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,...
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...
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...
Over the past few months, visitors to the Arboretum have had the exciting opportunity to witness the miracle of metamorphosis as part of the Arboretum’s Winged Wonders exhibit, on display daily in the Baker Exhibit Greenhouse from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October 29,...
Ever since we first heard the term “Colony Collapse Disorder” in 2007, the media has been abuzz with stories about the decline of honey bees and increasingly, pollinators in general. Albert Einstein is often attributed with a quote saying that if bees disappeared, man...
Celebriturtle: a member of the order Chelonia whose exploits have bestowed a level of prestige and admiration. Shelly the Eastern box turtle resides in the Nature Discovery Room on the ground floor of the Arboretum’s Education Center. Over the past seven years, she...
Butterflies and their close relatives, moths, are among the easiest groups of insects to recognize. Despite their familiarity, however, there are many misconceptions about butterflies and moths. Here are a few "lepidopteran legends," "swallowtail tales" and "fluttery...
The North Carolina Arboretum’s youth education program is designed to prepare children across North Carolina to succeed in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Annually, the Arboretum serves more than 26,000 school-aged youth through...
At the Arboretum, we work hard to uphold our mission of cultivating connections between people and plants, and provide opportunities for our visitors and members to learn about the unique cultural and natural heritage of our region. This effort also translates to our...
It may be a little hard to imagine layering up for a winter hike with the unseasonably warm weather we’ve seen over the past few weeks, but a chilly trek with friends is one of my favorite activities during the season of staying inside. When a sunny day shines down...