Extension Master Gardeners, Cumberland County NC

10/20/2026

Cooler weather has rolled in, but any day in the garden is a good day for Extension Master Gardener Volunteers! This morning in the Cumberland County NC - Cooperative Extension Demonstration Garden. 🙌💪🎉

📸: Larry Cooper, Extension Master Gardener. Photo of volunteers in the demo garden.

10/16/2026

Cool and Warm, by Janice Gardner, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

Most volunteers and visitors were wearing outer shirts this morning as we headed into CFBG. Those of us who forgot them didn’t have to worry for long since the temps warmed up quickly to actually hot by noontime. These both cool and warm (sometimes hot) days also carry over to what we are growing and harvesting in the Veggie Garden.

Tammy and I got right to work harvesting the okra and multiple zucchini. Some are overgrown but will be saved for seed or ornamental use. The largest of the remaining dipper gourds was clipped to share with Katelyn L., FTCC Hort. Instructional Lab Technician, who suggested and provided the gourd plants this past spring. As soon as most of the other volunteers arrived we trekked over to the FTCC Greenhouse to check out the remnants from the fall plant sale.

Many flats of brassica, ornamentals and edibles, were loaded in whatever carts we could gather. There were different color cauliflowers, collards, cabbage, broccoli, lettuces, and Frizzy Lizzy mustard (a favorite); which is have been called sibling mustards. They make a lovely presentation in the garden with deeply toothed and super wavy greens with a pleasant, mild mustard flavor. https://territorialseed.com/products/mustard-frizzy-lizzy?variant=12786109939811
https://burke.ces.ncsu.edu/mustard-greens/ Lovely pansies and snapdragons topped off the plant haul. Several of the pansies hosted a single ‘buck-eye’ caterpillar which seem pretty short compared to the photos at https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/buckeye-butterfly . Brenda and I each took one home to monitor.

Much later, back in the veggie garden, we all chipped in to get the multitude of plants into the ground, mindful that they have to be deer protected. We have had to be creative with netting, fencing, and caging. While planting we discovered that the red onions are budding, the carrots are up, and there are more black swallowtail caterpillars munching on the fennel. Volunteers also shared celery and strawberry plants to top off our day’s planting.

Although several volunteers had to leave, we still ended our shift with a traditional break at the picnic tables with fruit and other yummies; as well as Nickie sharing about her recent trip to Ireland. As we headed out in the warmer temps, we thought what a sweet spot fall gardening is in the veggie garden – still harvesting the warm weather crops and planting cool weather ones that essentially take care of themselves during this season here in zone 8a.

📸: photos of Cape Fear Botanical Garden landscape and volunteers submitted by Alicia Griffin and Janice Gardner.

10/15/2026

🌲🌳❤️

The Cumberland SWCD is holding our annual tree seedling sale! We will have Eastern Red Cedar, Loblolly Pine and Longleaf Pine Trees available at $5 per bundle. Please sign up at bit.ly/2026TreeSeedling so that we can make sure that we have enough trees to meet the demand! Trees will arrive the last week in November! You will get a call from us. As always if you have any questions about trees in a bundle, don't hesitate to reach out! Our number is (910) 437-1922.

10/08/2026

Wednesday Weedings, by Alicia Griffin, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

Arriving at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden was truly refreshing. The weather was cool, crisp, and comfortable—a welcome change after a long, hot summer. We had been waiting for a day like this all summer!

We had a great turnout of volunteers joining us in the garden, including Corey, who has been away for several months. It was wonderful to see him back with us. Janice also stopped by briefly to share a few updates and hand out newsletters from Scenic Views Natural Views.

I assigned tasks to the gardeners, and we got right to work. We weeded, harvested lemon balm and oregano, transplanted oregano, and cleaned up around the perimeter borders of the garden. It was a productive morning, but we also enjoyed each other’s company and the beautiful weather.

Around 11:00 a.m., we took a break. We laughed, shared stories, and had some great conversations about cruises and Disney season passes. Several of the gardeners brought delicious breads, fruits, and vegetables for everyone to enjoy. Thank you, Janice, for the crackers!

Eventually, we left our conversations behind and headed back to the garden to rinse our tools, sanitize them with alcohol, and put everything away. Honestly, we could have continued working because the weather was absolutely beautiful. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end.

It was time to pack it in, but we’ll be back at the garden next week to see what it has in store for us.

Until then, keep growing and enjoying the beauty around you!

📸: Alicia Griffin, various photos of garden landscape and volunteers.

10/07/2026

Friendly reminder to support our friends at FTCC Horticulture! Their Fall Plant Sale starts TOMORROW!

10/01/2026

New Things, Janice Gardner, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

It was a quiet morning heading into Cape Fear Botanical Garden on this last day of September. Stevie & Chad were met on the way in and gave a preview of the day ahead.

A peaceful walk over to Heritage, was concluded with a quick look at the progress of the new bridge. We noticed barrels placed in the Square to be planted by the Johnston County Industries (JCI) group of high school juniors and seniors participating in a work program. Several new volunteers joined us today – Ana, Justin, and Brittany, and we welcomed back Ciara and Caitlin as well as MG intern Barbara C.

A quick walkabout revealed the most pressing needs in the Veggie garden: harvesting okra and zucchini; further thinning of the Daikon; pulling morning glory from the gourds; adding hooks on the makeshift deer fences – thanks Jessie; a little planting; and a lot of weeding.

Most of the harvests have been small, and the work now revolves around planting the fall garden and weeding borders and walkways. Brittany spotted a wolf spider burrowed in the hole of a brick and the alarm was sounded to Teresa, who quickly took its picture. These pose no real harm to humans.

Work began revamping the garden’s little compost bins which Justin and Brittany took on. With his building background they soon constructed three proper sections and a holding area for tough vines and stems. A freshly cleaned bed was filled with red onion sets after removing an expanse of Ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum), sometimes called Blue Mistflower. This perennial native to the Eastern United States is a member of the aster family (Asteraceae) and looks like the annual ageratum and is sometimes called hardy Ageratum. The plant prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, humus-rich soils that do not dry out. Ageratum spreads by rhizomes and is moderately resistant to damage from deer. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/conoclinium-coelestinum/

Break included refreshment and fellowship by sharing mountain apples and interesting conversation. The Veggie garden group hail from a wide expanse of states as well as internationally, with a diversity of careers and some interesting hobbies.

After break, Justin finished the compost bins while everyone chipped in to clean and put away the tools. Some dipper gourds were hung in a darker section of the General Store for drying and upcoming experimenting in making ladles.

As our shift ended, volunteers headed out with gifts of Daikon seedlings and Ageratum/Blue Mistflower stems to be added to their own gardens. Today’s work in the garden was light with the help of the many hands of garden friends - new and old.

📸: Janice Gardner, various pictures of garden landscape, spider, and volunteers.

09/24/2026

Delightful, by Janice Gardner, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

The first Wednesday of Autumn at Cape Fear Botanical Garden did not disappoint with real-feel temperatures of 61 degrees, a nice breeze, and damp soil from recent rain. We watched staff busily hanging lovely lights for upcoming events and checked on the progress of the new bridge crossing into Heritage.

Over in the Veggie Garden Zack helped cart in pots of brassica and blackberries for planting, and later carted out a multitude of weeds. Zara thinned the Daikon radishes and was soon joined by new volunteers Ciara and Tearra, who helped clean a bed for transplanting some of the radishes. Theresa’s friend Kaitlin helped her harvest the last of the peas before pulling them out to make room for the collards. They also planted the cauliflower with the broccoli.

Nickie’s blackberry vines were planted by the General Store side of the garden fence. We pulled the old cornstalks and planted cabbage in their stead. The zucchini has fruit, a small okra harvest was taken, and Alicia prepared the future garlic bed. The compost in the teaching bins was turned and moved before adding the chopped pea vines. Worms were a happy sight

We took our usual break where snacks and fellowship were shared. A honeydew melon recently discovered in a mass of vines was also shared. Hort. staff and other volunteers hosted a tour for the Alamance County Extension Master Gardeners. They all joined us for a meet and greet around the picnic tables before their lunch. Some stopped by the Veggie garden where we returned to tidy up. They wondered whether the gourds were edible. According to the NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, the seeds, leaves, flowers, and young stems are all edible when the fruit is young. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lagenaria-siceraria/. A few leftover collard plants and Daikon seedlings made the trip back with them to Alamance County.

We noticed one of the dipper gourd vines turning brown with some brown stems on gourds, indicating they are reaching maturity. Some articles recommend drying the gourds on the vine and harvesting before any frost. The Spruce website article “How to Harvest and Dry Ornamental Gourds” written by Marie Iannotti, veteran Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener, offers step by step instructions with excellent illustrations for successfully harvesting and drying gourds. https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-dry-or-cure-gourds-1403445 -tips-for-harvesting-and-drying-gourds

We headed out at the end of our shift with a sense of pleasure in the work done in the garden, and as Alicia mentioned, “the garden work is now easier” with many hands helping plant crops that will grow over winter and weather that is a pure delight.

📸: Janice Gardner, various pictures of volunteers, garden landscape, and vegetables.

09/22/2026

📆 Save the date! A wonderful Fall Plant Sale at Fayetteville Technical Community College!

Please help us support our friends at FTCC Horticulture! 🌱❤️

🌱 FTCC Fall 2026 Plant Sale 🌱

Get ready for fall planting with the FTCC Horticulture Technology program!

📅 Oct. 8–9 | 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
📍 Wesley A. Meredith Horticulture Education Center
670 N. Eastern Blvd., Fayetteville, NC 28301

Pre-order Sept. 21–28!
🪴 Fall veggies
🌸 Assorted fall flowers
🌼 Pansy color bowls
🥗 Mixed salad bowls
…and more!

Need help deciding what to get? Come to the Horticulture Education Center and make your selections with help from FTCC Horticulture Technology students.

🔗 Pre-order here: https://tinyurl.com/ujvkxb49

Questions? Email [email protected].

09/21/2026

Flashback to our August 2026 monthly update. Dr. Kelly Oten provided an informative presentation on invasive species in North Carolina landscapes, how to identify them, and what to do to remove them!

A few to keep an eye out for include:

Crape Myrtle bark scale
Elm zigzag sawfly
Spotted lanternfly

If you need any assistance, we are here for you!

📸: Lee Roberts, photos of meeting and presentation slides.

09/18/2026

🎃 It’s that time of year! 🍁

Registration is required. Sign up soon!

Get ready to carve out some fun by learning how to grow and creatively etch your own pumpkins!