Filtering by tag: horticulture

weed in lawn with seed heads

The New Neighbor You Didn’t Invite: Chevreulia acuminata

Extension agents across North Carolina sometimes share questions they have with other agents across the state. These questions usually end up being incredibly insightful, so when a plant…

mining bee with pollen sticking to her back legs

Friend or Foe? Protecting Pollinators in the Ground

As the days begin to lengthen and the "Persephone Days" come to an end, Lee County residents often notice a flurry of activity in their lawns: small mounds of soil and hundreds of tiny hovering…

Apples ripening on a tree in a backyard orchard. This apple's leaves were eaten on by Japanese beetles and the fruit are covered in scab, which is an aesthetic issue. Apples can be challenging to grow in a backyard orchard, but with a little work you can

Winter Chores: Caring for Old Apple, Pear or Peach Trees

North Carolina is blessed with a Goldilocks climate, where we can grow a lot of different plants and crops with just a little bit of effort. In Lee County we have some incredible heirloom pears, and…

man counts insects during community science event

2025 Was a Record Year for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census in Lee County

On the cusp of 2026, we are reflecting on the great success we had in Lee County through the Great Southeast Pollinator Census (GSEPC) in 2025. North Carolina has much to celebrate! The 2025 GSEPC…

This is the Pollinator Haven Garden dirt therapy banner 2026 which pictures text and a picture of the Pollinator Haven Garden pergola and hands cupping soil

Pollinator Haven Garden Dirt Therapy Sessions Offer Skill Building and Community

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…

Swallowtain on a sunflower_Amanda Bratcher (1)

Top Five Native Plants for Counting Pollinators for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census

In late summer, when the relentless heat of August makes many gardens seem tired, a quiet but crucial shift happens. This is a critical time for pollinators, as they gather the last bits of nectar…

Count pollinators on Fri Aug 22 and Sat Aug 23 — learn where: go.ncsu.edu/leecopollinatorcensus2025

Help Lee County Count Pollinators in the 2025 Great Southeast Pollinator Census!

Join Lee County to help count pollinators in our community on Friday, August 22, and Saturday, August 23. You can Count on your own and you can learn more about that at the Great Southeast Pollinator…

Get to Know the Insects! Free insect identification webinar — July 10, 2025, 1–3 P.M., Zoom

Insect Identification Webinar Is Set to Help You Count in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census

Do you want to help count pollinators during the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, but you don't know if you are looking at a bee, wasp or fly? This is the webinar for you!This free statewide…

Great Southeast Pollinator Census webinar - Aug 14, 2025, 1-3 p.m.

Registration Is Open for the 2025 Knowledge Is Pollinator Power: A Census Pep Rally

We are so excited to be hosting the third annual Knowledge is Pollinator Power Webinar in 2025! Registration is free and open to the public!This free statewide webinar, part education session and…

ladies tresses orchid flowering in a lawn that has not been mowed

Orchids and Lightning Bugs- Report From a “No-Mow May” Lawn

Folks who know me know I am not particularly fond of turfgrass (think bermudagrass, centipede, etc.). I have a high level of respect for property and golf course managers that keep the turf…