Whenever we drive by, we try to stop and visit. If you have American Rose Society membership and have your membership card with you, entry is free with the reciprocal gardens set up. (Also good for Morris Arboreteum, just an hour east) Generally, for a first visit, I'd aim for first bloom. But that depends on winter not being a killer (and we don't know yet what winter will be.) Must sees are the classic arches at the base of the garden bedecked with either Dr. W. van Fleet or New Dawn. The roses around the pond looked much better last year than in previous years, some rosarian/gardener has been working with all of those Red Fountains. They have mass plantings of modern roses and a few old roses (outside the pay area) in shade in what's called "Mrs. Hershey's Garden." They do have a butterfly house in the rose garden and they destroyed the Old Rose area and built a child's something or other on top of it; as of last June, the Old Roses hadn't been replanted anywhere. Their gardens are evolving. They used to have masses of minis; I didn't see them in June. In the fall of 2004 and 2005, they had problems with rust on most of their roses. I don't know if the rust is under control or not. Our visit in 2007 was the very last week of June and seemed to hit first bloom fairly well (although they were still replanting beds that had been destroyed by winter.)

Well...we have the kiddy to think about too so we usually do "family" things. We usually pick a spot and then I send away for brochures and then everyone gets to pick at least one thing they'd like to do there. Last year we went to Tenn. Hubby picked white water rafting, which was funny because we'd never been before, he can't swim and the guide drove us into a rock which flipped hubby out of the boat. Thank god for shallow streams and life vests! But he wasn't hurt and we still had a good time. We were thinking of Hershey because of the chocolate tour threw the factory plus they have an amusement park right there and a zoo. I dunno. Sounds fun to us. One of these days when the grandkid goes off, we plan on taking some more "adult" vaca's. We went to New Orleans once and Niagra Falls once. We've been to the Dells 3 times. If only we'd know what you guys call us! LOL Val

Thanks for the info. I live near Altoona and called all over trying to find CGM. Tyrone milling has it. ItÂs labeled as Milecks Aqua feed. Scott

My veggie garden, my wife's flower gardens are the most favorite places I want to be. Right now they look like winter stuff, I'll post pics when their up. We have an Indian corn grinder ( a piece of stone weighing about 4-500 lbs in the center, next to a 50+ year old Lilac bush, our deck is covered with wisteria, Virginia creeper, and grape vines. a Bartlet pear tree growing in the middle of the deck 50+ years old, 10 or so bluebird houses rented by house and carolina wrens. (hopefully) No place I would rather be