Hershey is known as much for its chocolate confections as it is for its action-packed theme park. With its signature Kiss-shaped streetlights, Hershey is also home to some amazing restaurants, the iconic Hershey Theatre and The Hotel Hershey. Last but not least is Hershey Gardens, which stands as one of Milton S. Hershey’s enduring legacies.

“We’re known for our roses and tulips in spring. People also enjoy the great views – we’re perched on a hilltop overlooking the town of Hershey and Hersheypark, and there’s also an amazing view of The Hotel Hershey,” says, Mariella Trosko, director of Hershey Gardens.

The garden’s history is deeply rooted in roses. Milton Hershey strongly believed in giving people in “his” town a beautiful place to live. In addition to carrying out this idea in planning the town, he also designated a plot of land near The Hotel Hershey for the Hershey Rose Garden. The 3.5-acre garden, which was filled with over 12,000 rose bushes, opened in 1937. Since then, it’s grown to more than 23 acres and includes theme gardens as well as a fun and educational children’s garden.

Milton & Catherine Hershey

As part of its 75th anniversary celebration in 2012, the M.S. Hershey Tribute Garden was unveiled. Located at the north end of the gardens, it honors its founder’s love of horticulture and showcases the revitalized M.S. Hershey Rose.  In 1940 the American Rose Society honored Milton S. Hershey’s support of roses by naming a rose after him. The following spring, the M.S. Hershey Rose was introduced at Hershey Gardens.

According to Mariella, bloom time for the gardens’ roses peaks in June. And, there are plenty of roses to see – about 3,500 plants representing 275 varieties including old garden roses, which are located in an area called High Point Garden. A tribute to Milton Hershey’s wife, Catherine, it honors the garden at their home, which was named High Point.

“Spring and summer are the perfect times to visit the gardens,” Mariella notes. Other garden attractions – from late spring and into fall – include the trees in bloom (in the fall, they sport blazing autumnal colors), the wide variety of annuals and perennials, and the herb garden.

Welcome Pavilion

Last year Hershey Gardens unveiled its newest addition – the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory. The 16,000-square-foot conservatory not only makes the gardens a year-round destination, but it’s also the only structure named for both of the Hersheys. The design was inspired by a conservatory that was built at High Point in 1909.

“The conservatory is a recent addition that wasn’t in the original plan for the gardens, but its placement is so perfect that it looks like it was meant to be there. There are panoramic views of Hershey from the entrance terrace and sweeping views of Swan Lake, the rose garden, gazebo, seasonal displays and Hotel Hershey from the rear,” Mariella says.

The gardens’ conservatory features a welcome center for guests, gift shop, a butterfly atrium, and an educational and horticultural wing, which also hosts exhibits (such as a recent regional orchid show) and special events such as weddings.

The Butterfly Atrium makes its home in the conservatory.

The butterfly atrium expands on the seasonal butterfly house that had been located in the Children’s Garden. Not only has the butterfly atrium become a year-round attraction, but its area of focus – North American butterflies – has expanded to include tropical species. Dan Babbitt, associate director, notes that Hershey’s butterfly atrium is one of only 25 in the U.S. that are open year-round.

The atrium mimics a tropical oasis and features palm trees and tropical plants as well as a delightful water feature. There’s even a cacao tree. “It was really exciting to have this tree here. Its pods are used to make chocolate, so it’s a fitting addition,” Mariella remarks. “We can show people where cocoa comes from,” Dan adds.

Walking among the butterflies and having one or two land on you is an enchanting experience for both the young and the young-at-heart. Oohs and aahs abound as guests view the exotic winged creatures – some in bold colors and others more subdued. Dan says that butterfly species in the atrium change regularly and may include the Atlas moth (the largest moth in the world), the brilliantly colored blue morpho, Great Mormon, paper kite or the leopard lacewing. “It’s a unique experience; guests can see butterflies from around the world in one room. We’ve tried to recreate as much of a natural environment for them as we can,” he says.

The atrium also features a chrysalis cabinet that allows visitors to watch butterflies emerge from the chrysalids. “We can now reach people year-round, and that’s allowed us to expand our education programs, including those that focus on the plant and insect connection,” he explains.

There’s even a space called “the bug zone” that features a rotating display of bugs. One recent display featured insects that mimic plants and/or their leaves. An ongoing program encourages children to become bugologists. “Our bug programs have been very popular – people like to learn about bugs and hold tarantulas and gaint roaches. People come here for many different reasons – the roses, butterflies and now the bugs,” Dan says.

Thanks to the new conservatory, Hershey Gardens has been able to expand its programming for school groups into a year-round effort. Financially challenged schools can take advantage of the Share the Gardens Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for field trips to the gardens. Any Pennsylvania school that has 75% or more students eligible for free- or reduced-price lunches under the National School Lunch program is eligible for the scholarship program.

More educational opportunities are on the horizon. For example, the hoop house that was formerly home to the butterflies will be repurposed to become part of children’s programming. Plans also include a sustainable vegetable garden and a display beehive that will be positioned near a pollinator garden.

“Families always enjoy the children’s garden. Kids and adults are often curious about beehives and what goes on inside of them. Having a display beehive next to the pollinator garden provides a great connection,” Dan says.

For Maytown’s Pat Vogel, gardening provides an on-going connection to her childhood as well as her late husband, Bill Vogel. In her estimation, “gardening is therapy.”

Pat grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Maytown. “We had cows, which I milked, and we raised a lot of tobacco,” she recalls. “In fact, my backyard was once a tobacco field.”

When one of Pat’s uncles died suddenly, her father, James F. Johnstin, carved out a lot on the farm where his sister-in-law could build a house. That gesture launched a family tradition of sorts. Building lots were gifted to both Pat and her brother, Tom Johnstin, on the occasion of their weddings. “I’ve lived here for 43 years,” she says of her 1-acre wedding gift. Since then, other family members have moved into the neighborhood. In addition to her brother, Pat’s daughter as well as a nephew are neighbors. Her niece lives in the family farmhouse that is visible from Pat’s backyard.

Pat and Bill met through working at Armstrong World Industries’ ceiling plant in Marietta. “We both graduated from Donegal, but because he was older, we didn’t know each other,” she explains. Bill, who grew up in Florin, was an athlete – at one time, he was a minor-league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers (and got a tryout with the Yankees) and later played semi-pro football. He was also an outdoorsman and avid hunter.

He also had a creative streak and designed their home himself. Bill was ahead of his time in that he designed the Cape Cod with the future in mind, as it provides for one-floor living. Over the years, a family room and a sunroom were added.

Bill’s love of the outdoors was reflected in the backyard, where he planted trees, installed a large vegetable garden and built a tree hut for the couple’s grandchildren. “The trees all started out as little sticks that he got through Arbor Day promotions,” Pat notes.

After leaving Armstrong, Bill became a bus driver for the Donegal School District. As Bill was driving to work one foggy morning in the fall of 2008, he was involved in an accident that left him a quadriplegic. Ironically, the Penn State fan (and long-time season-ticket holder) was at Magee Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia at the same time Adam Taliaferro (a player who was recovering from a spinal cord injury) was a patient. “Joe Paterno visited a lot, which thrilled Bill to no end,” Pat remarks.
After being released from Magee, Bill returned home to Maytown. Pat became his caregiver. She knew he missed being out in the yard. Maytown resident Tom Jones, who was in the process of expanding his lawncare and landscaping company with hardscaping services, offered a solution. He asked Pat if she would be interested in having him build a pergola on her property. He would gain expertise, and Bill would be able to enjoy the outdoors.

Pat loved the idea and gave Tom the go-ahead. Tom designed a beautiful outdoor-living feature that is handicap-accessible. “It was wonderful,” Pat says. “It allowed Bill to be outdoors.” The pergola became a gathering place for family and friends. “Every summer I have a get-together for the girls I worked with at Armstrong,” Pat says.

Since Bill’s death in 2009, Pat has “remodeled” the backyard somewhat. The large vegetable garden has been downsized. “I cut it in half,” she says of the resulting plot that is used to grow onions, leeks, spinach, lettuce, beets, tomatoes, potatoes and zucchini. She supplements what she grows with beans, soybeans and corn that she purchases for preserving and freezing purposes.

The rest of the garden was subdivided and is now home to perennial beds and a water garden that Tom Jones designed and installed. “I just love the sound of water,” Pat says.

Pat was tempted to disassemble the tree hut, but Tom persuaded her to let it stand as a tribute to Bill. Since the grandchildren are grown and no longer use it, Pat has repurposed it and now utilizes it as a storage shed.

Animals also figure into the scenery. Years ago, Bill presented Pat with a goat for  Christmas. “I always said that a goat was the only animal that we didn’t have on the farm and that I always wanted one,” she relates. “So, thanks to Bill, I got my goat!” Dogs and cats have come and gone. Sheep and pigs – of the faux variety – serve as garden art.

Pat always wanted some chickens, and a friend helped her to obtain Henny and Penny, who have free range of the backyard during the day and spend nights in their custom-built chicken coop. Pat is rewarded with eggs that she uses and gives away.

Two years ago, Henny and Penny joined the menagerie. “I’ve always wanted some chickens,” Pat explains. A friend helped her obtain her two Rhode Island reds. “They know their names,” she says. “And, they know the sound of my voice.” When they don’t have free range of the backyard, Henny and Penny spend their time in a custom-built chicken coop. Pat provides the duo with a daily dose of TLC. “I give them hot oatmeal every morning,” she explains. “I got the recipe from an Amish friend.” She also treats them to fruit and salad.

They in turn have provided Pat with plenty of eggs. “I eat a lot of eggs, and I give a lot away,” she reports. Last fall, when production all but ceased, one of her grandchildren suggested that perhaps it was time to enjoy them for Sunday dinner. “I said, ‘Absolutely not!’ There’s no way that’s going to happen.” Fortunately, egg production has resumed.

The side yard is dedicated to birds of another feather. A pathway winds past the sunroom and through the tree-filled area. The birds – cardinals, blue jays and sparrows among others – provide non-stop entertainment. “I feed the birds year-round,” Pat explains, adding that in the aftermath of the March snowstorm, she was refilling feeding stations several times a day. “I feed the squirrels, too,” she admits, noting that 16 regularly visit. “I know them all,” she says, referring to the nuances that distinguish one from another.

As for the feathered visitors, she excitedly shares that bluebirds have made an appearance for the first time since she has lived there. Now, she is angling to catch the attention of Baltimore orioles with a special feeder that can hold two of their favorite treats: oranges and jam. “I’m determined!” she says.

Pat is also doing her part to provide nectar for the birds and bees. Colorful plants abound. As soon as spring arrives, she journeys to Ken’s Gardens for pansies. As the weather warms, she fills her beds and pots with flowering plants from nearby Amish-owned greenhouses and River Road Produce & Garden Center. “I go all over the place for different things,” she says of her plenty-buying strategy. Succulents are a new fascination.

While Pat mows her own lawn, she has come to rely on Tom Jones to do other chores such as prepping her beds and doing general cleanup. That allows Pat to concentrate on her other passion: volunteering. She dedicates her time to Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army (she’s the representative for East Donegal and Conoy townships), the East Donegal/Conoy Area Christian Food Bank (she’s the president), Maytown Historical Society (a former president, she is now a member of the Archives Committee), and St. John’s Lutheran Church (she’s a member of Church Council and teaches Sunday School).

Pat surmises that her interests in growing things and taking care of people and animals can be attributed to “the farmer in me.”