NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, Carteret County

NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, Carteret County We engage the public to provide information on gardening and environmental stewardship.

🍂 Did you feel a little “fall-like” breeze this weekend?It may still be warm here in coastal North Carolina, but that li...
09/08/2026

🍂 Did you feel a little “fall-like” breeze this weekend?

It may still be warm here in coastal North Carolina, but that little change in the air is a reminder that autumn is just around the corner.

And that means it’s time to think about seeds! 🌱

Fall is an excellent time to sow many native wildflower seeds. A little preparation now lets winter’s natural cold and moisture help set the stage for spring germination.

Here are six native plants you can sow this autumn:

🌺 Beebalm (Monarda didyma)
🖤 Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
🧡 Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
💛 Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
💗 Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
🤍 Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

So enjoy that first little hint of fall—and start saving those seeds! 🍂🌱

09/07/2026

🐦 Happy National Hummingbird Day!

Hummingbirds don't need a feeder to make your garden their favorite stop. 🌿

Native plants provide something a feeder can't: nectar, shelter, nesting habitat and a place to find tiny insects—an important part of a hummingbird's diet.

Want more hummingbirds in your yard? Consider native favorites such as cardinal flower, coral honeysuckle, bee balm and trumpet honeysuckle.

🌺 Plant the habitat, and the hummingbirds will come.

09/07/2026

🌱 That’s a wrap on another propagation season!

Our Master Gardener propagation team has finished the season, and what a season it was! The variety and number of plants grown have been outstanding—and so have the sales.

Those sales benefit the Beaufort Historical Association, which generously provides us with the space to grow, propagate, and do what we love. 💚

But don’t expect our Master Gardeners to sit still for long! 😉 Many of our propagation team members—and other Master Gardener volunteers—will be sowing seeds, taking cuttings, dividing plants, and growing treasures at home for our Annual Spring Plant Sale.

🌿 Mark your calendars now!
📅 April 9 & 10, 2027

We’ll see you in the garden! 🌱

🌱 Before we plant for fall, let’s test the soil!At the Goodness Garden, lead volunteer Sue Howren is wrapping up the sum...
09/04/2026

🌱 Before we plant for fall, let’s test the soil!
At the Goodness Garden, lead volunteer Sue Howren is wrapping up the summer growing season by taking soil samples—one of the simplest and most useful things a gardener can do before starting the next crop.
A soil test can tell you:
🌿 Your soil pH
🪴 Which nutrients are already present
💰 What your soil actually needs—so you don't spend money on fertilizer or lime you don't need
💧 How to avoid excess nutrients that can affect our waterways
And here's some good news for N.C. gardeners: soil testing is FREE for N.C. residents from April 1 through late November.
🧪 Need a soil sample box?
Soil testing kits are available at:
📍 NC Cooperative Extension Office
303 College Circle, Morehead City
3rd floor of the CMAST Building
📍 Newport Garden Center
291 Chatham Street, Newport
📍 Carteret County Public Library – Western Branch
230 Taylor Notion Road, Cape Carteret
📍 Carteret County Public Library – Down East Branch
708 US Hwy 70, Beaufort
Before you reach for the lime or fertilizer, test first. A few minutes collecting a soil sample can help you start your fall garden with a better understanding of what's happening beneath your feet. 🌱
👉 Learn more about N.C. homeowner soil testing

🍄 September is National Mushroom Month!Mushrooms may appear briefly, but the fungi producing them are working year-round...
09/03/2026

🍄 September is National Mushroom Month!
Mushrooms may appear briefly, but the fungi producing them are working year-round beneath our feet.
In a healthy garden, fungi help break down organic matter, recycle nutrients and form relationships with plant roots. They're an essential part of the soil ecosystem.
So the next time you spot a mushroom popping up in your garden, don't automatically reach for the rake. 👀
It may be a sign that something fascinating is happening beneath the surface.
🍄 The garden has a hidden workforce—and fungi are part of it.

09/03/2026

🚨 INVASIVE SPECIES ALERT: Butterfly Bush

It’s beautiful. Butterflies visit it. And it’s still an invasive species.

Buddleja davidii is a non-native invasive plant listed as a Severe Threat by the North Carolina Native Plant Society.

Why does that matter?

🌱 Rapid Spread — Produces abundant seeds that can spread beyond cultivated landscapes.
🌿 Competition — Can compete with native plants for space and resources.
🏞️ Habitat Invasion — Can establish in disturbed and natural areas.
🦋 Wildlife Impact — While it provides nectar for adult butterflies, it does not provide the host-plant resources that butterfly caterpillars need and can displace native plants that support a much broader range of wildlife.

Attracting butterflies isn't the same as supporting butterflies.

Before planting a “pollinator-friendly” plant, look beyond the flowers. Choose native plants that support the entire ecosystem. 🌿

🌼 Native Plant Spotlight: Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora)Goldenrod often gets blamed for fall allergies—but it deserves...
09/02/2026

🌼 Native Plant Spotlight: Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora)

Goldenrod often gets blamed for fall allergies—but it deserves a standing ovation instead!

Sweet Goldenrod is one of North Carolina's most garden-friendly native perennials. Unlike the wind-pollinated ragweed that blooms at the same time, goldenrod's heavy pollen is carried by insects, not the wind. That means it's an essential food source for pollinators—not the cause of your sneezing.

From late summer into fall, its graceful spikes of golden-yellow flowers attract native bees, butterflies, wasps, beetles, and many other beneficial insects preparing for winter. Crush one of its leaves, and you'll discover its delightful anise (licorice) fragrance—a unique feature that gives this plant its common name.

Sweet Goldenrod is a beautiful addition to pollinator gardens, native landscapes, and perennial borders.
Pair it with blue-flowering natives like Aromatic Aster or Blue Mistflower for a stunning late-season display that benefits wildlife and brightens the garden.

🌼 Plant native. Feed pollinators. Bust the goldenrod myth.

🌱 Fall Gardening Is in Full Swing!The kids in the Sunshine Lady Club in Morehead City (part of the Boys & Girls Club of ...
09/01/2026

🌱 Fall Gardening Is in Full Swing!

The kids in the Sunshine Lady Club in Morehead City (part of the Boys & Girls Club of Coastal Carolina), got their hands dirty this week as they prepared their garden for the fall growing season! 🥕🥬

They tackled the whole gardening process—from clearing out weeds and spent plants, to adding fresh soil, preparing the beds, and planting fall crops. And they did plenty of the work themselves! 💪🌱
It’s more than gardening. These hands-on experiences give kids a chance to learn where food comes from, build confidence, work as a team, and discover the rewards of growing something themselves.

A big thank-you to Carteret County Extension Agent Shawn Banks and Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Judy Hassler and Deborah Blazys for helping the kids learn, grow and get their garden ready for a new season!

🌱 Dig in. Get growing. Learn something new!

🌱 WE’LL BE DONE SEPTEMBER 1! 🌱Our propagation team is putting away tools for the season—but there are still plants for s...
08/28/2026

🌱 WE’LL BE DONE SEPTEMBER 1! 🌱

Our propagation team is putting away tools for the season—but there are still plants for sale at the Beaufort Historic Site!

🌿 BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE
While they last!

Stock up on plants for your garden help support the Beaufort Historical Association and show some love 💖for our Carteret County Master Gardener℠ volunteers.

Address

303 College Circle
Morehead City, NC
28557

Telephone

+12522226352

Website

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