Friday, June 26, 2015

SOME LIKE IT HOT

Join Master Gardeners
for a FREE WALKING TOUR
of the
PITT COUNTY ARBORETUM
 
 
Thursday, July 2nd
Beginning at 9:00 AM
 
Meet under the Shelter in front of the Ag Center
 
The tour leaders will be highlighting plants that grow and thrive in our hot, humid summers.  Tours last about 1 1/2 hours and are held rain or shine!
Wear your hats & sunscreen.
Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susans) from Wildflower Garden


Wednesday, June 17, 2015

PLANTS OF INTEREST

A good place to start your self-guided tour at the Arboretum is under the Greenroof Shelter in front of the Ag Center.  Here you can pick up a Visitor's Guide and see our 'What's In Bloom' display.  This is a sampling of plants we are highlighting this week.  Of course, there is much more for you to discover on your own.

(l. to r.): Sedum, Vaccinium ashei (Rabbiteye Blueberry), Monarda sp (Bee Balm), Solenostemon scuttelarioides 'Colesauraus', Picea pungens (Colorado Blue Spruce)

(l. to r.):  Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan),  Salvia uliginosa (Bog Sage), Echinacea purpurea 'Leuchtstein' Bright Star (Coneflower), Hemerocallis 'Bloodspot' (Daylily), Tinantia pringlei (Speckled Wandering Jew)

Photos by M. Endres

Friday, June 12, 2015

WHAT TO DO WHEN IT'S HOT

What garden chores NEED to be done?  What garden chores can wait?  Of course, we want to keep an eye on newly planted things.  Vegetables need a regular supply of water with generally an inch of water from rainfall or irrigation per week.  Read this article for more information on watering:  HOW TO WATER.

A recent visitor to the Arboretum shared more pictures he had taken.  Don't let the insects be the only ones admiring your plants.  Why not take time off from weeding and stroll around your garden to marvel at your past hard work? 

 Photos by Glen Barnett

Friday, June 5, 2015

JULIA CHILD ROSE

Our Mixed Border Garden at the Arboretum is a good example of how a smaller yard can be landscaped.  By having a variety of plantings, the area feels larger and is definitely more interesting than having single row of e.g. privet, boxwood, azaleas, etc.  It has tall evergreens, deciduous trees, several types of shrubs, lantana, daylilies, groundcovers and even a rose.  It is one garden that changes its looks through the seasons.  The Mixed Border is located by the Auditorium entrance next to the Herb Garden.
This is the reblooming Julie Child Floribunda Rose growing in our Mixed Border.  It is said she selected this one to bear her name as she loved the butter gold color and the licorice candy fragrance. 

Further reading on creating a mixed border can be found HERE.