Thursday, March 30, 2017

PLANT SALE UPDATE

A recent workday at the Arboretum found Master Gardener Volunteers digging up plants to divide and pot up for our May 20th Plant Sale.  Also included is the all important task of correctly labeling all the plants before they are sent off to our Holding Area.  They will be tended to over the next weeks as they establish some healthy roots.  We are looking to have a nice variety of plants again this year.  Last year we had over 3,000 plants for sale and our goal is to meet and exceed that number!

You can find some tips here:  DIVIDING PERENNIALS

Photos by R. Davis

Thursday, March 23, 2017

SPRING CHORES FOR SPRING FLOWERING BULBS

Have your daffodils, hyacinths, and crocus finished blooming?  The only thing you need to do is to cut off the faded flower head.  Leave the leaves, though.  This is where the plant gets its energy to store up food for next year's blooms.  Don't braid them either.  Just let them fade to yellow and then remove them.  If you noticed that you had fewer blooms this year, it may be time to divide the bulbs.  Once the foliage has turned yellow, you can dig the bulbs up and replant immediately or store in a cool, dry place over the summer for replanting in the fall.  Here's an article with more information:

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

LATE WINTER COLOR IN THE GARDEN

Yes, it's cold.  But you can always find something to admire at the Arboretum:
Foliage, bulbs, flowering trees, early blooming perennials.

3Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’  (Large Cup Daffodil)
         and Akebia quinata (Chocolate Vine) from the Childen's Garden

4.  Nandina domestica ‘Seika'  Obsession Nandina from the  Memorial Garden



8.  Verbena canadensis  'Homestead Purple' Verbena (trailing)  from the Butterfly Garden

9.  Osmanthus heterophyllus  (Holly Tree Olive)  from the CPP area

10.  Cereis chinensis ‘Avondale’  (Chinese Redbud) from the Butterfly Garden

Photos by H. Wilson


Monday, March 6, 2017

PRUNING 101 WORKSHOP

MARCH 11th
Saturday
10:00 AM - NOON

PITT COUNTY AGRICULTURAL CENTER
403 GOVERNMENT CIRCLE, GREENVILLE

Join Eric Derstine and the Pitt County Master Gardeners to learn about the different tools used for pruning, how to use them, and how to keep them maintained.  Pruning demonstrations will be done throughout the Arboretum.

Call 252-902-1705 to register.
  FREE!  




Friday, March 3, 2017

WILDFLOWER OF THE YEAR

Eutrochium fistulosum
It's time to get your free seeds from the North Carolina Botanical Garden and the Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc. who co-sponsor the North Carolina Wildflower of the Year program. Their aim is to promote an attractive plant that is native to the southeastern United States.
To receive a brochure and seeds of the current North Carolina Wildflower of the Year send a self-addressed, stamped business-letter envelope to:
2017 NCWFOY
North Carolina Botanical Garden
Campus Box 3375, UNC-CH
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3375


Read more about Eutrochium fistulosum (Hollow-stem Joe Pye Weed) by clicking HERE.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

MASTER GARDENERS AT HOME & LIVING EXPO

Stop by their booth to get your garden questions answered and find out what is new at the Pitt County Arboretum.
Saturday, March 4th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
at the Greenville Convention Center

Clock here for more information about the EXPO