The Pitt County Arboretum

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News

NEW BLOG: Come visit the Arboretum’s new Vegetable Garden

What's in Bloom: Week of November 27, 2023: Evergreens in the Walking Garden

Announcing the Welcome Garden

Story by Lisa W. and Judy P., photos by Susann C., Pitt County Extension County Master Gardener Volunteers
Some refer to it as the ‘front garden,’ ‘building-entrance garden,’ and ‘Ag Center Garden.’ Over the past year, this garden has experienced a reawakening in the hands of its two co-curators, Lisa W. and Judy P., both master gardeners at the Pitt County Arboretum. The garden is now formally named ‘The Welcome Garden.’

Beautiful large containers filled with succulents, grasses, tall twigs and flowering plants front the round columns leading to the Agricultural Center’s entrance.

Entrance to the Agricultural Center.

The co-curators water one of the large containers leading up to the building entrance.

The two curators added dozens of shrubs and low-growing plants, including Cryptomeria japonica (Globosa Nana), Cephalotaxus harringtonia (Prostrate Plum Yew), Buddleia davidii ‘Pugster Blue,’ Spirea japonica ‘Double Play Candy Corn,’ Spirea japonica ‘Gold Mound,’ Continus coggygria (‘Winecraft Black’ Smokebush), Ligustrum sinese ‘Sunshine’ and Cornus serica (‘Arctic Fire’ Red Twig Dogwood).

The plants bloom at different times, providing notes of interest throughout the year.

Judy and Lisa check to see if the bed of Chrysanthemum rubellum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ needs watering.

500 people visit The Haunted Forest

Story and photos by Bob C., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
Once a year, when a blood moon rises on all hallow's eve, a haunted forest appears in the mist. It's filled with goblins, ghosts, witches, vampires and graveyards. On October 31, more than 500 spectators visted the Arboretum's haunted forest, enjoying a spooktacular walk through this enchanted woods.
Pitt County Master Gardener Volunteers created family fun along the Walking Garden of the Pitt County Arboretum.

Ghosts rise from the graveyard to party all night by the witch's caldron.

Be careful near the haunted trees. Spiders have spun their webs to catch the unwary.

Northside Plant Walks increase knowledge of plant selection knowledge for home landscapes and
native plant species

Story by Susann C. and Matt S., photo by Cindy C.
Between April and October, more than 130 garden enthusiasts participated in the seven Northside Plant Walks organized and guided by Matt Stevens, Pitt County Extension Director & Horticulture Agent. Most participants came from Pitt County, while some drove from neighboring counties such as Beaufort, Bertie, and Martin. One-third of participants attended two or more plant walks.

“I designed the Northside Plant Walks as a way to tour the Arboretum in a unique way with each visit. Rather than a stock tour that would be identical for every group, each monthly plant walk had a different theme and a new group of plants, making each one a totally new experience,” says Matt.

“Many attendees came for multiple walks. In choosing the themes and the plants discussed, my goals were to introduce the attendees to plants that they were not already familiar with and also teach them something new about those plants that they did know. With more knowledge about what plants are best suited for certain landscape design styles and environmental conditions, gardeners can make better selections about the plants they choose for their landscapes,” he explains.

Participants were asked to complete a survey about their experiences. Eighty-five percent said the tours helped improve their knowledge about selecting appropriate plants for their home landscapes, while seventy-seven percent said they increased their knowledge about native plant species in particular. As a result, more than half of attendees said they had made or would make changes to their plant selection habits and increase their use of native plants due to the plant-walk series. Additional impacts of the series included an increase in knowledge of pest management and pruning strategies.

The talks were free, but some participants offered volunteer donations. “There’s a lock box on a side post near the plant racks. When we opened the lock box a few months ago, we discovered a treasure trove of coins, bills, soil, and seeds. Northside Plant Walks are free and provided as a community service. That said, all contributions are welcome and will be used to enhance the Arboretum,” says the director. Buoyed by the popularity of this year’s inaugural walks, Matt plans to offer more unique Northside Plant Walks in 2024.

Registration opens for Wreath Making Workshop

The always-popular annual Wreath Making Workshop has been scheduled for Monday, December 11 from 10 a.m. – 12 noon at the Pitt County Agricultural Center. With guidance from Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, participants will have the opportunity to create their one-of-a-kind wreath using a variety of greens and berries from the Arboretum’s shrubs and trees.

Cost of the workshop is $20 per person. To sign up and pay for your spot, call 252-902-1709. The workshop is limited to the first 24 people who call and pay in full.

Pollinators fly high at Pitt County Arboretum

By Susann C. and Vicki K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers
Insects that transfer pollen from plant to plant are called pollinators. These include butterflies, moths, beetles, dragonflies, lacewings, carpenter bees, honey bees, and bumble bees, among others. Pollinators play a vital role in gardening and agriculture. Pitt County Master Gardeners helped count pollinators during the Great Southeast Pollinator Census on
August 19 at the Arboretum. The count lasted for 15 minutes. "The pollinators were everywhere! We counted butterflies, huge bumble bees, tiny neon bees, a giant grasshopper," reports Pitt County master gardener Vicki K., also one of the local event's organizers.

Pitt County master gardener Wendy Pittman records census data while observing insects on a lantana bush (Lantana camara) in full bloom.

Counts from the census were reported to the overall event coordinators at North Carolina State University and the University of Georgia. The census was open to residents of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The purpose of the census was to increase sustainable pollinator habitat, strengthen our knowledge of pollinators, and generate useful data about pollinator populations.

Plants that star in the shade

By Cindy C. and Susann C., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers
Magnificent hydrangeas, evergreen shrubs with green and gold foliage, evergreen ferns with glossy, holly-like foliage, and low-growing groundcovers or vines, and several perennials, including Coral Bells, Lenten rose, and Foxglove – these are among the many shade-loving plants on display at the Pitt County Arboretum.

H. macrophylla - Mophead Hydrangea

Berberis bealei - Leatherleaf Mahonia

Director Matt Stevens leads the Northside Plant Walk

During last Friday’s Northside Plant Walk, Pitt County Extension and Arboretum Director Matt Stevens led a group of gardeners on a tour, starting on the Walking Trail and ending at the Wet Sites Garden. He highlighted a dozen plants that star in the shade, differentiating between different types of hydrangeas and when to prune them. He also explained how flower color for the Mophead Hydrangea is determined by soil pH. He identified shade-loving plants that bloom in the winter, plants that have beautiful fall foliage, flower in the fall, and fruit during the winter.

Matt provided handouts listing plants and containing QR codes so that gardeners could easily obtain more information on plants of interest to them.

This was the fifth in seven scheduled Northside Plant Walks. The next talk is scheduled for September 8 and focuses on noteworthy North Carolina native plants. The final plant walk in the series, on fall foliage, takes place October 13. Talks are from 12 noon to 1 p.m. in the Arboretum at 403 Government Circle. The talks present an opportunity to learn about plants while getting your daily steps.

While the talks and tours are free, those planning to attend are asked to register by clicking on the links on the following web page Pitt County Northside Plant Walk.

Be an insect census-taker on Aug 19

By Matt Stevens, Pitt County Horticulture Agent
The Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers invite you to take part in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census at the Pitt County Arboretum. This local event is part of a regional citizen science project spearheaded by the University of Georgia and aims to help in conservation of insects that pollinate our plants. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, August 19. Horticulture Agent Matt Stevens will share a brief explanation about the goals of this project and provide directions for how to track insect activity with the materials provided.

Our Extension Master Gardener Volunteers will steer you towards favorite pollinator plants within the Arboretum. The observation process takes only 15 minutes, though participants could observe more than one plant if they so desire. When finished observing, turn in your tracking sheets and take a stroll around the Arboretum to see what else catches your eye!

The Pitt County Arboretum is located at 403 Government Circle in Greenville. If you’d like to participate in the census, join us at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 19. We hope to see you there!

Gardens delight the senses

By Vicki K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer (EMGV)
Pitt County children and their families in the Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children touring the Pitt County Arboretum on June 20 were delighted to plant a sunflower and walk through the Arboretum. “The kids really enjoyed the wildflower garden, the herb garden, and the children’s garden. They were fascinated by the different plant textures and the wonderful aromas we got when we crushed some leaves,” says Vicki K., EMGV and tour guide. The kids and their families saw many interesting insects, and the parents who accompanied them were delighted to discovery all the sensory enjoyment that the Arboretum gardens offer.

Extension master gardener volunteers (EMGVs) offers free, guided walking tours for those who would like to know more about the different gardens. Tours can be scheduled by calling 252-902-1709.

Photos by Yanett Moran, Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children

Master Gardeners grow success at 2023 Plant Sale

Story by Vicki K., Pitt County EMGV
The May 20 Spring Plant Sale hosted by Pitt County Master Gardener Volunteers brought hundreds of visitors to the Arboretum at 403 Government Circle in Greenville. A line formed before the 9 a.m. pre-sale for Friends of the Arboretum, and early shoppers eagerly filled their wagons and wheelbarrows with plants.

Local gardeners chose from over 3,500 trees, shrubs, roses, perennial flowers, annuals, vegetables, and houseplants. Most selections had been potted up from the Pitt County Arboretum gardens or from Master Gardeners’ own yards. Additional plants were donated by Carolina Seasons, Plant and See, and both Greenville Lowe’s stores.

Local students in 4-H volunteered, loading plants into shoppers’ cars. Plant Sale chair Teresa S. reported that the event was a great success in raising funds to support the Arboretum and the work of the Master Gardeners.

Master Gardener Wendy P. prepares the herb tables at the start of the May 20th Spring Plant Sale held at the Pitt County Arboretum.

Home gardeners are happy with their purchases

Picking out their perennials

More photos can be found on the Support/Plant Sale web page.

The Northside Plant Walks utilize the Arboretum and the Northside Walking Trail to tell a unique story about our plants with each tour. Details of this new program may be found on this link.

Showing Up for Arboretum Spring blooms
By Vicki K., Pitt County EMGV

Fifteen plant lovers followed Pitt County Cooperative Extension Director and Horticulture Agent Matt Stevens on his inaugural Northside Plant Walks tour through the Pitt County Arboretum on Friday, April 14th. This first tour focused on Showy Spring Bloomers, featuring the bright displays of twelve blossoming plants.

A mass of “Firewitch” dianthus was the bright starting point of Cooperative Extension Director Matt Stevens’ recent “Northside Plant Walk.” Stevens explained the plant’s characteristics to tour participants.

Stevens discussed the habits and benefits of attractive ground covers like ‘Firewitch’ dianthus and myrtle spurge euphorbia and shrubs like Chinese snowball viburnum and mockorange.

Tour participants asked lots of questions: When do you plant it? Will deer eat it? Does it attract wildlife? To provide more in-depth information, Stevens provided a handout with QR codes that linked each plant to the online NC State Plant Toolbox.
Walking to the iris and spiderwort displays near the rain garden, tour goers passed the holding area where Pitt County Master Gardeners are nurturing selections for their annual Spring Plant Sale. The event is scheduled for
Saturday, May 20th from 9 a.m. until noon and will feature plants propagated from both the Arboretum collection and from Master Gardeners’ own yards.

Maggie K. used the QR code to find out more about spring bloomer Chinese snowball viburnum in the Arboretum’s CPP Plant Collection

Angela W., who works at the Pitt County Health Department, attended the tour when she saw it advertised to Pitt County employees via email. For her, it provided a healthy and invigorating lunch hour. “I’m fairly new to gardening, and I learned a lot,” she said. “I’ll definitely recommend this to friends. Some people think gardening is just for older folks. The younger ones should come out and try it, too.”

Matt Stevens will lead monthly “Northside Plant Walks” on the second Friday of each month from noon until 1 p.m. The May 12th tour will focus on Hidden Landscape Gems. More information about this lunchtime learning opportunity, as well as the upcoming Pitt County Arboretum’s Plant Sale, can be found at the Pitt County Arboretum’s website.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension is a statewide organization that provides educational programming focused on agriculture, food, and youth development, with offices in each county. The Extension Master Gardener program is a volunteer program that supports Extension’s educational efforts in consumer horticulture.

More than 700 plants potted for Plant Sale May 20

Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGVs) have potted more than 700 plants in preparation for this year’s annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 20. The plants range from small perennials to larger shrubs. These pots are in addition to the plants master gardeners are growing in their own yards, to donate to the plant sale.

The photos show volunteer master gardeners potting the plants, and some of the plants that were potted.

Pitt County Arboretum Plant Sale preparation well underway as EMGVs propagate plants at Carolina Seasons Nursery
Story by Susann C., Photos by Knox C.

Judy P., Joanne K. and Eulalia W. survey the pots they have planted.

It's a sure sign that preparations for the Pitt County Arboretum’s annual Plant Sale on May 20, 2023 are well underway. On February 15, a team of Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGVs) led by Knox C. potted up dozens of plants at Carolina Seasons Nursery. Over the next three months, the delicate cuttings will grow into much larger and sturdier plants ready to take their place in gardens and front- and backyards across Pitt County.

“It was a beautiful day to be outside!” said Knox. The propagated plants are a mix of herbaceous perennials, including Sedges and a few herbs, such as Woolly Thyme, Edible Ginger, and Mountain Mint. Additional plants that were propagated include White African Irises, Cast Iron Plants, Bee Balm, Stoke’s Asters, Ice Plants, Goldenrod, and White Rain Lilies.

Thanks to Andrea Pike and Carolina Seasons Nursery for donating plants for the Plant Sale. Carolina Seasons and the Pitt County Arboretum have a longstanding relationship. In addition to providing plants for propagation, the nursery gives Friends of the Arboretum a discount when they purchase plants for their own home gardens. Carolina Seasons Nursery is located at 549 NC-903 N in Greenville.

Martha D., Eulalia W., and Andrea Pike next to a table covered with small plants.

Pam Beck enchants listeners at January 28 talk on public and private gardens in North Carolina
Noted gardener Pam Beck enchanted the eighty or so audience members at her talk on North Carolina’s public and private gardens at the Pitt County Arboretum on January 28. Listeners were spellbound by Pam's intimate knowledge of gardens, gardeners, and plant nurseries.
   The stories, seamlessly narrated and woven from one corner of the state to the other, gave us glimpses into many gardens and gardeners who have broadened the horticultural horizons of North Carolinians.
   The vignettes were accompanied by photos of people in their gardens.
   For example, Charlotte Gantz was a 100-year-old garden curator who continued to garden by directly instructing willing helpers to prune or weed when she was no longer able to crouch on her knees.
   We heard about a couple of professional gardeners who are so busy and passionate propagating plants that they sometimes forget to open their garden center – but will happily do so when asked.
   We were privileged to see photos of a historical cemetery in Tarborough where people used to bring bunches of flowers and plant shrubs to celebrate with their departed loved ones.
   In addition to giving us a guided tour of many well-known and not-so-well-known gardens, Pam provided audience members with a handout listing gardens and garden centers referenced in her talk.
   Thanks to the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGVs) for organizing this delightful presentation at the Pitt County Arboretum.
    - By Susann C., Pitt County Arboretum EMGV