DECORATING FROM NATURE

Come to the Arboretum this Thursday, December 4th starting at 10:00 AM where Master Gardeners will demonstrate some ways to decorate for the winter holidays using cuttings from shrubs and trees, berries, pinecones and other things gathered from the gardens.

Meet under the Shelter in front of the

Ag Center

Click here for Map to 403 Government Circle

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt

FALLING LEAVES

The leaves are falling and covering the grounds around the Arboretum.  What do we do with all the leaves?  COMPOST!!!!  Why rake and have them hauled away to the landfill?  You can put them in a pile as they are, run over them with the lawn mower to chop them up, or feed them through a leaf shredder.  All methods will result in a free soil amendment.

Click below for helpful tips

 

COMPOSTING FOR THE HOME GARDEN

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

The Pitt County Master Gardeners are hosting a speaker event January 31, 2015.  Peter Hatch will be at the Arboretum to talk about Thomas Jefferson's Garden at Monticello.

For all the details click here for the FLYER 

Photo from monticello.org

Tickets may be purchased at the Pitt County Extension Center at 403 Government Circle (MAP) or at Wild Birds Unlimited (MAP). 

Doors open at 9:00 AM to give you a chance to visit our sponsors' booths and enjoy some morning refreshments.

EVERGREEN SHRUBS IN CONTAINERS

Master Gardeners recently changed out most of the 10 containers that are planted around the Arboretum.  They are now ready to go through the winter months looking fabulous.   When filling the containers, they use a variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, herbs, groundcovers, and annuals.  Anything you plant in the ground can be planted in a container.  The trees and shrubs are eventually moved to the ground after a year or two.  The perennials, herbs, and groundcovers are usually potted up to sell at the May Plant Sale (The next one is May 16, 2015).  The annuals go to the compost bin.  Here is a sample of one of the newly planted containers:

 

Back left, then clockwise: Chamaecyparis pisifera 'King's Gold' (King's Gold False Cypress),  Picea glauca (Dwarf Alberta Spruce),  Lorepetulam chinense rubrum 'Crimson Fire', Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star' (Blue Star Juniper)

Click below for container planting tips:

SUCCESSFUL CONTAINER GARDENING

Photo by K.Whitehead