrounded by shrubs, perennials and bulbs.
The Turf Management Demonstration is designed to show different turf grass varieties, fertilizer materials and rates, as well as management practices.
The Rock Garden is located under and around the Learning Gardens main sign and includes perennials that grow well with little soil and in dry conditions.
The Hosta Garden is located under the large tree and is comprised of a large number of common and rare hostas.
The Bulb and Groundcover Garden, located in the circular drive, features spring flowering bulbs and perennial flowering and non-flowering groundcovers.
The Salt Tolerant Garden - the long perennial bed located along the entire front by the roadway was originally established with Chrysanthemums in beautiful bloom from mid-August through most of the fall for two years. Unfortunately they did not tolerate road salt and other problems associated with being located so close to the road. It is now replanted with perennials and annuals tolerant of those conditions.
The Ornamental Grass and Drought Tolerant Garden is located by the parking lot on the south side of the building. Plants for this garden were selected because they are able to tolerate southern exposure and have low water requirements.
The Meadow and Shade Garden, located by the large pine trees at the entrance to the south parking lot, features shade and semi-shade loving plants and grasses as well as those that tolerate wet conditions.
The Universal-Accessible Garden is our newest garden and opened in June 2006.This lovely fruit, vegetable, herb and flower garden is located beside and behind the two sheds and features a beautiful gazebo to relax in and enjoy the many unique and varied planting techniques on display. The Universal-Accessible Garden was designed to demonstrate the many ways gardening may be enjoyed by those with limited space, those with physical, developmental or mental limitations, gardening with children and for those who would like to try something different.
Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State Cooperative Extension is implied.
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