Extension Master Gardeners, Cumberland County NC

🦋The Extension Master Gardener Volunteers completed the Butterfly Project by celebrating the release of a dozen plus Painted Lady butterflies into the Cumberland County Demonstration Garden yesterday. Oh, what a beautiful day! 🦋

📸:Erica Mae Esslinger, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

Always a good day in the garden! Thanks to all of our hardworking Volunteers!

📸: Janice Gardner, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

Projects, by Janice Gardner, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

The parking lot was filling up with folks arriving for tours, work, and activities this morning at Cape Fear Botanical Garden (CFBG). Prep was ongoing for this evening’s Garden Gathering.

Grapevine & plants were hauled to the Veggie garden where we discussed the projects we hoped to complete today: transplanting blackberry shoots to replace ones recently lost; weaving grapevine onto the rectangular ‘fence’; reworking the compost bins under the potting bench; amending the perimeter beds; pulling out the spent Brussels sprouts; and planting/transplanting more veggies.
Jesse made quick work of planting the blackberry shoots, while the weaving was started on the ‘fence’ where we discovered that the okra was sprouting. The zucchini is blooming thanks to good deer protection. The pulled Brussels sprout leaves were added to the composting bin and the debris from last week over to the trailer to Bob and Dempsey. Bill helped Jesse dispose of the betony. The Veggie compost was turned and some used in our planting today – discovering worms in the process.
Masses of lemon balm were removed from the inside perimeter bed before being amended – thanks to the staff and Ryan for the compost delivery and to Zack for loading it to the beds. Nickie cultivated the bee balm (Monarda} and transplanted cluster cherry tomatoes along the fence. Sweet basil was added to the strawberry/leek bed which was left uncovered since the deer are not bothering it. New volunteer Susan cleaned the salvia bed and planted beans.

Our projects were completed before breaktime where today’s interesting conversation focused on books, story-telling, drama, and musical productions. Back at the garden, Brenda also shared a story about ‘One Bird at a Time’.

Extra hands today gave us time to for other tasks: cleaning the salvia bed, and planting beans; laying cardboard and mulch in walkways; thinning herbs - hanging some to dry on the General Store porch; and tidying more beds. The root crops - garlic, beets, onions, and beets - need more growing time. The garlic was lightly thinned but the bulbs are immature.

We left the garden at the end of our shift feeling a great sense of accomplishment. It was a productive day of growing veggies with all the other flowers and herbs that beautify it - while enjoying a time of learning and gardening fellowship.

📸: Janice Gardner ((Several photos of volunteers in action in the Heritage Garden.)

🎉A beautiful morning in the Cumberland County Extension Demonstration garden. Everything looks a little greener and taller after the much needed rain.

Thanks to all the wonderful Volunteers who maintain this amazing space. ❤️

📸: Lee Roberts, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer (various photos of garden landscape)

New Things, by Janice Gardner, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

The first Wednesday morning in May greeted us with a nice breeze and a beautiful blue sky. Staff and volunteers were spotted sprucing up the main entrance and beds along the path to Heritage. The first thing noticed across the bridge was a lovely pile of mulch Chad had delivered. All indicators were pointing to a great day in the garden.

Although the Veggie garden gates were shut tight, deer evidence was seen throughout. The beets under the netting are growing back but the rest were eaten. Tomato cages are not offering enough protection for the peppers, however those covered by a flat trellis are now bearing fruit.

Ashton planted his first seeds today – okra. We contrived a new ‘fence’ to protect this deer favorite. We surrounded them with a rectangular trellis and plan to weave grapevine around to give it a wattle fence appearance; in standing with the 1880-early 1900s era. Barbara and Stevie’s help are much appreciated.

Nickie, with new volunteer Chris, worked steadily on Florida Betony and walkway grass. That area looks immaculate with its new layer of mulch. Chad unfortunately was left a wheelbarrow full of the debris.

Jesse is trying a ‘natural fertilizer’ by burying borage (Borago officinalis) leaves. This edible annual herb, provides a lovely presentation and much nutrition to the garden, along with other benefits. It also carries a strong toxicity warning so checking the NC Plant Toolbox is always recommended. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/borago-officinalis/ It will be interesting to see how the zucchini plants respond and we may have to keep an eye out for an abundance of borage sprouts!

We gathered earlier around the picnic table for our usual time of refreshment and fellowship. Chris, Isaiah, & Ryan were welcomed. Hard workers, Chris is a seasoned volunteer at CFBG, and Isaiah, a sailor stationed in San Diego, is visiting with his college pal Ashton. Ryan, a NC State Biology major plans to clock his internship hours with the garden.

A few last tasks were completed as our shift came to an end and we met briefly with Heather about the reserved beds for CFBG’s Education department.

As we headed out it was clear that this morning’s premonition proved true – it was an excellent day in the garden with both our new and old gardening friends.

🦋 4-H Butterfly Project in Full Flight! 🦋

Today was a big day for the 4-H Butterfly Project!

Using the Winged Wonders curriculum from NC State University, the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGV) assisted in successfully preparing and delivering 55 butterfly kits to second grade classrooms across the county.

These kits reached classrooms in public, private, and charter schools, bringing hands-on science and a little bit of wonder to students everywhere.

This effort wouldn’t have been possible without the leadership of EMGV Erica Esslinger and fellow volunteers Marina Shelton, and RoseMary Baty-Willcox, who spent the day making deliveries and ensuring every classroom received their materials.

Thanks to the continued funding from the Cumberland County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association, this long-standing educational program continues reaching students across the county.

We’re so excited for these students to begin their journey observing the butterfly life cycle firsthand. Stay tuned for updates as their caterpillars grow and transform!

📸: Erica Mae Esslinger, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer and 4H Liaison

Time, by Janice Gardner, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

As we arrived at Cape Fear Botanical Garden this Wednesday morning we saw MGs Bob F. and Bill P. on cleanup detail around the main gate and service road. MG Jack D. was met in the parking lot loading his wagon with tools and shared that he was using Lysol to clean his tools, which according to Aimee Ladonski of SD State University Extension is a great commercial way to kill pathogenic bacterial, fungal, and viral organisms https://extension.sdstate.edu/organic-pest-control-methods. When asked what his task was for the day, he replied that he was finishing up from yesterday. That seems to be the way of it in the garden – trying to stay on top of the needs.

The Veggie garden was filled new and regular faces today: Cynthia made it back, Ashton joined us for his first experience and spent his time tackling the betony, while Zack and Jesse helped Nickie in the perimeter bed digging up the surplus lemon balm and rudbeckia, and the JCI group helped pull grass from the walkways. Today’s tasks included tightening the arched trellis, cutting down an unwanted shrub, transplanting tomatoes and zucchini as well as mounding the potatoes, weeding, and watering. In between this flurry of work, a middle school group came over with Bill P. for a little tour. They had a little hands-on with the shelling a garden pea, pulling spearmint, and seeing the root crops.

We now have a short interval of time while the veggies are getting established; soon we will be battling insect pests and hopefully starting to harvest. The garden peas have peas developing and the beets seem to be making a comeback under their netting.

Break was a little later today as time seemed to slip away from us. Snacks and conversation around the picnic table gave us a little renewed energy to clean up for the day. Our shift ended with more to be done, but we felt happy and productive in what we were able to accomplish together in the beloved Heritage garden.