Evening Garden Stroll
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 — 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Free Public Tour at 6 pm.
Take a break from your weekly grind with some time outdoors after work — wander the gardens at your own pace and relax in the evening atmosphere.
The gardens will remain open until 7:30 pm, and a free public tour of the JCRA will be led by our 2026 Summer Horticulture Interns. Meet at the Bobby G. Wilder Visitor Center at 6 pm to join the tour. Additionally, Wake County Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers will be available at the Visitor Center to answer any plant-related questions you may have.
The Color Trials are blooming their hearts out, and you do not want to miss this year's show! Our highlight for July's Evening Garden Stroll is a chance to see where the best of the best new plants are tested along with an opportunity to vote for your favorites.
Come take an after-hours stroll with our Interns and cast your votes for the most captivating new plants in our annual Summer Color Trials.
The Color Trials at the JC Raulston Arboretum is an official All-America Selections (AAS) testing site for new cultivars of bedding plants, flowers and cool season plants in North America.
Upcoming Evening Garden Strolls:
- Tuesday, August 11 — 4:30 pm — 7:30 pm
- Tuesday, September 8 — 4:30 pm — 7:30 pm
- Tuesday, October 13* — 4:30 pm — 7 pm
*note the earlier closing time due to earlier sunset
- Cost
- Free.
- Location
- JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC 27606.
- Directions
- Get directions to the JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Parking
- Free parking is available at the JC Raulston Arboretum and along Beryl Road.
- Questions
- Contact the JCRA Education Team at jcraprograms@ncsu.edu for more information about this program.