Along with its neighbor, Ohio, Pennsylvania's governor's grounds could serve as a model for the other 48 states, thanks to governors of both parties. Improvements to the Harrisburg grounds began during the administration of Tom and Michele Ridge, both avid gardeners. They initiated a multi-part transformation spearheaded by an impressive 12-person Landscape Planning Committee headed by Paul Meyer, director of the Morris Arboretum, and includes designers, an arborist, turf professionals from Penn State, representatives of landscape associations, and three staffers who maintain the property. To this day group meets and walks the grounds together three times a year to assess its progress and needs.
The committe's master plan for the 3.5-acre site included four new gardens, now completed, thanks to private funds and some state funds appropriated for security improvements and cleverly turned into garden features:
Pennswood, containing all plants native in PA, both woodland-type and meadow-type, is now flourishing and attracting an abundance of wildlife. Because Pennsylvania's First Families, who live above the shop, had never had a garden they could use unseen by visitors or pedestrians, the Susquehanna Garden was created for them. There's a yew hedge that provides privacy for this small new family garden.
The West Lawn was given a terrace, making it a far better for use of the space for groups.
The existing Rose Garden received a new brick pavilion and its gumdrop yews were removed. The "historic" roses were retained but many no-spray roses were added, including some Knock Outs (I'm told they were one of Knock Outs' first customers), and Carefree types. Companion perennials, including Nepata ‘Blue Wonder’ and Salvia ‘May Knight’, were also added. Sounds lovely.
Those historic roses raise a tricky question for the managers of important older gardens: what to do with all those disease-prone hybrid teas that have been there a long time, in the case of the Harrisburg mansion, since '68? (The White House has its sickly hybrid teas, also, one even named after Pat Nixon.) How do you get rid of a plant that's deemed historic, no matter how troublesome?
LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE'S ACTIONS ON SUSTAINABILITY
Horticulturist-designer-sustainability expert Dennis Rydberg oversees the management of the grounds. He tells me that the top focus of the Landscape Committee has been choosing the right plants - both natives and nonnatives - for their very particular soil (very clayey), so much so that every single plant acquired for the garden has been voted on by the committee. Wildlife has flourished on the grounds and their composting operation is a big success.
The committee has also paid attention to water issues on the site, especially run-off, and downspouts now deliver rainwater directly into the beds. A super-smart irrigation system programmed for 20 different zones has been installed. It's so smart, it knows to stops watering not only when it’s raining but when rain is coming, and the resulting savings on water usage have been substantial.
Lawn care, the greatest challenge to any sustainable landscaper, has also seen progress in recent years. Soils are tested to determine if fertilizer is actually needed. A pre-emergent herbicide is applkied, followed by spot treatment of weeds as needed. Here's what's really surprising and great news about this official, high-visibility landscape: the lawn is allowed to go dormant during droughts! That’s a big step away from the bad old expectations that lawns be perfectly green all the time, and very impressive indeed.
The fertilizing regimen does include application of a synthetic product in the spring to "green it up" for the many official functions at the mansion. I suggested to Rydberg that other institutional lawns are switching to the more waterway-friendly practice of using compost or other organic, slow-release fertilizer, and only in the fall, when they're much less likely to run off into the Chesapeake Bay (Harrisburg is part of the Bay's watershed). Actually, some site managers are even going the route of discontinuing all applications of products of any kind, relying instead on grasscycling (grass clippings contribute nitrogen) and the deliberate introduction of clover, which fixes nitrogen. Rydberg is up on the latest best-practice advice and predicts their transition to fall fertilizing soon. We welcome that and encourage them to try applying compost or another organic source of fertilizer, rather than a petroleum-based synthetic. Again, I wouldn't be surprised if that change comes soon, because these folks are on the ball.
EDUCATIONAL USE OF PROPERTY?
YES. 15,000 fourth-graders visit yearly and the docents are well equipped with plant and garden info to answer all questions. Great, and as the grounds become more and more sustainable, their potential to educate increases so hey - why not put information about the practices and the great plants grown there on their website? And some photos, too, to inspire the public?
IN 2009, A KITCHEN GARDEN
Building on the good work of the Ridges, Governor Ed Rendell recently added a vegetable garden to the grounds. The 120x6' garden was designed by Gloria Day, who describes it as out of the way, not on the regular tour (except during the part of the year when it’s flourishing). Plants include heirloom tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, squash, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, along with a variety of herbs and flowers. Climbers are being trained up bamboo supports using sisal twine. Day's plant choices were informed by the mansion's chef, and the plants - all organically grown - were bought from small organic farms and nearby CSAs. Mushroom compost (an agricultural byproduct in Pennsylvania) was added to the soil on the site before planting. The nearby composting bins are much in use.
In the press release announcing the kitchen garden, it was described as a part of Governor Rendell's commitment to conservation and using locally-sourced food. Produce from the garden will be used at the residence for the first family, and any extra food grown will be donated to the local food bank.
Bottom line, Pennsylvania's First Families are leading the way in modeling responsible, healthy and family-friendly use of their official gardens. The mansion's on its way to LEED certification too - with the help of its landscaping. Yes, with the recent release of the Sustainable Sites standards for landscaping, good practices outdoors are now contributing to this coveted rating of sustainability for buildings. Finally.
Thanks to Dennis, Gloria, and several others in there in Harrisburg for their interest in Green the Grounds and generosity with their time. Photos provided by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services.
