You walk up to the New Hanover County Arboretum gate and join a long line of gardeners buzzing around you, discussing landscape or garden plans, seeds to swap, and carts full of vast plant varieties. As the gates open, you enter a plant lover’s haven: the garden is covered from entrance to exit in thousands of flowering annuals, perennials, native plants, and more. With a list of plants in hand and “green apron” volunteers inviting you over, you are ready to explore!
Does this scene sound familiar? It’s that time again! Whether you are a seasoned gardener, landscaper, or a curious community member, we invite you to spring into action and shop the 39th annual Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale. Running Thursday, April 16, through Saturday, April 18, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday, April 19, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, visitors can shop over 5,000 plant varieties, including annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, azaleas, Japanese Maples, native plants, and shrubs.
If you love plants but lack outdoor space, you can now shop for easy-care indoor options at the Ability Garden classroom to directly support our Therapeutic Horticulture program. This year, local gardeners can also find immediate answers to their gardening questions, pick up soil sample kits, and partake in the Seed Exchange by visiting the on-site Extension Plant Clinic.
While the rows of lush greenery and flowering beauties are the stars of the show, the heart of this event is the sea of green aprons you see moving through the crowd. These aren’t retail workers—they are your local Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers. For these dedicated individuals, the Extension Master Gardener℠ program is more than a class; it is a commitment to sharing knowledge from NC State and NC A&T Universities with their community members. Under the guidance of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Consumer Horticulture agent, these volunteers serve as lifelong learners who extend their expertise into the community. You will find them year-round staffing the Plant Clinic, assisting in educational programs, and helping to maintain the very beauty you see at the Arboretum.
Beyond their education and volunteer hours, Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers are a community dedicated to sustainable gardening and horticulture education. Through the program’s non-profit, the Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer Association, each plant purchase directly supports local education and progress. We hope you will join us to explore a plant selection that truly gives back to the community. For the best experience at this year’s sale, we recommend carpooling and bringing your own beach wagon for efficient and safe plant transportation.
We look forward to seeing you at the Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale, located at 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC. The sale runs Thursday, April 16, through Saturday, April 18, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and concludes Sunday, April 19, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Megan Sweeney is the Communications Specialist for N.C. Cooperative Extension in New Hanover County, located at the New Hanover County Arboretum. She can be reached at megan_sweeney@ncsu.edu.
