COUNT YOUR MONARCHS

Monarch Caterpillar

At the Pitt County Master Gardeners' Spring Plant Sale in May, they sold several varieties of Asclepias (Butterfly Weed) grown from seeds.  This plant is the only one that monarchs will lay their eggs on.  To all of you who purchased one, it is now time to take a look at your plant and see if you have any signs of caterpillars.

Join the Monarch Blitz by reporting your sightings HERE.

WHAT'S IN BLOOM

The gardens at the Arboretum needed a good rain (which we got last night) and some cooler temperatures (which we have this morning).  Here are some plants of interest this week:

CONTAINERS BY AUDITORIUM

1.  Calibrachoe hybrid Evening Star (Superbells)

PERENNIAL BORDER

2.  Buddleia lindleyama (Lindley Butterfly Bush)

3.  Baptisia australis (False Blue Indigo)

4.  Miscanthus sinensis 'Striticus' (Japanese Silver Grass)

5.  Eupatorium dubium 'Little Joe' (Dwarf Joe Pye Weed)

WILDFLOWER GARDEN

6.  Coreopsis tinctoria (Plains Coreopsis)

7.  Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' (Switch Grass)

MIXED BORDER

8.  Nandina domestica 'Seika' OBSESSION 

9.  Abelia grandiflora "Kaleidoscope'

10.  Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste Tree)

PRESERVING YOUR HARVEST

Is your vegetable garden producing faster than you can consume?  There are several things you can do with your excess produce.
1)  Donate to a local food bank
2)  Donate to a community soup kitchen
3)  Can it

If you want to learn how to can, the Pitt County Extension is offering classes.  The next one is July 25th.  Call 52-902-1714 to register.  More information can be found at this link:  CANNING WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNERS 

GROUP TOURS

We recently had a scheduled tour for a group of students in the Upward Bound Program in Sampson County.  Unfortunately, a severe thunder & lightning storm hit shorty before the tour was to begin and we had to cancel.  They weren't able to reschedule at this time, but hope to see them sometime in the future.

If you would like to schedule a group tour, please call our Info Line at 252-902-1705 and the Master Gardener Volunteers will work with you to set a date and type of tour theme you are looking for.

BUTTERFLY HIGHWAY

Our Perennial Border is part of the Butterfly Highway.  It wraps around the Ag Center.  Now is a great time to visit the Arboretum.  There is a lot of blooming going on.

A partial view of our Butterfly Highway
(Perennial Border)

MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS AT FARMERS' MARKET

Bring your garden questions to the Farmers' Market this morning.  Pitt County Master Gardener Volunteers will be there from 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM.

4560 County Home Road

Greenville, NC