Tour idea gardens, pollinator plants and Lancaster County’s top flowers at this free site [photos] | Home & Garden

Lancaster County’ hidden-in-plain-sight research farm has rows of flower trials, idea gardens filled with vegetables, native plants, butterfly-friendly plants and more. Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 1446 Auction Road, Landisville, is open daily, dawn to dusk through Aug. 31. Penn State Extension also has monthly open houses (like this one held in July) to meet the people behind the plants.

The next open houses are:

Saturday, Aug. 16, 9 a.m. to noon, with a focus on pollinator gardens (plus a chance to buy pollinator plants.)Tuesday, Sept. 16, 9 a.m. to noon, with a focus on native plants and winter garden prep.

The sessions are free. Registration (at lanc.news/SOpenHouse25) is appreciated.

Close

Idea Gardens were also open to visitors at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Potager Gardens were available to visitors at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project highlighted a variety of flowering plants all labeled and available for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

A variety of flowers could be observed at the Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project. Plants were labeled for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Penn State Flower Trials were also open to the public. The Open House event was held on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

A variety of flowers could be observed at the Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project. Plants were labeled for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Penn State Flower Trials were also open to the public. The Open House event was held on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

A variety of flowers could be observed at the Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project. Plants were labeled for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Guided tours were led by Extension Educator, Krystal Snyder. She explained the process behind the Penn State Flower Trials. The Open House event was held on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

A variety of flowers could be observed at the Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project. Plants were labeled for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Vegetable gardens were also available to observe at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

A variety of flowers could be observed at the Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project. Plants were labeled for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Penn State Flower Trials were also open to the public. The Open House event was held on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

An Open House event was held on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Penn State Flower Trials were also open to the public. The Open House event was held on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Visitors were invited to take guided tours of the Penn State Flower Trials during the Open House event, held on July 17, 2025, at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

A variety of flowers could be observed at the Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project. Plants were labeled for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Raised Gardens were also open to visitors at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Jan Stone, Melissa Front, Sue Hynicker, and Mary Boulanger were available to share their vegetable knowledge at the Idea Gardens.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Many beautiful flowers were present in the Idea Gardens for visitors to observe at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Idea Gardens were also open to visitors at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Potager Gardens were available to visitors at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project highlighted a variety of flowering plants all labeled and available for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

A variety of flowers could be observed at the Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project. Plants were labeled for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Penn State Flower Trials were also open to the public. The Open House event was held on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

A variety of flowers could be observed at the Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project. Plants were labeled for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Penn State Flower Trials were also open to the public. The Open House event was held on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

A variety of flowers could be observed at the Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project. Plants were labeled for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Guided tours were led by Extension Educator, Krystal Snyder. She explained the process behind the Penn State Flower Trials. The Open House event was held on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

A variety of flowers could be observed at the Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project. Plants were labeled for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Vegetable gardens were also available to observe at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

A variety of flowers could be observed at the Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project. Plants were labeled for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Penn State Flower Trials were also open to the public. The Open House event was held on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

An Open House event was held on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Penn State Flower Trials were also open to the public. The Open House event was held on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Visitors were invited to take guided tours of the Penn State Flower Trials during the Open House event, held on July 17, 2025, at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

A variety of flowers could be observed at the Bees, Bugs, & Blooms Project. Plants were labeled for observation at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Raised Gardens were also open to visitors at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Jan Stone, Melissa Front, Sue Hynicker, and Mary Boulanger were available to share their vegetable knowledge at the Idea Gardens.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online

Many beautiful flowers were present in the Idea Gardens for visitors to observe at the Open House event on July 17th, 2025 at the Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

HEATHER MYER I For LNP/Lancaster Online