MSU Extension Tollgate Farm and Education Center

The MSU Tollgate Rose Garden is one of the oldest and most beloved gardens on the farm.   In 1987, when MSU acquired Tollgate from the Americana Foundation, the garden was a grass drive circle between the farmhouse and barn. The initial design included large, curved beds that highlighted different types of roses. The garden produced abundant blooms for many years and was a favorite of visitors and volunteers alike. Unfortunately, Rose Rosette Disease (RRD) infected roses were identified on the Tollgate property in 2016 leading to the total loss of the Rose Garden as well as singular specimens in other gardens on the site.

With a generous grant from The Americana Foundation, Tollgate’s Rose Garden has been recreated.  The vision of the new garden is that it will become the spectacular centerpiece garden with roses as the stars of the show! The horticultural practices applied in the design, planting, and ongoing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will promote the garden’s health and beauty.

The new rose garden was dedicated in the summer of 2024 as The Founders Garden, in honor of Adolf and Ginger Meyer, owners of the Tollgate Farm property from 1951 to 1987. With a variety of shrub and perennial plantings the garden now boasts 46 named rose varieties including climbers, landscape, and shrub roses. All roses are “own root” roses (not grafted) and hardy to our zone. Breeders such as Griffith Buck and David Austin are featured.

Many dedicated Tollgate volunteers have provided their time and talents towards the perpetuation of this garden.

To see some of the great varieties planned for the MSU Tollgate rose garden renovation, CLICK HERE