Darwin Day Lecture: Using science-fiction depictions to learn real-world evolution concepts

Monday, February 12; 7 - 8 p.m.
with Dr. Mohamed Noor, Professor of Biology, Interim Vice Provost, Duke University, and a scientific consultant for the Star Trek Universe
While some people choose to learn about evolution through coursework, a large number of people could be interested if evolution was presented in another subject of interest. In this talk, Professor Noor introduces evolutionary concepts, thinking, and approaches framed with depictions from the Star Trek television franchise. More information >

In the DeBerry Gallery

THROUGH FEBRUARY 25, 2024

Patterns of Radiance
Botanically-inspired work by Laurie Basham, Vidabeth Bensen, Cathy Boytos, and Dain Kim

Exhibit Reception: Sunday, February 25; 2-4 p.m.

A cure for the winter blues: Cheerful pastel still lifes, patterned prints of leaves and flowers, colored pencil illustrations, and bright acrylics come together in this exhibit of work by four North Carolina artists. Most artwork in this show is for sale!
 

MARCH-APRIL 2024

The Longleaf Pine Savanna – An Artistic Exploration of an Ecosystem
An exhibition by the members of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Carolinas Chapter and North Carolina Botanical Artists Circle

The longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the most diverse habitats in North America and includes many federal endangered species as well as species of concern. This exhibit includes a selection of flora and fauna that still exist in the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) environment.

Exhibit Reception: Sunday, March 3, 2-4 p.m.

Learn more about the DeBerry Gallery >

In the Garden Shop

We are excited about our Saving our Savannas: Stories of the Longleaf Pine exhibition! We have a variety of related books available in the Garden Shop, including several by upcoming speakers. Find them in person or online >

Please note: The Daily Plant Sale is closed and will re-open in March. 

Welcome, Brandon!

Brandon Wheeler, our new conservation ecologist, comes to us from NC State Parks where he worked as a botanical inventory technician. Hailing from the small town of Barbecue, North Carolina (which lacks a BBQ restaurant), Brandon earned his B.S. from UNC in 2019 and his M.S. from Western Carolina in 2023. Between degrees, Brandon worked with NCBG as a conservation intern and as a botanical technician in Central California, spending much of 2020 in the remote Sierra Nevada. When not actively thinking about plants, Brandon enjoys brewing espresso, riding his bike, and curling up with a good book while a sporting event plays quietly in the background. Welcome, Brandon!

Seeking summer interns

Join our team this summer! We’re hiring for summer internships in our Conservation, Horticulture, and Learning & Community Engagement departments. These positions provide students and emerging professionals a chance to gain hands-on experience in fields ranging from sustainable gardening to natural areas management. Find out more >

Interested in other positions? We’re also hiring for Summer Environmental Educators, and more positions may become available soon. See a list of all open positions >

Hybrid Therapeutic Horticulture

The Hybrid Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture (HCTH) is a nine-month program combining comprehensive online and in-person instruction to professionals and students in allied health, education, and design fields who wish to incorporate therapeutic horticulture into their practice. The next session begins in August, and scholarships are available. Applications are due February 29. Apply here >

Learn more about the Hybrid Therapeutic Horticulture program > 
 

The African American Legacy in Gardening and Horticulture Symposium

Hayti Heritage Center
804 Old Fayetteville Street, Durham NC 27701
March 30, 2024, 10 a.m.
Free and Open to the Public

The North Carolina Botanical Garden is proud to partner with the Durham County Library, Sarah P. Duke Gardens, NC A&T, and other local organizations for the African American Legacy in Gardening and Horticulture Symposium. This one-day event will explore the unsung historical legacy of African American plantspeople, horticulturalists, residential gardeners, and gardening clubs. These personal narratives and generational gardening practices have all too often been ignored, overlooked, or not fully appreciated within the framework of American landscape history, global ethno-botanical viewpoints, and contemporary environmental writing. Learn more and register >

Haw River Assembly Sustainability Scholarships

The 2024 Sustainability Scholarships are now open for application through the Haw River Assembly. Made possible by the generosity of the late environmental advocate, George Pauly, this scholarship honors his commitment to a sustainable future. It supports individuals in promoting sustainability and environmental protection in the Haw River watershed by covering expenses related to training and certification programs. Educational programs can include certifications and workshops from the North Carolina Botanical Garden, community colleges, universities, N.C. Environmental Education, and other appropriate organizations. A first round of applications will be accepted until February 29, 2024. Learn more and apply >

Happy Valentine’s Day from the North Carolina Botanical Garden

Thank you to all our North Carolina Botanical Garden Foundation members, supporters, volunteers, corporate partners, and event hosts. Friends like you keep the Garden growing by inspiring understanding, appreciation, and conservation of plants. We appreciate you and your support, and wish you an early Happy Valentine’s Day!
 
To show your love for the Garden or to make a special Valentine’s Day tribute gift, contact Kristen Hironimus at 919-843-2411 or khjay@unc.edu.

Further Afield: Strolling around Purgatory

Herbarium curator Carol Ann McCormick and her husband recently explored Purgatory Mountain in Randolph County, stumbling upon a sweet surprise. Read more in this article by Carol Ann >

Photo by Bruce A. Sorrie

Center for Plant Conservation Seed Longevity Study

Our research was highlighted in December's edition of Samara, the international newsletter of the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership. We're part of a seed longevity study with the Center for Plant Conservation that aims to understand how long seeds remain viable in traditional seed banks. This study aims to evaluate and understand a new way to track the aging rate of seeds from wild rare plants. Read the article > 

The bent avens (Geum geniculatum) pictured here and featured in the article, is one of the species we've collected for the study. It's a critically imperiled member of the rose family that grows only on a few high-elevation peaks in the southern Appalachians. Our director of conservation, Mike Kunz, took the photo! The newsletter's cover photo, also taken by Mike, shows former NCBG intern Joshua Pil collecting bent avens in the wild.

NASA identifies suitable flytrap habitat

Harnessing the power of satellites for conservation! Thanks to a team from NASA DEVELOP National Program, we have a better understanding of sites that might serve as suitable Venus flytrap habitats and how those sites are forecasted to change over the next 30 years.

Venus flytraps are native to only a roughly 90-mile inland radius around Wilmington, NC, but the majority of their natural habitat has been drained, developed, or otherwise destroyed.

The NASA DEVELOP team, in partnership with the North Carolina Botanical Garden and North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, used remote sensing data and population records to produce maps that predict where in the flytraps' historical range they might continue to grow best – and what sites in that range are most at risk for development. These results can inform our conservation team's seed-banking and reintroduction efforts and help prioritize new sites for protection. Explore their StoryMap >

Become an Event Host

With the arrival of 2024, a new season of Garden signature events begins! You are invited to host one or more of these events held at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. Event Hosts are individuals and/or families who provide direct support to allow specific events to flourish, helping the Garden reach its mission and impact a larger audience.
 
Our largest signature events are the annual Carolina Moonlight Garden Party (May 18) and the Sculpture in the Garden Preview Party (September 14). Your support ensures the Garden’s success in 2024. Please hold these dates and plan to join us!
 
View our event host packet for a full list of 2024 Signature Events. For more information contact Stephen Keith at 919-962-9458 or by email.

Saving Our Savannas: Stories of the Longleaf Pine

Join us for Saving Our Savannas: Stories of the Longleaf Pine, a six-month series of programs and events honoring the natural, cultural, and historical significance of longleaf pine communities. Each month focuses on a different theme, from fire adaptation to Indigenous connections to longleaf pines of the future. Events are open to all and include lectures, art classes, tours, and more! Learn more about the exhibition >
 

UNDERSTANDING AND DRAWING CONIFER TREES

WILD HERBS OF THE LONGLEAF PINE FOREST AND CAROLINAS

ETHNOBOTANY OF THE PINES

CRAFTING SAVANNAS SPECIES WITH PAPER: SANDHILLS LILY

ANNUAL EVELYN MCNEILL SIMS NATIVE PLANT LECTURE: FINDING OUR FUTURE IN LONGLEAF DIVERSITY

This is just a short sampling of events, but you can view the full lineup of events (with even more to come!) by visiting ncbg.unc.edu/longleaf.

Join us for these Lunchbox Talks and Special Presentations:

HYBRID LUNCHBOX TALK: THE RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER: A FIRE SPECIALIST IN PERIL (SOS)

Thursday, February 8; 12-1 p.m. •  Free, preregistration required  More information >
 

HYBRID LUNCHBOX TALK: BOARDWALKS AND BURNS: STORIES OF THE NCBG HABITAT GARDENS (SOS)

Wednesday, February 21; 12-1 p.m. •  Free, preregistration required  More information >
 

HYBRID LUNCHBOX TALK: FIRE SUPPRESSION AND REINTRODUCTION IN LONGLEAF PINE-WIREGRASS ECOSYSTEMS IN GEORGIA (SOS)

Thursday, February 22; 12-1 p.m. •  Free, preregistration required  More information >

(SOS) = part of the Saving our Savannas: Stories of the Longleaf Pine exhibition

Other Workshops & Classes

ROOTED: RHYTHMS & RITUALS

Saturday, February 24; 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. •  $29 ($26 Members) More information and registration >
 

YAUPON HOLLY AND THE ETHNOBOTANY OF CAFFEINE

AN INTRODUCTION TO BIRDS AND BIRDING

Wednesday, March 13; 6-8:30 p.m. and a weekend outing to Mason Farm Biological Reserve •  $52 ($47 Members) More information and registration >
 

INTRODUCTION TO THE ZENTANGLE® ART METHOD WITH FLORALS - VIRTUAL

SMALL WONDERS, SMALL SHIFTS

RELAX WITH WATERCOLORS: BRUSH PAINTED FLORALS

SPRING AT MASON FARM

Saturday, April 27; 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. •  $21 ($19 Members) More information and registration >

See a list of all education program offerings >

Camp Flytrap 2024

Camp Flytrap sessions are full, but there are still a couple ways for children to get involved.

Camp Scholarships
The Garden offers a limited number of partial camp scholarships. Scholarships are open to all campers and awarded based on need and availability. Applications due by 5 p.m. on March 1. Camp scholarship application >

Looking for Teen Volunteers! 
The teen camp volunteer program is open to all students in rising grades 9-12 who have an interest in and enthusiasm for working with children in an outdoor setting and gaining experience in environmental education. Teens assist with week-long summer nature camps for children ages 4-10. Responsibilities include engaging and overseeing children during camp activities, e.g. outdoor explorations, games, and crafts, as well as helping with set-up/cleanup and meal times. Service-learning hours granted. Applications due by 5 p.m. on March 31. More information and application >
 

NEW! School's Out Camps

School's out for a teacher workday? Get your child outdoors and into nature at the Garden! 
Designed for young nature enthusiasts and led by experienced environmental educators, our school's out camps offer a perfect blend of outdoor exploration, wildlife discovery, and creative indoor activities. 

SCHOOL'S OUT CAMP: WINTER WONDERS
Friday, February 9; 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., ages 6-8, $75 ($68 Household & Above Members) More information >

SPRING BREAK CAMP
April 1-5; 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., ages 6-8, $360 ($324 Household & Above Members) More information >
 
SCHOOL'S OUT CAMP: PLANT SUPERPOWERS! 
Friday, Apr 19; 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., ages 6-8, $75 ($68 Household & Above Members) More information >

For Preschoolers

LITTLE SPROUTS: SALAMANDER, WAKE UP! 
Friday, February 23; 10 - 11 a.m.
For ages 3-5 with parent/caregiver
Salamanders are stirring! Discover the mysterious lives of the spotted and marbled salamanders that live at the Garden through animal encounters, stories, craft, and a visit to a real vernal pool to search for salamander eggs. $10 per child ($9 Household Level + above Members) More information >

LITTLE SPROUTS: I SPY SPRING
Friday, March 22; 10 - 11 a.m.
For ages 3-5 with parent/caregiver
Spring has sprung! What’s blooming? Who’s singing? Let’s explore the garden for all things springtime – frogs, flowers, new leaves, nesting birds – and enjoy stories and a craft, too. Fee: $10 per child ($9 Household Level + above Members) More information >

BLUETS: PRESCHOOLERS EXPLORING NATURE 
Spring Series: Wednesdays, April 10 - May 15 (6 sessions); 1:30-3:30 p.m.
For ages 4-5
Learning comes naturally during this fun-filled, drop-off series that fosters a sense of wonder for nature and science. Preschoolers will discover plant and animal life in the Garden and explore seasonal changes through hands-on activities, nature walks, stories, crafts, and group play. $144 ($130 Household Level + above Members) More information >

For Families

VERNAL POOLS FAMILY WORKSHOP 
Saturday, March 2; 1:30-3:30 p.m.
For ages 6 & up with participating adult
Chorus frogs, dragonfly larvae, and spotted salamanders … oh my! Nature is waking up in the garden’s vernal pools. These spring nurseries are swimming with life in early spring. Peek into the ponds with dip nets, meet live critters, and learn all about the wonders of vernal pools. Fee: $12 per child ($10.80 Household Level & above Members); no fee for participating adult More information >

LONGNEEDLE: MEET THE AUTHOR & CRAFT PAPER SCULPTURES - FREE! 
with author Anne Marshall Runyon
Saturday, March 23; 2-3 p.m.
For ages 6 & up with participating adult
We're celebrating the amazing longleaf pine habitat this spring! Join us for a special program with author and illustrator Anne Marshall Runyon. Anne will read excerpts from her wonderful picture book, Longneedle, about the 300-year life of a single longleaf pine tree in the North Carolina Coastal Plain – how it survived fire and hurricanes and its connections with other plants and animals. See original illustrations and learn about the inspiration behind the book, too. Following the reading, families will have the unique opportunity to craft paper sculptures of the two charming squirrels featured in Longneedle – the fox squirrel and the southern flying squirrel. FREE, but space is limited. Pre-registration required. More information >

Donations and memberships are more important now than ever. Please consider giving to the Garden or becoming a Member today.
 

Thank you, Corporate Partners