MEET THE PITT COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS

This week you will have two opportunites to meet with our local Master Gardener Volunteers:

THURSDAY, July 4th at 9:00 AM
Free Walking Tour of the Pitt County Arboretum
Led by Master Gardeners
Tours last about an hour and are given rain or shine!
MAP TO ARBORETUM 

SATURDAY, July 6th from 7:30 AM-11:30 AM
Pitt County Farmers' Market
at 4560 County Home Road, Greenville, NC
Master Gardeners will be available for your garden questions.  Look for their table set up inside the building among all the produce and plants for sale by other vendors.
MAP TO FARMERS' MARKET

WHAT TO DO WITH EXCESS GARDEN HARVEST?

All of our vegetables and fruits produced in the gardens at the Arboretum are donated to our local food bank.  Perhaps you have an abundance of crops that you can share.  Rather than leaving yet another bag of zucchini on your neighbors doorstep, why not join us and donate it?  Click here to learn about AMPLE HARVEST  and find a food pantry close to you.

MAGNOLIAS IN PITT COUNTY

Here are pictures of magnolias blooming now in our CPP (Certified Plant Professional)
area at the Arboretum.

Magnolia grandiflora

 Southern Magnolia

Magnolia virginiana

Sweetbay Magnolia

While the size of a M. grandiflora may not suit your garden space, there are others to consider.  Follow this link for more information about growing magnolias: 

 MAGNOLIA TREES

Photos by AS

DUMBO'S EARS

Rudbeckia maxima

Photo by AS

 

You cannot miss this giant coneflower, Rudbeckia maxima, blooming now in our Children's Garden.  It is also called Dumbo's Ears.  As you might guess, everything about it is BIG.  The flower stalks can reach up to 7 feet tall, the yellow petals can be 3 inches long, and the brown cones can stretch 2-7 inches long.  Even the basal leaves which are a bluish-green can grow up to 24 inches long.  It is a summer blooming perennial.  When the blooms fade and the seed heads mature, the finches will arrive to feast on the seeds.

ATTRACTING BUTTERFLIES

If you missed last week's Walking Tour of the Arboretum, you missed seeing this fantastic blooming flower:  The Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa).  This picture was taken in our Wildflower Garden.  The Butterfly Weed is also blooming in (of course) our Butterfly Garden.  As you see, it is also favored by other pollinators.  Asclepias is among one of the best plants for attracting butterflies.  It is a host plant for the monarch, whose caterpillars will feed on the foliage.

 For more information about attracting butterflies, refer to this publication: 

BUTTERFLIES