Gardens like Hershey Gardens in Pennsylvania are wonderful places to visit. They appeal to people for all sorts of reasons. There are those who appreciating the mix of flowers, trees and lawns, while some seek out trees, especially bonsai, and others are interested in the individual blooms of the flowers. And, then there are others who feel the need for a few hours of serenity.
Hershey Gardens is one of several lasting gifts from Milton Hershey. The gardens first opened in 1937 as a rose garden. On the first day 20,000 people came to see the gardens. In 1938 the American Rose Society honored Mr. Hershey by naming a rose after him. The gardens were so popular that additional gardens were added.
When Milton Hershey was doing a site review the land adjacent to the Rose Garden was deemed not suitable for farming so Mr. Hershey turned to Harry Erdman, his head gardener, and said, "All right, Erdman, go ahead, make a garden out of it. We'll make an awful lot of other people happy." When Erdman asked if Mr. Hershey wanted to see a plan or cost estimates Mr. Hershey replied, "No, go ahead. If it gets too big, I'll stop you. Make it look as good as the Rose Garden does, and everything will be all right." Over the next few years 58,000 trees, shrubs, evergreens, perennials and annuals were added along with spring bulbs and later six theme gardens, a Butterfly House, and a hands-on Children’s Garden were added. There is a nominal fee to view the gardens but consider a stay that the magnificent Hotel Hershey on the hill above the gardens and a complimentary ticket to the Gardens is included.
http://sandrascotttravelcolumns.blogspot.com/2012/10/learn-to-make-chocolate-bars-in-hershery.html
Comments
My children and I go to Hershey, which lies west of Philadelphia, every year. The grandchildren go to the amusement park with one of their parents, and the rest of us go to the garden. It is beautiful in all seasons.