Smart Talk Road Trip: The Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory at Hershey Gardens
In 1909, Milton and Catherine Hershey had an elegant, glass-walled conservatory built to house the tropical plants used to landscape the couple’s home. They opened it up to the public to provide a tropical respite during the winter months. Over the years, multiple conservatories were erected by the Hersheys throughout the region.
A new, 16,000 square foot facility opened in October, featuring “a Welcome Pavilion and a Horticultural & Educational Wing, as well as an overlook and a terrace.” The Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory at Hershey Gardens also features an atrium devoted to showcasing butterflies from around the world.
WITF’s Smart Talk Road Trip travels to new conservatory to talk about the history of these indoor gardens in Central Pennsylvania with Pamela Whitenack, Director of the Hershey Community Archives. We’ll also learn about butterflies and their role in the pollination process with Dan Babbitt, Associate Director of the Hershey Gardens and we’ll explore some of the educational and conservation programs offered by the Hershey Gardens with Mariella Trosko, Director of the Gardens.
Later, Smart Talk looks at the future of horticulture and gardening trends with PennLive gardening columnist George Weigel and Erica Jo Scheaffer, nursery manager at Highland Gardens in Camp Hill.
With Valentine’s Day next week, it’s a good time to talk love and relationships (and flowers) with Diane Brockman, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer of Psychology at Messiah College.
