5/28/2020
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Virtual LUNCHBOX Talk: Forgotten Landscapes: Restoring Battle Park's Remnant Woodland
Why are there are historical records of sun-loving plants in what's now the shady forest of Battle Park? How do prairie species contribute to the native plant diversity of this region? Nick Adams, NCBG natural areas manager, will answer these questions while he shares charismatic wildflower species that grow in a remnant open woodland in Battle Park and discusses why this area is ripe for restoration.

7/11/2020
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

FREE Second Saturday Tour
Did you know that the Garden offers FREE guided tours the second Saturday of every month? Each month offers a glimpse into what’s happening in our unique native plant gardens – from spring wildflowers to fall color – and what makes the NCBG one of the premier conservation gardens in the US. Tours are one (1) hour and led by our skilled volunteer Garden Guides. FREE, but please pre-register. Space is limited! Meet in the Allen Education Center lobby at 10:00 AM.

7/25/2020
9:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Hike: Stalking the Carolina Lily
Join Ken Moore for a hike on Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area to see the illusive state wildflower, Carolina Lily (Lilium michauxii). This lily was designated the official State Wildflower, ‘Carolina Lily,’ in 2003. Although it grows throughout the state from Manteo to Murphy, it is seldom seen because many folks avoid walking outdoors in the heat of the summer and utility crews frequently mow and spread herbicide areas where the Carolina Lily occurs. In addition to the Carolina Lily in flower, a diversity of other interesting mid-summer wildflowers will be discovered on Occoneechee Mountain. The walk should be considered a hike; much of the path is uneven and rocky with some steep climbs. Sturdy walking shows (boots), walking stick, water, light snack and binoculars are recommended. Walk, 2 – 2 ½ hours, will begin on site at 9:00 a.m. and last 2 to 2.5 hours. The meet-up location will be provided upon completion of registration.

8/8/2020
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Field Trip - A Piedmont Prairie Garden: the creation and management of a vanishing landscape
It’s extraordinary to consider that three hundred years ago the terrain surrounding what is now Durham would have been open grassland supporting a myriad of wildflowers, grasses and associated wildlife. The ‘Piedmont Prairie’ in the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants at Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a one acre garden rendition of native grassland created with 20,000 individual wildflowers and grasses, close to 100 species and all grown from locally collected seed. This walk will not only cover the creation, development and management of this landscape but also focus on the importance of this type of habitat to wildlife.

8/13/2020
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

LUNCHBOX Talk: Wildflowers of the Eno River Diabase Area
The Eno River Diabase area is home to remarkable plant diversity, driven by the unique geology and soils found here. The NC Plant Conservation Program and its partners have been working together to protect this area and the species which make it so special. Lesley will provide a history of the conservation and protection efforts in this area, share current management and research endeavors, and end with information about how you can get involved.

8/15/2020
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Coker Arboretum Tour
Take a tour of this gem on the UNC campus with a Coker Arboretum curator! This walking tour will explore the 5-acres that make up the Arboretum, allowing time for observation and discussion. Each tour differs as wildflowers bloom and the gardens change through the seasons.

8/22/2020
12:30 PM to 4:30 PM

Flying Jewels and Wildflowers in the Garden: The Science of Banding Hummingbirds
Discover how researchers band ruby-throated hummingbirds, North Carolina’s only native hummingbird. Meet local ruby-throated hummingbirds and witness up-close how researchers trap, handle, and band these tiny birds for data recording. Learn about their fascinating lives and hear about native wildflowers and woody plants that provide nectar and fulfill habitat needs.

9/19/2020
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Local Excursion: Early Autumn Wildflowers and Vegetation in the Eno Diabase Area
The Eno River Diabase Sill Natural Area is located in Durham County. Many may be familiar with the Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve, which is at the heart of this important rare plant area. There are several additional protected properties in this vicinity including the Eno River Diabase Sill and Hebron Road Plant Conservation Preserves owned and managed by the NC Plant Conservation Program, and the Blue Indigo Slopes Nature Preserve owned and managed by the Eno River Association, to name a few. Each of the partners in this area have contributed significantly to the overall conservation success story. Circumneutral soils, derived from diabase substrate, are a shared key feature of these sites, allowing many rare prairie-affiliated plant populations to flourish. Most notable is the federally endangered smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata), but there are 23 additional rare plant species in this area. Our autumn tour will highlight fall wildflowers and the beauty of these special places in fruit. Transportation not included. We will meet at the site (directions provided upon registration).