Filtering by tag: consumer horticulture ✕

NHC EMG volunteers working a welcome table at the 2026 Native Garden Tours

Cape Fear Native Plant Festival 2026

Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers at the 2025 Native Plant Festival Garden Tour. Join us for the 2026 Cape Fear Native Plant Festival!The Native Plant Alliance will host the 11th Annual Native…

The newly planted NC State Horticulture Showcase garden features plants bred by NC State Professor Dr. Tom Ranney.

From Lab to Landscape: New Showcase Garden at the Arboretum

I teach a lot of classes on gardening and landscaping, and I always lead off with this question, "is it easy to garden in Southeastern North Carolina?" Inevitably the room fills with groans and heads…

Traditional Blueberry Monoculture as seen at the Castel Hayne Crops Research Station

From Row Crops to Food Forests: What Sciences Says About Agriculture and Permaculture

Many of us do not think about where our food comes from until something goes wrong. A safety recall, pest outbreak, or even a price spike at the grocery store will remind us of the process from farm…

Samantha Byrd teaching group in greenhouse

Welcoming New Staff Members to NHC Extension

Hi there, New Hanover County!I am excited to introduce myself as your new N.C. Cooperative Extension Consumer Horticulture Program Assistant. My name is Samantha Byrd, and it is such a pleasure to…

Backyard Sustainability Series starting at the NHC Arboretum each Wednesday from May 6 to June 10

Backyard Sustainability Series – Spring 2026

This six-part educational series explores practical, science-based approaches to creating more sustainable home landscapes in southeastern North Carolina. Each session features a local expert and…

Early handling and socialization turn curious chicks into gentle backyard companions that are easy to manage and a joy to keep.

From Coop to Kitchen: A Guide to Starting Your Backyard Flock

Spring is in the air, and like many of you, I visited my local farm supply shop this weekend to pick up compost for my garden. As soon as I walked in, I was distracted by the sounds of little peeps…

Seed packets are like instruction manuals. Follow directions closely for best germination success

From Packet to Plant: Understanding Seed Terminology

This past summer, I visited Bald Head Island for the first time, and I was charmed by drifts of prairie coneflower, Ratibida columnifera, that were blooming in the medians. These little red and…

Tabletop work In Lewis Greenhouse

Green Socializing

At the N.C. Cooperative Extension, New Hanover County Center and Arboretum, the Lewis Greenhouse is a vibrant, thriving sanctuary. It isn’t just a structure of glass and steel; it is a living…

House plants that are thriving in winter will continue to grow and bloom, like this spider plant producing pups

Winter Care Tips for Healthy Houseplants

-Written by Therapeutic Horticulture Program Assistant, Kadence BaumgardnerAs temperatures drop and daylight hours shorten, our beloved houseplants require a shift in care. Winter can be a tricky…

EMG volunteers wrapping tree seedlings for TreeFest participant

TreeFest Success - 2026 Impact

Each year, local organizations come together for TreeFest, a tree seedling giveaway dedicated to rebuilding our native tree canopy. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers and participants, we continue to…