Tag: Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Upcoming Gardening Events: October 2026

On By durhammastergardenersIn ask a master gardener, Briggs Avenue Community Garden, Durham Garden Forum, Durham NC, Garden events, Uncategorized

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. Volunteers are available to provide answers using research-based information about plants and plant problems.

You can reach the Extension Master Gardener volunteers in Durham County by calling (919) 560-0528. You can also reach them by emailing mastergardener@dconc.gov or by visiting the Durham County Cooperative Extension at 721 Foster Street, Durham, NC. The helpline and office are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Two women standing behind a table under a canopy with a sign that reads 'Ask a Master Gardener.' The table is decorated with flowers and gardening materials.

Look for the “Ask A Master Gardener” banner at our Public Events. (Image credit: Allie Mullin)

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

  • Thursday, October 1, 4pm – 6pm Durham County Cooperative Extension and Durham County Soil and Water Fall Native Plant Sale, 725 Foster St, Durham, NC 27701
  • Saturday, October 10, 10am – 12pm Durham County Library-North Regional Fall Ball, 221 Milton Rd, Durham, NC 27712
  • Saturday, October 17, 8am – 12pm Durham Farmers Market, 501 Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701
  • Saturday, October 17, 1pm – 3pm Durham County Library-Main Fall Plant Swap, 300 North Roxboro St, Durham, NC 27701
  • Saturday, October 17, 2pm – 3pm Durham County Library-SW Fall Plant Swap, 30605 Shannon Rd, Durham, NC 27707
  • Saturday, October 24, 9am – 12pm South Durham Farmers’ Market, 500 Park Offices Drive, Durham, NC 27709

Fall Native Plant Sale

Flyer for Fall Native Plant Sale with local Durham County growers on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 4 pm to 6 pm. Beige background with decorative plant images in green and tan.

Durham County Cooperative Extension and Durham County Soil and Water are co-hosting a fall plant sale on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 4 pm to 6 pm at the Cooperative Extension parking lot at 721 Foster St., Durham, NC. Find all of your favorite local plants and maybe a few new ones, all grown by local Durham County growers. Staff from our event co-host Durham County Soil & Water will join us on-site to answer your questions and share information about helpful programs here in Durham County!

Durham Garden Forum

Tuesday, October 20, 7pm – 8:30pm Virtual. “Pruning Japanese Maples” with Mark Weathington. Read here for more information on registering and attending. $10 session fee for non-members or $25 for annual membership.

Learn with our Community Partners

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Harvest Festival, Saturday, October 18, 2026, 1pm – 4pm. Free admission, parking fees apply. Celebrate the bounty of autumn with a festival of activities, music, demonstrations and more, led by Duke Gardens and other local groups in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden.

There are several other programs offered in October, including Climate Up Close, Pruning with Confidence: Small Trees and Shrubs, and Build a Bug Snug. Check the Events Calendar for more information.

JC Raulston Arboretum

The Arboretum offers a series of online programs every Wednesday at 3 pm. All Midweek Programs are free and require pre-registration.

  • October 7: “Plants for Improving Your Soil”, Mark Weathington and Evan Villani
  • October 14: “PLT Premiere: Autumn Perennials”, Tim Alderton
  • October 21: “Top 5 – Best New Annuals and Perennials”, Tim Alderton and Sophia McCusker
  • October 28: “Plants in the Moonlight”, Mark Weathington
Durham County Library
  • Tuesday, October 6, 3:30pm – 4:30pm Garden Club for Kids (Ages 7-12) at Children’s Programming Room, Southwest Regional Library, 3605 Shannon Rd, Durham, NC 27707. Registration required.
  • Saturday, October 10, 10am – 12pm Outing in Duke Gardens (all ages) at Sarah P. Duke Gardens, 420 Anderson St, Durham, NC. Free admission, parking fees apply. Registration required.
  • Saturday, October 17, 1pm – 3pm Fall Community Plant Swap (all ages) at Durham County Main Library, 300 N. Roxboro St, Durham, NC. Free admission, parking fees apply. Registration required.

Article shortlink: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-7Vs

Edited by Susan Sharp, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County

Upcoming Gardening Events: July 2026

On By durhammastergardenersIn ask a master gardener, Durham NC, Garden events, Gardening calendar, Learn With Us, Uncategorized

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 GardenerSM volunteers are available to provide answers using research-based information about plants and plant problems.

A group of four women wearing fun glasses and hats pose happily at a community gardening event. Balloons are visible in the background, and a table with gardening materials is set up.
Three women seated at a table displaying gardening materials and information, with a colorful spinner and a basket of seed packets, at a community event promoting gardening assistance.

(Image credit: Allie Mullin, Janet Hunter)

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

Saturday, July 18, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Durham Farmer’s Market at Central Park, 501 Foster Street, Durham.

Saturday, July 25, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm South Durham Farmer’s Market, 500 Park Offices Dr. (parking lot), Durham.

Durham Garden Forum

Close-up of green Christmas fern leaves with textured fronds and surrounding brown leaves on the ground in Sarah P. Duke Gardens.

Polystichum acrostichoides or Christmas fern in Blomquist Garden of Native Plants, Sarah P. Duke Gardens (Image credit: Orla Swift)

“Ferns for the Garden,” virtual talk with Jason Holmes, curator and horticulturist with Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University in Durham, NC. Tuesday, July 21, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Fee for non-members. Durham Garden Forum membership information and program details.

Great Southeast Pollinator Census 2026

Information graphic for Get to Know the Insects, a free insect ID webinar presented by the Great Southeast Pollinator Census and NC State Extension experts.

“Getting to Know the Insects 2026: a GSEPC in NC Webinar,” webinar presented by NC State GSEPC Coordinator Amanda Bratcher and Dr. Charlotte Glen, NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ Program Manager. Thursday, July 16, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Learn how to join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census on August 21 – 22, and gain expertise in insect ID with Dr. Hannah Levenson, Research Scholar, Specialty Crops IPPM Laboratory and Dr. Matt Bertone, Director|Entomologist at the NC State Plant Disease and Insect Clinic. Free, open to all experience levels. Getting to Know the Insects 2026: a GSEPC in NC Webinar program and registration information.

Learn with our Community Friends

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Triangle Bonsai Society Expo. Saturday, July 11, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and Sunday, July 12, 10:00 am – 3:30 pm. Enjoy an amazing array of these carefully pruned plants, created and exhibited by the Triangle Bonsai Society. This exhibit will include more than 50 bonsai created in multiple styles, and you will have the opportunity to learn basic bonsai skills at daily demonstrations, ask questions and vote for your favorites. Free, drop-in exhibit for all ages; children must be accompanied by adult. No registration is required for exhibits. Triangle Bonsai Society Expo | Duke Gardens program information.

JC Raulston Arboretum

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

“Breaking Up Fabaceae,” with Dennis Carey, Curator, and Evan Villani, Research Technician. Wednesday, July 1, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Breaking Up Fabaceae program details and registration.

“Propagation by Layering,” with Sophia McCusker, Nursery Manager, and Evan Villani, Research Technician. Wednesday, July 8, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Propagation by Layering program details and registration.

“PLT Premiere: Interns’ Top Picks,” Summer Horticulture Interns. Wednesday, July 15, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. PLT Premiere program details and registration.

“Interns Takeover,” Summer Horticulture Interns. Wednesday, July 22, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Interns Takeover program registration and information.

“Horticulture Hour: Live Q&A with the JCRA Team,” JCRA Horticulture Staff. Wednesday, July 29, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Horticulture Hour program registration and information.

Durham County Public Library

Community Garden Workday at North Regional Library. Help harvest and plant produce at the North Regional Library community garden. Open to all ages, gloves and tools will be provided. Tuesday, July 14, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm, North Regional Library, 221 Milton Rd., Durham, NC. Free. Pre-registration required. Community Workday program detail and registration.

“Explore Summer Light in the Garden,” by Durham Grown: The Durham County Library Garden Club, with Jeanine Brandi of J. Bee Studios, Saturday, July 25, 2:00 – 3:30 pm, Main Library branch, 300 N. Roxboro St., Durham. Free. Pre-registration required. Explore Summer Light in the Garden program detail and registration.

Edited by Susan Sharp, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County

Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-7IH