HAPPY HALLOWEEN

A pumpkin story for you:

A SWEET SPOT FOR PUMPKINS

END OF OCTOBER - WHAT'S IN BLOOM

We still have blooms at the Arboretum.  No killing frost yet.  You can find your average last (and first) date of frost by clicking HERE.

Selections by J. Christianson

     Scientific name Common Name (Location at Arboretum)

1.  Bidens aristosa Tickseed (Wildflowers)

2.  Salvia microphylla San Carlos Festival Sage (Perennial Border)

3.  Salvia elegans Pineapple Sage (Herb Garden)

4.  Talinum paniculatum Jewels of Opar

5.  Rosa  hybrid Julia Child Floribunda Rose (Mixed Border)

6.  Canna x generalis Yellow Canna Lily (Wet Sites)

7.  Verbena canadensis Trailing Verbena (Butterfly Garden)

8.  Echinacea purpurea PowWow Wildberry Coneflower (Butterfly Garden)

9.  Lespedeza bicolor 'Little Buddy' Bush Clover (Butterfly Garden)

10. Fatshedera lizei Tree Ivy (CPP Area)

LEAVE THE LEAVES

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'
Japanese Maple

As the leaves are starting to fall and accumulate on your lawn, it is time to think of other ways to deal with them rather than raking them to the curb.  Read this timely article for more details:

LEAVE THE LEAVES

GARDEN HUMOR

MID-OCTOBER BLOOMS

Photos by M. Shugart

Top:  Callicarpa americana (Purple Beautyberry), Erigeron annuus (Annual Fleabane), Pentas lanceolata
Middle:  Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats), Salvia guaranitica 'Black & Blue' Sage, Muhlenbergia capillaris (Muhly Grass)
Bottom: Catharanthus roseus  (Madagascar Periwinkle), Ilex verticillata (Winterberry),  Bidens aristosa (Tickseed)

FREIGHT FARM at ECU

A group of Master Gardener Volunteers and our Extension Agent, Eric Derstine, visited the ECU Campus to learn about the Freight Farm which grows lettuce in a shipping container.  The lettuce is used in the campus dining hall.  Skip Allen, Nutrition Manager at ECU (including managing the Freight Farm), led the tour.  It is an amazing operation.  You can read about the process here:  Sustainable Campus Dining

Photos by M. Shugart

CARING FOR YOUR ROSES THIS FALL

Photos by M. Shugart

The roses at the Arboretum are showing off their Autumn colors.  The Rose Curators and Crew were out this week deadheading the faded blooms as needed.

If you need some tips on getting your roses ready for Winter, click HERE.