Nash County Arboretum

08/25/2026

08/25/2026

The 2026 Great Southeast Pollinator Census has come to an end! 🐝🦋

People across six southeastern states participated in this community science project to educate the public about pollinators and create a regional snapshot of pollinator populations over time.

On Saturday, August 22, Extension Master Gardener volunteers at the Nash County Arboretum welcomed visitors to the Pollinator Garden to take part in the census. Before beginning their 15-minute counts, guests explored the garden and discovered some exciting pollinator activity of their own.

Visitors were delighted to see monarch caterpillars feeding on milkweed, and volunteers pointed out pipevine swallowtail caterpillars munching on Dutchman’s pipe. These discoveries highlighted the important role native plants play in supporting pollinators throughout their life cycles.

While fewer bees were observed that morning compared to last year’s census, the difference may have been influenced by this summer’s drought conditions. The data collected across the Southeast will help scientists better understand changes in pollinator populations and the effects of climate and environmental changes over time.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in counting, learning, and celebrating the amazing world of pollinators! 🌼

08/20/2026

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census weekend is almost here! 🐝🦋
Starting Friday, August 21, you can print a tally sheet from the census website and spend just 15 minutes counting the pollinators that land on a plant near you.

Join us at the Nash County Arboretum on Saturday, August 22, from 9:00–11:00 a.m. Extension Master Gardeners will provide everything you need—including tally sheets, tips for identifying bees, and plants where you can conduct your count.

Bring the kids! We’ll have activities for them while you participate, and they can even work alongside you as your counting partner. This is a fun citizen-science activity for all ages!

🌧️ Rain update: Because of the forecast, the state coordinator has extended the census through Monday, August 24. There will be no rain date for the Arboretum event, so if rain cancels Saturday morning’s event, you can still participate on your own using the tally sheet and instructions from the census website.

Join enthusiastic citizen scientists across six states as we collect valuable information about the types and numbers of pollinators in our region. Every 15-minute count helps!
👉 Tally sheets and instructions: gsepc.org
Town of Nashville Parks and Recreation Town of Nashville, NC

08/17/2026

When you shop for plants at the nursery, do you head straight for the flowers? 🌸

Nash County Arboretum Extension Master Garden volunteers Cathy Wittman and Jeannie Gibbs explained that this is a common way to shop—but beautiful gardens are about much more than blooms!

At the recent monthly garden tour, Cathy and Jeannie demonstrated in the shady 4H Garden how fabulous foliage can become a powerful element of landscape design. Here are some of their tips:

🍃 Play with foliage color. Use color to unite a disjointed garden or breathe new life into it. Repeat colors throughout the garden to create harmony, and don't forget to notice the colors of new growth and the undersides of leaves.

🍃 Consider texture. Fine leaves create an airy feel, while coarse leaves grab attention and add contrast.

🍃 Look at leaf shapes. Heart-shaped, round, lobed and other distinctive shapes can add interest. Grouping plants with similar shapes creates repetition and rhythm.

🍃 Don't overlook variegation. Variegated foliage can provide a welcome contrast to a sea of green. Pair it with plants that make those colors really pop!

🌿 Try the “leaf stack challenge”! Snip leaves that appeal to you and stack them from largest to smallest. Experiment with different sizes, shapes, colors and textures. Then imagine how that combination might look in your own garden.

The next time you visit the nursery, don't just stop and smell the roses—take a good look at the leaves! 🌿
Town of Nashville Parks and Recreation Town of Nashville, NC Explore Nash County

08/14/2026

🐝 Kids can be citizen scientists, too! 🦋

Bring the whole family to the Nash County Arboretum on Saturday, August 22, from 9:00–11:00 a.m. for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census!

It’s easy—and kids are welcome! Extension Master Gardeners will show you how to spend just 15 minutes watching a flowering plant and counting the pollinators that visit. Your observations will become part of a regional citizen science project helping researchers learn more about pollinators across the Southeast.

🌻 Young children can enjoy pollinator-themed nature activities while they learn about bees, butterflies and other important pollinators.

Come count, explore, learn and have fun! No experience necessary. Bring your family and be part of the science!

📍 Nash County Arboretum
📅 Saturday, August 22
⏰ 9:00–11:00 a.m.
Town of Nashville Parks and Recreation Town of Nashville, NC Explore Nash County

08/09/2026

🌿 Think Beyond the Blooms! 🌿

When you plant a garden, do you mainly think about what will bloom? Don’t forget about the foliage! Leaves can add just as much beauty and interest to a garden as flowers.

Think about how texture, color, shape, and leaf size can make your garden really pop. Contrasting foliage textures can add depth and visual interest—even when flowers aren’t in bloom.

🌱 Join us at the Nash County Arboretum on Friday, August 14, at 11:00 a.m. to learn from Extension Master Gardener volunteer Cathy Wittman and garden steward Jeannie Gibbs how the 4-H Garden uses foliage to maximize its appeal.

Come discover how to make your garden shine—from the ground up! 🌿
Town of Nashville Parks and Recreation Explore Nash County

08/02/2026

Are insects making a meal of your garden? Not sure whether that bug is a pest—or a helpful garden ally?

Stop by the Extension Master Gardener booth at the Nash County Farmers Market on Saturday, August 8, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. and chat with Extension Master Gardener volunteer Anna Stark. She’ll be on hand to answer your insect questions and explain how to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to keep your garden healthy.

The key to successful IPM is learning to identify pests correctly, recognize beneficial insects that help control them, and use environmentally responsible management practices instead of automatically reaching for pesticides.

Bring your questions—and if possible, bring a photo of the insect or the damage it’s causing. We’ll help you solve the mystery!

08/01/2026

Congratulations to Nash County's Agriculture Extension agent, Colby Griffin, on this recognition!! Colby, we're proud of all you do for Nash County!

07/30/2026

Join us for the 2026 Great Southeast Pollinator Census and become part of a community-wide citizen science project!

In just 15 minutes, you can help scientists learn more about the bees, butterflies, flies, wasps, beetles, birds, and other pollinators that keep our ecosystems thriving. The observations collected by volunteers across the Southeast provide valuable data about pollinator populations and help guide future conservation efforts.

Never identified a pollinator before? No problem!

Visit the Nash County Arboretum, where Extension Master Gardener volunteers will show you exactly how to participate. We'll provide simple instructions, identification guides, tally sheets, and everything you need to complete your 15-minute pollinator count in the beautiful Pollinator Garden.

Bring the whole family! Kid-friendly activities will be available, making this a fun and educational morning for all ages.

📅 Saturday, August 22
🕘 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
📍 Nash County Arboretum

Help us count pollinators—and make a real contribution to scientific research, one flower at a time!
Town of Nashville, NC Town of Nashville Parks and Recreation Explore Nash County Wilson Botanical Gardens Pitt County Arboretum Behind the Pines Farm