News
Chocolate and Other Holiday Inspirations
The holidays provide countless ways to incorporate plants into your gift-giving and other festivities. Below you will find five creative ways to celebrate the holidays and support The North Carolina Arboretum’s mission of cultivating connections between people and...
Fall Color and Green Peanut Butter
The wonder of fall color in the natural world can be scientifically explained, but sometimes a story is the best way to describe and remember this annual phenomenon. The story told to my daughters, who are now 24 and 27, goes something like this: “Daddy,” she says,...
Capturing Nature through Art: An Interview with Artist Ernestine Bucking
Early in her life, Austrian-born, Arden, N.C.-based artist and sculptor Ernestine Bucking realized how precious nature was and that in the most secluded places, an incredible scene can be found. Nature, birds, wildflowers and wildlife have always been her passion and...
The “King of Butterflies” – Honored by All Ages
Butterflies don’t bite. However, more and more people seem to have been bitten by the “monarch bug.” You may have seen these “victims,” who erect monarch waystation signs in their home gardens or chase monarchs with smartphones as they gather evidence to report their...
Uncovering the Wicked Side of Plants: Q&A with Author Amy Stewart
Best-selling New York Times author Amy Stewart is no stranger to the perils and pleasures of the natural world. To date, she has written nine books, including “The Drunken Botanist,” “Wicked Bugs” and “Flower Confidential.” Beyond putting pen to paper, Amy travels the...
Labor Day Favorites in WNC
The dog days of summer are coming to a close, and the recent blast of cool, crisp air is evidence that fall is certainly upon us. As we wind down from summer vacations, evening cookouts and trips to the lake, we gear up for summer’s final “hurrah” with Labor Day...
The August Garden Epiphany
The “dog days” of August have never been high on my list of favorite times of the year, but this year, something is different. The days, although hot and humid and punctuated with afternoon rain showers or downpours, are filled with plants that are actually thriving –...
Teaching Teachers the Wonders of Outdoor Learning and Education
Yesterday, Tuesday, August 15, 2017, The North Carolina Arboretum’s youth education program welcomed approximately 45 teachers for its first-ever Project OWL workshop. Project OWL (Outdoor Wonders and Learning) is a new schoolyard initiative developed by the Arboretum...
Experience an Eclipse
The entire country has been buzzing for months about August 21, when a total eclipse will be visible across a wide swath of the United States for the first time since 1979. Phenomena chasers, nature lovers, astronomy fans and so many others will flock towards Western...
Lighting Up Western North Carolina and Beyond
Next Wednesday, August 2, The North Carolina Arboretum will debut its new outdoor concert series and light show, Summer Lights. Open nightly from 9:00 to 10:45 p.m., Summer Lights will feature a specially designed projected light show that is synchronized to music...