NC Moth Project, 1507 US Highway 70A, Hillsborough, NC (2026)

06/01/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡! Our Plant Grants are awarded on a 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀 —and they go fast!

𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞. The deadline to apply is 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 , so be sure to submit your application as soon as possible.

Plants will be available for pick-up in 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 .

This post provides a brief overview, but for complete details, eligibility requirements, and application instructions, visit the URL provided in the graphic or access the link in the comments.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭?

Each grant includes 9 species of native plants selected to support butterflies, moths, and other pollinators throughout their life cycles.

𝗛𝗢𝗔 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲:
• 1 of each species (9 total plants)

𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲:
• 2 of each species (18 total plants)

Each grant includes:
• 4 keystone species
• 2 host plants
• 3 nectar plants

𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

To apply, you must:

• Represent a 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

• Use the plants to create or maintain a pollinator-friendly garden, habitat, community space, or educational project

𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚: These grants are intended for community and organizational projects and are 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲.

Don't wait until the last minute. Applications close 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟴 , and available grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have any questions regarding eligibility requirements or the application process, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help prospective applicants determine whether this grant opportunity is a good fit for their organization.

05/28/2026

It's almost time! The Fall 2026 Plant Grant application opens June 1st at 12:00 AM — and we are so excited for this cycle!

If you've been thinking about applying, or you know an organization that could use some native plants, this is your sign. The Plant Grant exists to get ecologically meaningful, pollinator-friendly native plants into schools, community gardens, churchyards, parks, and public spaces all across North Carolina — and we want to help make that happen for you!

This fall's grant includes nine carefully chosen native species: four keystone plants, two host plants, and three nectar plants, all selected for their ease of care, their beauty, and the incredible ecological work they do. Every standard grant includes 18 plants total — two of each species — yours to put to work wherever they're needed most. The HOA Plant Grant includes only one of each species for a total of 9 plants.

The grant is open to a wide range of organizations: schools, churches, libraries, parks and nature preserves, nonprofits, community pollinator gardens, Boy and Girl Scouts, 4-H Clubs, HOAs with communal gardens, and more. If you have a project, space and a vision for it, we encourage you to apply.

We put together a full blog post that covers everything — the complete plant lineup for this cycle, who's eligible, how the grant works, and the story of how the Plant Grant came to be in the first place. (Spoiler: it involves leftover plants, a practical problem, and a name we borrowed from one of our own recipients.) It's a good read and we think you'll enjoy it.

👇 Head to the link below in the comments to read the full post and get ready for June 1st.

05/27/2026

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘀
Sometimes officially described as part citizen science, part magic, and all parts pure moth joy, we’re purely delighted to return for another night of mothy mayhem across Hillsborough.

Whether you are a curious newcomer or a seasoned moth’er, young or old, join us for an evening of visiting multiple mothing locations* in a single night, resulting in the epic achievement of 𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙖𝙮 𝘼𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙃𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝!

A year has passed since we last gathered around the collecting sheets.

In that time, something has shifted. It feels a little celestial, like starlight traveling billions and billions of miles, reaching us long after it first began its journey. When we look up, we are seeing the past and the present at once. And in our own way, that’s what this return feels like too. We are back, but not the same. We’ve grown. We’ve changed. We’ve undergone metamorphosis.

𝑾𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒔.

Out of the darkness, they come, drawn from hidden places into illumination, into visibility, into presence. And we come too, drawn by curiosity, wonder, and something harder to name but easy to feel once you’re standing there, watching a Luna Moth flutter at the collecting sheet.

There is something quietly magical about it.

Here in the night, the world softens and expands. The darkness reveals rather than conceals. Another version of reality emerges, one that asks us to slow down, to notice, to be an observer: a citizen scientist. The moths connect us to nature, to each other, and to this fleeting moment of shared attention. Their diversity, endless in form, color, and expression, reflects something back to us, too.

This is a space rooted in inclusion, where everyone is truly welcome. Where moths, and the people who love them, are celebrated!

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆.

And for one night, under the glow of gathered light, we get to experience a world that only reveals itself to those willing to step into the dark and see who arrives!

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
This year's event spans three beautiful natural areas in and around Hillsborough:

Blackwood Farm Park
Brumley Forest Nature Preserve
Confluence Natural Area

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

The Moth Crawl has expanded this year with a new location and several exciting additions. CLAWS, a local wildlife rehabilitation organization, will join the event at Blackwood Farm Park with a live presentation called Frenemies, A Love Story — featuring owls, hawks, and falcons, and everybody's favorite corvids, Grip and Lark. The North Carolina Entomological Society will host hands-on, family-friendly insect activities at Confluence Natural Area.

𝗔 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲, 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 led by local expert Tracy Feldman will also be offered on Friday, June 5 at Durant Nature Preserve as both a community learning opportunity and a resource for Moth Crawl participants.

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
The Moth Crawl features two optional competitions for those who want to take their evening to the next level. The 𝗶𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 encourages playful participation in citizen science through observation and species documentation. The 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗵'𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 is a timed individual competition testing field observation skill across multiple biodiversity-based challenges, with premium moth equipment and the official title of The Grand Moth'er on the line.

𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆-𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆
The Hillsborough Moth Crawl is designed to welcome everyone: curious newcomers, seasoned naturalists, families, and children alike. Costumes are enthusiastically encouraged. Moth wings, antennae, sequins, and full cryptid fantasy are all equally at home alongside hiking boots and headlamps. There is no experience required and no judgment offered, only an open invitation to step into the dark and see what arrives!

Participants are encouraged to bring a flashlight or headlamp, wear closed-toe shoes and long pants, and apply insect repellent. Sunscreen is also recommended, as UV lights will be in use.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗴
All registered participants receive event swag at check-in. Fill your Stamp Card for a chance to win a special Hillsborough Moth Crawl T-shirt featuring the year's Spokes-moth, the stunning Io Moth (Automeris io), illustrated by artist 𝗝𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗻.

𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
The Moth Crawl has launched a formal sponsorship program for individuals, businesses, and organizations. Tiers start at $50 and include exclusive swag and perks.

05/24/2026

𝖵𝖮𝖫𝖴𝖭𝖳𝖤𝖤𝖱 𝖠𝖳 𝖳𝖧𝖤 𝖧𝖨𝖫𝖫𝖲𝖡𝖮𝖱𝖮𝖴𝖦𝖧 𝖬𝖮𝖳𝖧 𝖢𝖱𝖠𝖶𝖫
𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙣.

The Hillsborough Moth Crawl is a one-night, multi-venue moth light trapping extravaganza happening simultaneously across multiple locations. It's chaotic! It's beautiful! It's MOTHS! Volunteers get to choose both their venue and their role, so you're not just signing up to help, you're signing up for exactly the kind of MOTH experience you want to have!

As a thank-you for your service to mothkind, every volunteer receives a complimentary Limited Edition Commemorative Hillsborough Moth Crawl T-shirt to wear with pride on the night of the event.

The only hard requirement? You must love moths. Obviously!

𝙎𝙊 𝙒𝙃𝘼𝙏 𝙒𝙊𝙐𝙇𝘿 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙐𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙔 𝘽𝙀 𝘿𝙊𝙄𝙉𝙂?

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝘁 — 𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗝𝗲𝗱𝗶

Here's a fun fact: the lighted batons used to guide cars into parking spots are functionally indistinguishable from lightsabers. We're just saying! If you've ever wanted a legitimate excuse to dramatically wave a glowing stick at slow-moving vehicles while wearing a commemorative T-shirt and glow-in-the-dark safety vest, parking attendant is the role for you! You'll guide arriving guests, keep traffic moving, and set the tone for a magical evening, all before most people have even seen their first moth!

𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 — 𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is gloriously straightforward: keep the light trap stations operational. That's it! The frames are lightweight, which sounds great until a gust of wind comes through or someone bumps into the frame. You'll keep things upright, swap out batteries if a light goes dark, and generally make sure the moths have somewhere worth showing up to. If you happen to know your Sphinx moths from your Tiger moths, or you're handy with iNaturalist, feel free to help attendees with IDs. But honestly? Keeping the frames standing and the lights on is enough. You'll be a hero!

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — 𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲

This role has more moving parts than it sounds, and we mean that as a compliment! You'll be checking in registered attendees, handing out Swag Bags, and managing the T-shirt raffle, which involves the very satisfying task of exchanging completed Official Stamp Cards for a raffle ticket into the special T-shirt drawing. You'll also be the resident T-shirt promoter, general information desk, and all-around warm presence at the front of the event. If someone looks confused, that's your cue to help.

𝗘𝗻𝗱-𝗼𝗳-𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 — 𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗸!

We want to be upfront: when the moths have gone to bed and the evening wraps up, all volunteers are expected to help with tear-down. Before you panic, here's what that looks like in practice:

• Can you carry a lightweight box from point A to point B? Wonderful. You're helping.
• Can you assist with taking down a canopy tent? Fantastic.
• Up for hauling sandbags? You are an absolute legend.

Do whatever you're capable of. No one is keeping score. We just all clean up together, say good-night, and then tuck in the MOTHS!

05/22/2026

𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝟮𝟯

We’re half way through our Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser! We're pleased to announce that our fundraiser has been going fantastically! Thank you for all of your support for our organization and more importantly - the moths and butterflies!

There’s still plenty of time to visit, and this week we’re excited to introduce a fresh set of plants that bring new textures, colors, and ecological value to the garden starting May 23 and continuing through the rest of the month.

𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 is pure visual intensity in plant form. The red and yellow blooms are so saturated it almost feels like your retinas should be doing the screaming. It’s a striking, high-energy flower that doesn’t hold back—and beneath all that brilliance, it’s also a dependable support plant for our beloved pollinators throughout the season.

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆 stands out in any garden without trying to. Its silvery-blue tones and highly textured, unusually shaped flowers give it a sculptural presence that catches the eye from a distance and rewards a closer look. On any given day, you’ll find everything from tiny native bees to larger pollinating insects working its blooms, drawn in by both form and function.

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 is one of those plants we remember very specifically discovering for the first time years ago while visiting Monticello. We came across these strange, perfectly formed silvery-blue globes in the garden and had to stop in our tracks. They didn’t look quite real—somewhere between botanical and otherworldly. That moment stuck with us, and it’s part of why we still grow them today. In the garden, they bring that same sense of structure and surprise, while quietly feeding a steady stream of pollinators.

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 brings a soft, late-summer explosion of fuzzy blue blooms when much of the garden is starting to wind down. In the right conditions it can really take off, forming drifting patches of color that butterflies consistently return to when nectar sources become more scarce.

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮 is a quiet powerhouse in the garden. As a perennial host plant for multiple Sulphur butterfly species, it plays a crucial role in supporting life cycles that most people never get to witness up close—but that shape the entire ecosystem around us.

All plants are $5. Our Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser runs 12–5 pm every Saturday and Sunday in May at Backyard Butterflies, 1507 US Hwy 70A E, Hillsborough, NC 27278.

We hope you’ll come by, see the caterpillars in our gardens, and find some awesome and amazing plants to take home! Link to visit our online catalog in the comments!

Address

1507 US Highway 70A
Hillsborough, NC
27278

Website

http://www.ncmothproject.org/

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