Have Gardening Questions?

Pitt County Master Gardeners will be at the Farmer's Market* this Saturday, July 2nd, from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM.  You can find them outside under the canopy.  Stop by to have them help you solve any gardening problems you have.  They are giving away free cosmos seeds!

Cosmos sulphureus

 Here is a short article about: COSMOS

*Pitt County Farmer's Market

4560 County Home Road, Greenville 

POLLINATOR WEEK

About 1/3 of the food we eat is pollinated by bees, butterflies, wasps, and flies.  This week has been designated as 'National Pollinator Week.'  But we gardeners know that inviting pollinators into your garden is an ongoing process.  Take some time to put some flowering plants in your gardens.  Here is a great article to get you started:

 NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK

 

The perennial plant pictured is Verbena bonariensis.  It is commonly called Tall Verbena as it will grow 3-6 ft. tall.  However it is only the long flower stems that shoot up to that height, giving it a see-through, airy quality.  As you can see, it attracts many of our pollinators.  If left to go to seed, the goldfinches will enjoy them in the fall.

 

 

SUMMER BLOOMS

This week at the Arboretum you will see these plants in full bloom:

Photos by M. Endres

Top:
ROSE GARDEN:
1. Rosa 'Ballerina'  Hybrid Musk Rose
BUTTERFLY GARDEN: 
2. Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum' (Bronze Fennel)
CPP Row 2
3. Hydrangea macrophylla
4. Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon)
CHILDREN'S GARDEN
5. Rudbeckia maxima (Dumbo's Ear Coneflower)

Bottom:
LANDSCAPE FOR WET SITES:
6. Canna x generalis
7. Ligularia tussilaginea (Leopard Plant)
8. Tinantia pringlei (Mexican Speckled Wandering Jew)
PERENNIAL BORDER:
9. Echinacea 'Evan Saul' Big Sky Sundown (Coneflower)
MIXED BORDER
10. Lantana camara "Miss Huff'

WHAT'S IN BLOOM

Here's another collection of beautiful blooms to enjoy.  If you are looking for plants that do well in our area, the Arboretum ought to be your first stop before you shop.  You will find everything from trees, shrubs, roses, perennials, herbs, vegetables, and even some annuals.  Stop by from dawn to dusk.  Pick up a guide under the shelter in front of the Ag Center to begin your visit.  This display will greet you:

Photos by M. Endres

Top

HERB GARDEN

1.  Salvia uliginosa (Bog Sage)

2.  Ruta graveolens  (Rue)

3. Ocimum basilicum (Cinnamon Basil)

PERENNIAL BORDER

4. Stokesia laevis 'Blue Danube' (Stokes Aster)

CONTAINER

5.  Cleome hybrid Senorita Mi Amor (Spider Flower)

Bottom

CHILDREN'S GARDEN

6. Rudbeckia hirta (Black Eyed Susan)

7. Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue'

PERENNIAL BORDER

8. Monarda (Bee Balm)

9. Astilbe x arendsii (Goat's Beard)

10. Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower           

MASTER GARDENERS AT FARMER'S MARKET

Bring your gardening questions to the Master Gardeners' Table at the Farmer's Market on County Home Road.  They will be there this Saturday (6/4) from 7:30-11:30 AM.  Look for them under the tent!

WHAT'S IN BLOOM

Rain and sunshine have made the Arboretum a mass of blooming plants.  This is just a small sample of what you will see this week.  There are picnic tables and walking trails to make a trip out worth your while.

Photos by M. Endres

Top l. to r.
PERENNIAL BORDER
1.  Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky' Shasta Daisy
CHILDREN'S GARDEN
2.  Achellia 'Moonshine' Yarrow
BUTTERFLY GARDEN
3.  Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies'
PERENNIAL BORDER
4.  Stokesia laevis 'Blue Danube' Stokes Aster
ROSE GARDEN
5.  Rosa 'WEKfrancoly'  'In the Mood' Tea Rose
Bottom l. to r.
AG CENTER FRONT BED
6.  Lantana camara 'Granny's Backyard'
CHILDREN'S GARDEN
7.  Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue'
HERB GARDEN
8.  Hypericum perforatum St. John's Wort
PERENNIAL BORDER
9.  Astilbe x arendsii Goat's Beard
CHILDREN'S GARDEN
10.  Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan