John Dole, Professor of Horticultural Science at NCSU, will start with a brief history of the rose, continuing to modern commercial roses and a tour of US and global cut rose production. He will finish with a quick exploration of rose research at NC State, including how to make your cut roses last longer. 

This month we will explore the growing field of therapeutic horticulture and the age-old truth that gardening is good for the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. Amy Fee Bruzzichesi, MSW, HTR, will share an overview of this rewarding practice, which purposefully uses plants and gardens to improve mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. We will learn about her role and the exciting work happening right here in North Carolina, while taking a quick look back at how garden clubs played a role in building this type of work.

Did you know there's a 200-year-old ghost garden hidden in the woods of North Carolina that's bloomed for decades after the family who planted it passed on? Have you ever heard of the enchanted garden that once spanned an abandoned stone bridge in the mountains? And you may know about the Rose Garden in Raleigh - but did you know that exact same garden was once a tank training facility during World War I? Heather has travelled across North Carolina, visiting the most beautiful gardens in the state — while uncovering the secrets that lie beneath the flower petals.

Community gardens do much more than grow vegetables and flowers. They create opportunities for neighbors to connect, improve food access, support pollinators, beautify neighborhoods, and provide educational experiences for gardeners of all ages. This presentation will explore how community gardens operate, the benefits they provide, common challenges they face, and ways gardeners can become involved in strengthening local garden communities.

Erika’s talk will debunk the idea that orchids are difficult to grow. She will cover orchid anatomy and types, including basics about their roots, leaves and orchid spikes. A variety of popular varieties and growth habits will be discussed, including care requirements (light, water, temperature, humidity, feeding). She will also show us the art of potting including bowl selection, drainage, media and repotting.