Sometimes, the best medicine is a morning in the sun with your hands in the soil or an early start to the weekend to get some gardening tasks done.
Join the N.C. Cooperative Extension—Lee County Center for our monthly "Dirt Therapy" sessions. Held at the Pollinator Haven Garden (and sometimes the Pollinator Garden at San-Lee Park), these sessions are part-workshop, part-community workday.
You’ll learn a timely seasonal skill from local experts while helping us keep our public demonstration gardens beautiful. It’s the perfect way to breathe fresh air, connect with fellow gardeners, and perhaps even take home a new plant or a new friendship! Families with older children welcome!
What to expect:- Hands-on Learning: Master a new seasonal garden skill with our experts.
- Community Impact: Help us tend to the Pollinator Haven & San-Lee Park gardens.
- Garden Perks: Fresh air, great conversation, and the occasional plant giveaway!
January- Winter Weed Identification
Our theme for January is WINTER WEED IDENTIFICATION! Everyone has them, but do you know their names? How to control them? How to make sure you "got them"?
RSVP for Thursday, January 15, 2026- 9-11 a.m.
RSVP for Friday, January 16, 2026- 2-4 p.m.Accommodation Statement
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, N.C. Cooperative Extension will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Please direct accommodation requests to: Amanda Bratcher, amwilkin@ncsu.edu or 919-775-5624. Requests can be served more effectively if notice is provided at least 10 days before the event.
N.C. Cooperative Extension Nondiscrimination Statement
N.C. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political affiliation, and veteran status.
2026 Dirt Therapy Seasonal Skills Calendar
February- Dormant Pruning
Identifying "The 3 D's" (Dead, Damaged, Diseased) in woody shrubs.
March- Water-Wise Gardening
Rain barrel demo & moisture conservation
April- Pollinator Kickoff
Dividing perennials and identifying early spring "volunteer" seedlings.
May- The Foundation of Growth
Taking advantage of the free soil testing window
June- Pest Patrol
Scouting for "bad bugs" (Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management) and hand-picking.
July- Heat Stress Management
Deadheading spent blooms and "water-wise" mulching techniques.
August- Seed Saving
Harvesting and processing seeds from summer-blooming pollinators.
September- Fall Transition
Planting fall cover crops and refreshing summer-worn soil.
October- The Great Clean-up
Cutting back (some) perennials while leaving habitat for overwintering bees.
November- Putting Beds to Bed
Planting spring-flowering bulbs and protecting sensitive roots.
December- Winter Structure
Tool maintenance (cleaning/oiling) and garden mapping for next year.
