Filtering by tag: horticulture advice ✕

bug crawling on flower

Pirates and Assassins [Bugs] to the Garden Rescue

I’m not going to lie: they’re not pretty. In fact, they can be pretty gnarly; and they hurt if they jab you in the finger! But, assassin bugs, especially the large wheel bugs, and pirate bugs are the…

bee on purple flower

When Less is More: A Lazy Gardener’s Guide to Supporting Pollinators

When we think about helping bees and butterflies, we usually think about adding things to the landscape: buying more plants, building insect hotels, or spreading bags of seed. But since June is…

red flowered plant in a garden

Top Five Hummingbird Plants for Central North Carolina

Hummingbirds are one of the true wonders of the natural world. For residents in and around Lee County, the return of these tiny visitors is the ultimate sign that summer is on the way. When the first…

unripe peaches in a tree

Why You Should Remove Fruit From Your Fruit Trees

If you look at your fruit trees this week and see clusters of peaches or apples along the branches of your trees, it is time to act. While it feels wrong to remove potential food, "thinning" your…

flower buds infected with fungus

Who’s dusting my crape myrtles? Powdery mildew!

Crape myrtles are a wildly popular landscape tree in North Carolina. You can easily find them in parking lots, business landscapes, and home gardens. In fact, there is a bit of an issue with them…

purple flower in field

May All Your Weeds Be Wildflowers

An old embroidered pillow sits on a rocking chair in the corner of the living room. It was inherited from a great aunt who spent the time to stitch these gentle words, “May all your weeds be…

beetle grubs laying in a hand

Don’t Let the Grubs Bug You: A Guide to Healthy Turf

May 1st marks the official kickoff for the warm-season grass cycle in North Carolina. As homeowners head outside for garden renovations and spring digging, it’s almost inevitable that a shovel full…

cell phone and a flower on a rock

Snapshot to Science: Navigating the World of Plant ID Apps

This article was written by Michael Brazil, Extension Master Gardener Intern, Class of 2025, with North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County. Who among us has never seen an unfamiliar plant…

plants in a parking lot

ONLINE Pollinator Plant Sale is LIVE!

Come Shop Our Native Pollinator Plants (cash or check ONLY) and Support the Pollinator Haven Garden!Find the perfect additions to your home landscape!We’ve been busy dividing, potting, and nurturing…

orange flowers in a field

2026 "Pollinator Seed Mix" Meadow Project

What's Going OnWe are transforming what was once a 'dead patch' adjacent to the Garden into a vibrant, annual wildflower display. We didn't start out intending to prepare the site, but we are turning…