WINTER SPEAKER EVENT AT ARBORETUM

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

We are thankful for everyone who has supported the Pitt County Master Gardener program.  We continue to maintain and improve our Arboretum with the funds raised by donations, our plant and glove sales, and our speaker events.

THANK YOU

WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP

 Pitt County Master Gardener Volunteers will help you create a wreath made from a variety of greenery clipped from our Arboretum’s shrubs & trees.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2018

10:00 AM – Noon

or

1:00 – 3:00 PM

Pitt County Agricultural Center

403 Government Circle, Suite 2

Greenville, NC  27834

$10 fee (must be paid in advance to hold spot)

Cash or Check Payable to Pitt County Mutual Exchange

Call 252-902-1709 to sign up and arrange payment.

Each class is limited to first 16 people paid in full.

Bring a pair of clippers and gloves.

PLEACHING

BEFORE

PRUNING

Photos by L. Maclaga

In the Fall of 2013 our pleaching project started to take shape.  Three crape myrtles were previously planted to create a natural arbor for our Shade Garden.  We were ready to start forming our 'hedge in the sky'.  Pleaching (learn about it here: PLEACHING) is the process of tying or weaving limber branches together so they may eventually fuse together.  It requires maintenance pruning to keep the growth in check.  This Fall the three trees received a good lopping.  Come Spring, we are hoping for some decent shade when the trees leaf out.

AFTER

PRUNING CRAPE MYRTLES

There is a better way and a better time.

This example seen recently in town does not showcase a properly cared for tree.

Read this article for helpful instructions:

PRUNING CRAPE MYRTLES

Photos by M. Shugart

TRICYRTIS FORMOSANA (Toad Lily)

Here is a close-up of one of the amazing fall blooming plants at the Arboretum.  It is #4 on the WHAT'S IN BLOOM post.  This plant is happily growing in the Shade Garden.  The extra rainfall this year has produced an abundunce of orchid-like blooms.  Click below for more growing information:

TRICYRTIS FORMOSANA

Photo by C. Taylor

EARLY NOVEMBER WHAT'S IN BLOOM

Here are some plants of interest at the Arboretum this week:

Photos by J. Christianson

FRONT ENTRANCE:
1.  Chrysanthamum 'Hillside Sheffield Pink' Mum
LANDSCAPE FOR WET SITES
2.  Tintantia pringlei Mexican Speckled Wandering Jew
3.  Ligularia tussilonginea Leopard Plant
SHADE GARDEN
4.  Tricyrtis formosana Toad Lily
CHILDREN'S GARDEN
5.  Cardiospermum halicacabum Love-in-a-Puff
MIXED BORDER
6.  Salvia microphyla 'San Carlos Festival' Little Leaf Sage
7.  Amsonia hubrichtii Bluestar
8.  Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Alert' New York Aster
WILDFLOWER GARDEN
9.  Gaillardia aristata Blanket Flower
BUTTERFLY GARDEN
10.  Foeniculum vulgare purpureum Bronze Fennel

FLOWERING WINTER CONTAINERS

Container Team: Lois, Judy, Blythe
(not pictured;  Holly & Teresa)

The Container Team spent the past few days planning, purchasing, and planting winter-hardy plants in the Arboretum's 6 containers.  Pansies, violas, snapdragons, dusty miller, Dianthus, ornamental kale, and Coral Bells were added.  Last winter's long cold stretches were tough on our container plantings.  We are (as gardeners will be) ever hopeful that this year will be better!

CLICK HERE FOR WINTER CONTAINER TIPS:

FLOWERS & VEGGIES FOR WINTER COLOR