Garden photos through the seasons by Richard Ellis of Carlisle, Pa

The mansion garden is maintained by the Penn State Master Gardeners in Cumberland County and Friends of Kings Gap volunteers at the Kings Gap Mansion Area. The garden includes a pond full of wildlife, herb gardens, grassy meadows, and native woodland plantings.

The garden, surrounded by a low stone wall, was used by the original owners of Kings Gap to raise vegetables. Restoration of this site began in January 1992 by the Master Gardeners. The goal of this project is to establish an educational garden that will inspire and teach about the benefits of plants.

The garden is divided into three educational areas. The herb garden displays beds of coloring, cooking, fragrant and healing herbs. The wildlife habitat garden uses native plants in a meadow, pond, woodland and shrub border habitat to demonstrate how a wildlife habitat can be created in a “backyard.” Finally, a compost demonstration garden sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Land Recycling and Waste Management provides examples of seven different composting methods.

Here’s a map of the garden to help you explore!

Penn State Master Gardeners in Cumberland County

Penn State Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by Penn State Cooperative Extension. Their mission is to support Penn State Cooperative Extension by utilizing research-based information to educate the public on best practices in consumer horticulture and environmental stewardship. More information about programs sponsored by Penn State Master Gardeners in Cumberland County is available online.