Tag: Durham County Cooperative Extension

Upcoming Gardening Events: March 2026

On By durhammastergardenersIn Garden events, gardening, gardening education, gardening in NC, Uncategorized

Learn With Us

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.

Two women smiling behind a table with a sign that says 'Ask a Master Gardener', under a tent in an outdoor setting.
Colorful floral illustration featuring various flowers and a butterfly, with the text 'Ask An Extension Master Gardener Volunteer' and logos from NC State, Durham County, and Cooperative Extension.

(Image credit: Allie Mullin)

Durham Farmers Market

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

Saturday, March 21, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm  Durham Farmer’s Market at Central Park, Durham

Saturday, March 28, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm South Durham Farmer’s Market, 500 Park Offices Dr. (parking lot), Durham

Saturday, March 28, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Annual Plant Festival, Durham Co. Extension Office, 721 Foster St, Durham (See more on this exciting event below)

Annual Plant Festival, “Gardening Across Generations” Saturday, March 28, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Durham Co. Extension Office, 721 Foster St, Durham

An illustration of a diverse group of people gardening in an urban setting, featuring a child and an adult planting flowers, a woman tending to plants, and two elderly women using a tablet, with city buildings and a water tower in the background.

Join Extension Master Gardener volunteers of Durham County for a morning of learning, discovery, and hands-on exploration. At this free event which is open to all ages, you’ll find demos on composting, pollinator and bird-friendly habitats; Master Gardener volunteer experts available to answer gardening questions; previews of plants that will be featured in annual sale in April; family-friendly activities and opportunities to explore local garden resources and partners. Learn more here.

Hattie Meadows Gardening School

In honor of a beloved Durham gardener Hattie Meadows, the community is invited to take part in the new Hattie Meadows Gardening School. This free community learning series is a partnership between Durham Cooperative Extension, Durham County Library, and Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Monthly classes will feature local teachers and gardening experts sharing practical knowledge on a wide range of gardening topics. It is perfect for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.
Free, but space is limited and registration is required.

Vegetable Gardening Symposium, Saturday, March 14th, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm. (Registration and additional information)

For this special half-day symposium, we’ll feature three speakers with a little something for everyone, from beginner to experienced veggie grower. Click above to register for the fully symposium.

-Veggies 101 – 9:30 am – 10:15 am, Presented by Ashley Troth, PhD, Horticulture Agent, Durham County Cooperative Extension

-From Tomatoes to Turnips: Practical Tips for Planning Your Year-Round Vegetable Garden – 10:30 am – 11:15 am, Presented by Molly Zimmerman, Extension Master Gardener volunteer, Durham County

-Hearty Landscapes: Foodscaping for Joy, Beauty & Abundance – 11:30 am – 12:15 pm, Presented by Brittany Robinson-Wittenhill, Founder of Our Backyard, LLC

Durham Garden Forum

How to Love a Forest, virtual talk with Ethan Tapper, forester, bestselling author, digital storyteller, March 17, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. (Fee for non-members. For more program, membership, and registration information)

Learn with our Community Friends

Sara P. Duke Gardens

Plug and Play: A Guide to Planting Perennial Plugs, with Shannon Currey of Izel Native Plants. Tuesday, March 17, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. Free virtual program; pre-registration required. (Info and Registration)

Midday Meander, with Kavanah Anderson, director of learning and community engagement of Duke Gardens. Thursday, March 26, 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm. Free, in person at the gardens; pre-registration required. (Info and Registration)

JC Raulston Arboretum

Group of agave plants with thick, spiky leaves in a desert landscape.

(Image credit: Emőke Dénes CC BY-SA 4.0)

All March Midweek Programs are free, virtual, and require pre-registration.

Agave and Allies, with Tim Alderton. Wednesday, March 4, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. (Info and Registration)

Plant-Lover’s Tour, with Sophia McCuster and Eileen Gahan. Wednesday, March 11, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. (Info and Registration)

Top 5 Spring Bulbs, with Tim Alderton. March 11, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. (Info and Registration)

Mulch Madness, with Horticulture Staff. March 25, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. (Info and Registration)

Durham County Public Library

One Seed Community Packing Party, Saturday, March 14, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm, NW Regional Library. More info and registration.

One Seed One Community is an annual program that offers free seeds, community connection, and the experience of growing and collecting food. For Digging Durham Seed Library’s first year participating, they have chosen the organic “Provider” bean for its high yield and reputation for being “super easy” to grow.

Plant Swap, Saturday, March 28, 3:00 – 5:00 pm, SW Regional Library, Durham.

Edited by Melinda Heigel, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County

Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-76i

Exciting Updates to the Durham County Extension Demonstration Garden

On By durhammastergardenersIn gardening in NC, Uncategorized, urban gardening

Joan Barber and Martha Keehner Engelke, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers of Durham County

In 2019, when we developed the strategic plan for the redesigned Durham County Extension Demonstration Garden (DCEDG), it was our goal to demonstrate research-based gardening techniques that could be used by home gardeners. This goal continues to guide us, and we want to share our excitement about some new projects.

Directional Sign Posts

Garden Art has always been a part of the DCEDG. This includes trellises, bird baths, bird houses and art installations1. Currently, Lisa Nadler, EMGV is chairing the Directional Sign Post Committee. She and her team have done an incredible job bringing to life our dream of a beautiful, informative, and eye-catching signpost.

The creation of the Directional Sign Post has been a story of creativity, perseverance, talent, and teamwork. The selection of gardens to be featured, choosing colors, cutting, sanding, priming, painting, adding the black lettering and logo details and the design of the top of the sign post—every step has been a labor of love. We’re looking forward to the installation in early 2026.

 Colorful directional signs are almost ready for assembly in Lisa Nadler’s workshop. (Image credit: Lisa Nadler)

The Back Bank

There is a bank at the back the Durham County Extension Office that has defied our valiant efforts to get plants to grow in the area. The steep slope and gnarly roots are a challenge. A previous attempt to seed the area was thwarted by these conditions as well as the regular mowing crew that visited the bank. But, Ashley Troth, our extension agent, didn’t give up! She developed an agreement with Hoffman Nurseries, a wholesale nursery specializing in ornamental and native grasses, sedges, and perennials. In September 2025, David Hoffman met with the Durham EMGs to explain more about an innovative meadow mat technique they were piloting with local landscape architect Preston Montague. On day 1 we prepped the area, and on day 2 Preston guided us in installing the mats while local landscape designer Laurel Babcock guided the installation of native plant plugs on the steepest part of the bank. Allie Mullin, our media expert, constructed signs and created a watering schedule to help protect the plants and give them the best chance for blooming in the spring!

A group of people gathered outside, listening to a speaker in front of a wooden structure, likely related to gardening or horticulture.
Volunteers working together in a community gardening effort, smiling and engaging in planting activities, with bags of soil and gardening tools visible.

On Day 1, David Hoffman explained the use of the meadow mats and then the EMG crew prepared the beds to insure that the mats had good contact with the soil. (Image credit: Allie Mullin)

A person wearing gloves lifts a tray of meadow mats with native plants, preparing for planting in a garden.
Volunteers working in a garden area, with one person using a drill while others assist in planting or preparing the ground.
A sign explaining the minimal maintenance requirements for a garden, stating it only needs occasional weeding and annual trimming, with symbols indicating no mowing and no spraying.

On Day 2, the meadow mats and plugs were installed. We hope that the sign will add an element of protection from human intervention. (Image credit: Allie Mullin)

Redesign of the Left Foundation Bed

The left foundation bed is made up of several uninteresting shrubs that really don’t contribute to the educational mission of the DCEDG. But, that will be changing in early 2026. This bed has a variety of sun exposures-everything from desert/coastal to part shade. It provides a great opportunity to showcase different types of solutions for foundations beds under different conditions. Heather Bixler, EMGV, in collaboration with our Extension Agent Ashley Troth, has developed an amazing plan to revise this bed. She presented her ideas at a recent team meeting and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. The plan will complement the existing garden and it will introduce new plants with an emphasis on native plants. In early 2026, the existing shrubs will be removed, the plants ordered, the beds prepped and the plants installed.

A visual guide displaying different sun exposure levels for gardening, indicating hours of sunlight: full sun (9 hours), full sun (6.5 hours), part shade (3 hours), and part sun (4-5 hours).
A colorful garden design layout illustrating various flower and plant shapes, with a label reading 'Full Design Layout' positioned prominently in the center.

The schematic of the left bed demonstrates the sun exposure and the wide variety of plants to be included. Want to know more about the new plants? Visit the DCEDG in Spring, 2026. (Image credit: Heather Bixler)

 Special Circle Design for the Former Crabapple Area

A large crabapple tree (Malus coronaria), which was a big part the DCEDG, died and had to be removed last year. This bed had been referred to as the shady bed but it is no longer shady and has temporarily been turned into a labyrinth with a variety of bulbs, perennials, and annuals. Laura Babcock (who’s also an EMGV) has developed a plan for a more permanent revision of this bed. It will feature a welcoming blueberry entrance and a vibrant mix of natives including plants, shrubs, and a tree. Sourcing the plants, preparing the beds and installing the plants is slated for early spring 2026.

A garden area featuring blooming flowers, stone borders, and a sign for the Cooperative Extension, set against a backdrop of buildings.
A detailed garden design schematic featuring colorful flower representations, organized into two sections with labeled plants and patterns.

Currently, the circle bed is planted with bulbs, perennials, and annuals. The picture on the right, is a schematic of the proposed bed. It will focus on native plants that can thrive in an urban environment. (Image credit: Allie Mullin (l); Laurel Babcock (r)

 Developing these projects brings a unique joy that blends creativity, curiosity, and connection with nature. Each new idea highlights the excellence of the EMGVs in Durham County, led by our bold and inspirational leader, Ashley Troth. The mission of the DCEMG is to educate and promote research based gardening that is relevant to the home gardener. We hope you will visit us throughout the year (see the previous post on winter fun in the garden below) and join us in the spring as our vision comes to life and watch the blog for more details on each of these projects.

  1. Notes: The Durham County Extension Demonstration Garden has been featured several time in the blog. Read about some of the past projects:

Purposeful Art in the Demo Garden: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-4Ai

Education and Entertainment in a Winter Garden: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-3O3

Learn from the Cisterns: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-5ZL

Becoming a Bird Friendly Habitat: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-3Ig

Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-6Dc

Edited by Martha Keehner Engelke