BY LESLIE PECK
Drive into Tanglewood Park on a Wednesday morning and you will join a procession of volunteers heading to the Arboretum and Gardens at Tanglewood Park. Tucked behind the Manor House, the Arboretum includes dozens of gardens that showcase a variety of plant life. Visitors will find flowers, shrubs, trees, and vegetables. The Arboretum showcases plants that grow well in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. On a walk through the Arboretum, home gardeners will find inspiration for how to use these plants in their landscapes.
The N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center, manages the Arboretum and Gardens. The Arboretum is an important part of the Extension’s horticulture education, led by Arboretum Director and Extension Agent, Leslie Peck. The Extension offers a wide variety of classes for local gardeners, both at the Arboretum and in the community.
The N.C. Cooperative Extension relies on the help of Extension Master GardenerSMVolunteers and a partnership with Forsyth County Parks and Recreation to maintain the Arboretum. Annually, Extension Master GardenerSMVolunteers contribute 4,000 hours of their time to assist at the gardens. Each week, volunteers arrive at the Arboretum, ready to help in a variety of ways. Even through the coldest winter days, you’ll find volunteers in the Arboretum working hard to ensure it is a beautiful place for all to see.
In addition to planting, mulching, weeding, and other typical garden tasks, Extension Master GardenerSMVolunteers are trained educators. Master Gardener Volunteers organize the Arboretum Adult Education classes, offering timely gardening information all year long. Master Gardener Volunteers also teach hundreds of local third graders about plant science during the annual Youth Education field trip program.
In January, while many gardeners are inside daydreaming about their spring gardens, Extension Master Gardener Volunteers head into the greenhouse at the Arboretum. Busy volunteers plant seeds and transplant seedlings in preparation for the annual spring plant sale.
Funds raised at the plant sale are crucial to the Arboretum and its educational programs. Money earned at the sale contributes to the continued beautification of the gardens and makes it possible for the Extension to continue offering quality educational programs.
The Arboretum Plant Sale is a superb opportunity for all gardeners. Extension Master GardenerSMVolunteers who have selected and grown the plants are available to assist customers with their plant selections. Volunteers share their passion for gardening with customers and can offer advice on proper planting and maintenance of the plants.
The sale offers a wide variety of plants. Visit the greenhouse for annual flowers, herbs, and vegetables. In the nursery area, gardeners will find a selection of perennial plants, shrubs, and trees. The Arboretum Plant Sale offers an excellent opportunity to purchase native plants and plants to attract pollinators and wildlife to the home landscape.
Community members are invited to attend the Arboretum Plant Sale on Friday and Saturday, May 3rd and 4th, 2019. The plant sale will be open from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM on both days of the sale. Early shoppers will enjoy the best selection. Sales are cash or check only.
For additional information on the Arboretum Plant Sale, visit the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center’s website at forsyth.cc/ces or call 336-703-2850. All purchases at the Arboretum Plant Sale support the gardens and N.C. Cooperative Extension’s horticulture program.
All community members are invited to visit the Arboretum, which is open during the normal operating hours of Tanglewood Park. A visit might be just the thing you need for some gardening inspiration!
