Tag: Ask a Master Gardener

Upcoming Gardening Events for August 2024

On By durhammastergardenersIn bees, beneficial insects, Common questions, Durham, Durham NC, Garden events, gardening, Gardening information, gardening NC, insects, Learn With Us, pollinators, Uncategorized, Upcoming gardening events

Ask a Master Gardener

(Image credit: Allie Mullin)

The Ask a Master Gardener Program is an opportunity for members of the community to ask questions about gardening and learn more about the NC State Extension Master GardenerSM program. Durham County Master Gardener volunteers are available to provide answers using research-based information about plants and plant problems. They come prepared with a variety of gardening handouts, seeds for planting, and even some games for children!

You’ll find Master Gardener volunteers at the following community events this month ready for your questions:

August 20: Durham Farmer’s Market at Central Park, 8 am-12 Noon and North Durham Farmer’s Market, 12 Noon-4 pm

August 31: South Durham Farmer’s Market, 8 am-12 Noon (now located at Hub RTP, 500 Park Offices Dr., Durham)

Durham Garden Forum (DGF)

Matt Archibald, ISA board certified master arborist at Leaf & Limb, will deliver the DGF’s annual keynote address titled “Nine Ways to Help Heal the Earth” on Tuesday, August 20 at Sarah P. Duke Gardens from 7-8:30pm. Come early from 6-7pm and take part in the plant swap! Free for Durham Garden Forum members and $10 for non-members. Free parking provided for the event. To learn more about DGF and how to become a member, check out their site at https://durhammastergardeners.com/durham-garden-forum/.

Durham County Public Library

(Image Credit: Allie Mullin)

Sprouting Connections Garden Lecture Series: Fall Vegetable Planting with Master Gardener volunteer Monica Mense. Saturday, August 3, 10-11am. Main Library.

Plant Swap (Bring a plant, take a plant). A Master Gardener volunteer will be on hand to answer questions. Saturday, August 17, 2-3pm. Southwest Regional Library.

Please check website. Registration required; spaces limited. https://durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/calendar?cid=14288&t=d&d=0000-00-00&cal=14288&inc=0

Pollinator Identification Workshop

(Image credit: Melinda Heigel)

Join the NC Wildlife Federation and NC State Extension for a Pollinator Identification Workshop at Briggs Avenue Community Garden in Durham. NC State ecologist Dr. Hannah Levenson will teach participants how to identify various bees and pollinators in preparation for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census 2024 (see below). Saturday, August 3, 9-10:30 am.

This in-person event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. For details, see https://ncwf.org/event/pollinator-identification-workshop/.

Great Southeast Pollinator Census

Created by University of Georgia Extension, this citizen science project is open to all NC residents for participation in counting pollinators in your own yard or community. The event takes place on August 23 and 24 and aims to educate citizens about pollinators, generate useful data, and create more pollinator habitat. For more information on how to take part in this event, including how to count pollinators and report your findings, visit https://gsepc.org.

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Hoedown at the Farmers Market

On By durhammastergardenersIn Garden events

by Jennifer Courser, EMGV

Extension Master Gardener Public Events went wild with Halloween Spirit at the Saturday, Oct. 28 South Durham Farmers Market. The team created a rootin’-tootin’ Old West trading post (complete with wildflower seeds and soil test kits!) to assist with consumer horticulture inquiries.

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Team members included: EMG Interns Mike James, Jackie Knight, Jayne Boyer and Captain Jennifer Corser (Class of 2013). photo: Jennifer Courser

EMG Intern Jayne Boyer started the Western theme with her inherited cowgirl costume and Event Captain Jennifer Corser took it a step further by making a Trading Post out of the table and tent. “I just went through my husband’s junk in the garage and his kitchen junk drawer and found several rusty treasures,” she said. Among them were an Indian blanket, rusty gas can, powder horn, pioneer clothing irons, rusty potato masher and kitchen tools…you get the picture.” She created a chrysanthemum floral arrangement inside a cowgirl boot for the table and used other kitch-ey Southwest souvenirs as paperweights. “My favorite by far was the crochet cactus dish that EMG Emeritus Sharon Campen gave me years ago.”

The Ask a Master Gardener booth can be found at the Bahama Farmers Market at the Ruritan Club, 8202 Stagville Rd, Bahama, NC on November 5,  the Durham Farmers Market (November 18 is the last one of 2017), at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens (check https://durham.ces.ncsu.edu/ for dates and times), South Durham Farmers Market (the last Saturday of the month from April – October), and at other public events around the county.