Since its inception in 1996, the Centre Furnace Mansion Plant Celebration has been a cherished tradition, evolving over the years while maintaining its original spirit—a community gathering of plant enthusiasts and garden lovers coming together to herald the arrival of spring, an abundant time of bloom in the gardens at the Mansion.

A Heartfelt Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who joined us on May 17 for the 2025 Centre Furnace Mansion Plant Celebration! The clouds parted just in time for a bright and beautiful day—setting the perfect stage for a successful event. We couldn’t be more grateful.

At the core of this success was an extraordinary spirit of dedication, talent, and teamwork—beginning with the incredible Centre Furnace Mansion (CFM) Garden Committee. Even with the cool, wet weather this spring, the Gardeners planted over 1400 plants! From there, they spent countless hours planning, preparing, potting plants from both the Mansion grounds and their own gardens, and carefully labeling each one. Many of these committed volunteers—several of whom are Master Gardeners—graciously shared their expertise with shoppers on the day of the sale, helping them choose plants suited to their spaces and needs.

A bouquet of thanks goes out to all of our remarkable volunteers and contributors for your generosity—whether donating beautiful plants, cookies for volunteers, giving time and energy to planning and preparation, guiding tours through the Mansion, or welcoming new members to our community.

We are also deeply appreciative of the vendors who brought their own special touch with a wide array of plants and garden-related treasures that enriched the experience for all.

On behalf of the Centre County Historical Society Board of Governors—thank you, thank you, thank you!

With great gratitude,

Co-Chairs: Beverly Lipski and Katie Frieden
Mary Sorensen, Executive Director
Johanna Sedgwick, Marketing and Events Coordinator
Katy Stager, Archives Coordinator

With abundant thanks to the following (the 2025 Vendor listing is below):

Blue Mountain Quality Resources
For their ongoing corporate contributions of service to CCHS and for helping us set up for the sale, we thank the following team from Blue Mountain Quality Resources:
Ginny Lee
Andrea Bechdel
Lisa Bowman
Jim Erickson

Penn State Master Gardeners of Centre County
Many thanks to the Penn State Master Gardeners for being on hand to field gardening questions throughout the day:
Cathy Adams
Tim Damico
Kari Reyburn

American Philatelic Society
Ken Martin

Our special thanks to
Centre Centre Furnace Mansion Gardeners
Frank Barksdale
Elizabeth Betts
Carol and Lance Bland
Susan Bowser
Lucy Boyce
Mike Canich
Joyce Christini
Rina Eiden
Katie Frieden, Co-Chair
Cathy Holsing
Yvonne Gaudelius
Carol & Lee Gouty
Judy Heberling & Michael Husband
Cathy Horner
Chris Igo
Beverly Lipski, Chair
Louis Mayer
Jo Merrell
Ruth Merritt
Carol Phillips
Sharon Phillips
Mark Pishak
Jan Villastrigo
Steve Wheeler
Jane Whitaker

CCHS Volunteers:
Laura Contino
John Dillon
Cathy Horner
Kathy Johnston

CCHS Volunteers:
Nancy Kress
Katie McCann
Deb McManus, CCHS Board of Governors
Eric Miller
Bob Potter, CCHS Board of Governors
Tom Reyburn
Ford Risley, CCHS Board of Governors
Peter Sorensen
Carol Spangler
Annie Hamilton Taylor, CCHS Board of Governors
Libby Taylor
Paula Wilson

Centre Furnace Mansion Docents and Greeters
Elizabeth Dutton
Jude Larkin
Patty Mutzek
Gloria Nieweg
Lynn Royse
Joy Schon

Snack Donations
Gloria Nieweg
Elizabeth Dutton
Libby Taylor

Donation of plants and garden related items:
Frank Barbano
Frank Barksdale
Elizabeth Betts
Carol Bland
Lucy Boyce
Susan Bowser
Joyce Christini
Michele Ebaugh
Rina Eiden
Katie Frieden
Yvonne Gaudelius
Carol Gouty
Judy Heberling and Mike Husband
Scott Heberling
Win and Pat Hock
Cathy Horner
Chris Igo
Beverly Lipski
Ruth Merritt
Carol Philips
Sharon Phillips
Mark Pishak
Jen Veltri
Jan Villastrigo
Jane Whitaker

2025 PARTICIPATING PLANT CELEBRATION VENDORS

Use the Search box to easy find your favorite vendor or type in something that you are looking for. Click on an image to visit the vendor’s website/Facebook if provided.

GO NATIVE TREE FARM

We offer nearly all of the eastern North American woody plant species. Please contact us at info@gonativetrees.com to pre-order!

MEADOWSWEET NATIVE PLANT FARM

Variety of native plants.

FIDDLER'S BEND

Native and pollinator-friendly plants, flowers, vegetables, herbs, and pollinator hotels.

CFM GARDENERS

Perennials and Native plants from the CFM gardens and donations from CFM Gardener’s personal gardens.

THE ROCK GARDEN NURSERY

The Rock Garden grows native perennials and a selection of other flowering plants.

COMMON GROUND ORGANIC FARM

We grow nutritious organic produce for our local community. We are dedicated to the land, nurturing the soil, and acting as responsible stewards in our relationship with the earth and what it can provide.

BACKYARD FOREST

I propagate beneficial trees, perennials, and shrubs which are native to the region and/or have specific benefit to regional wildlife.

THE GARDEN

The Garden is a small family owned and operated greenhouse and farm in Centre Hall. We have been growing to sell since 2007.

DEB'S FLOWER FARM

Deb’s Flower Farm grows cut flowers for all occasions. We specialize in dahlias which bloom in a multitude of colors. Our fresh bouquets are also available May- October at the Downtown State College Farmers Market on Locust Lane.

ROSE FRANKLIN'S PERENNIALS

We specialize in growing plants which attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. During the summer months, we also offer monarch eggs, caterpillars, and pupae.

SHUEY'S MARKET & GREENHOUSE

Annuals, bedding plants, sometimes vegetables and beautiful hanging baskets. 6 generation owned farm with 3 greenhouses.

MASTER GARDENERS OF CENTRE COUNTY

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Centre County will be on hand to answer your plant, pollinator and garden questions.

Photos from the 2024 Plant Celebration preparation and event day: