Raulston Blooms!

A Garden Festival for All Ages

• Saturday, April 6, 2019 – 10:00 am–4:00 pm

What is it? Fun for the whole family! Learn, shop for your garden, get great ideas, and enjoy gourmet treats while supporting the JC Raulston Arboretum. We're rolling out the red carpet for members, home gardeners, families, and children by offering a day that's packed with garden and nature activities, shopping, and outdoor fun.

Enjoy

• JCRA Spring Plant Sale – plus select guest plant vendors
  • Pine Knot Farms
  • Mr. Maple
  • Superior Plants Nursery
  • Wood Thrush Native Plant Nursery
• 19th Annual Birdhouse Competition
• Gardening talks – learn from the experts
• Hands-on fun for children and families
• Invited artists and crafters
• Food trucks and NC State Howling Cow ice cream cups
• Educational displays and demonstrations

Gardening Talks

Get great ideas for your home landscape from the experts.

Mark Weathington, JCRA Director
Frank Hyman, Autho of Hentopia
Matt & Tim Nichols, Mr. Maple
Jonathan Lelito, Ph.D., BASF

Spring Plant Sale

Gardeners love buying hard to find plants selected especially for our climate by JCRA staff. Plus, this year's plant sale has been expanded and will include Pine Knot Farms, Mr. Maple, Superior Plants Nursery, and Green Hill Farm. Members will save 10% on JC Raulston Arboretum plants only. A plant list is available for online viewing.

Members-only Preview Sale

Members can shop early on Friday, April 5 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Not a member? Join today.

Plant List

Birdhouse Competition

The 19th Annual Birdhouse Competition, which draws entries in categories from age six to adult, is inspiring, fanciful, and fun! It's a perennial hit with everyone from serious bird watchers and nature photographers to school classes and scouts.

Children and Family

For children there will be exciting hands-on learning activities, garden crafts, and science experiences. Learn about bees, bugs, chickens, and more.

Artists and Craftsmen

Shop for one-of-a-kind gifts and items from artisans and vendors.

Food Vendors

Gourmet treats will be available for purchase from food trucks and other vendors. NC State's famous Howling Cow ice cream cups will also be for sale.

Schedule of Events

10:00 am

All Activities OpenJC Raulston Arboretum Plant Sale – Great Lawn
Superior Plants Nursery, Pine Knot Farms, Mr. Maple, and Green Hill Farm – Great Lawn
Educational Displays and Demonstrations – Great Lawn
Artists and Crafters – Great Lawn
Food Trucks – Great Lawn
Family Fun (Scavenger Hunt Begins Here) – The Yurt
19th Annual Birdhouse Competition , Howling Cow Ice Cream, and Used Book Sale – Ruby C. McSwain Education Center

10:30 am

Jonathan Lelito – "Living Acres: How to Help Support Pollinators in Your Garden and on Your Farm" – Speaker's Tent, Great Lawn

11:30 am

Frank Hyman – "Hentopia: More Eggs, Less Work" – Speaker's Tent, Great Lawn

12:30 pm

Matt and Tim Nichols – "Best Japanese Maples for the South" – Speaker's Tent, Great Lawn

2:00 pm

Mark Weathington – "Plants for the South" and book signing – Speaker's Tent, Great Lawn

4:00 pm

All Activities Conclude

Gardening Talks

Jonathan Lelito, Ph.D., Team Leader, Insect and Plant Propagation, BASF
"Living Acres: How to Help Support Pollinators in Your Garden and on Your Farm"
10:30 am – Speaker's Tent, Great Lawn

Frank Hyman, Frank Hyman, Author of Hentopia: Create a Hassle-Free Habitat for Happy Chickens
"Hentopia: More Eggs, Less Work"
11:30 am – Speaker's Tent, Great Lawn

Matt and Tim Nichols, Mr. Maple
"Best Japanese Maples for the South"
12:30 pm – Speaker's Tent, Great Lawn

Mark Weathington, Director, JC Raulston Arboretum
"Plants for the South"
2:00 pm – Speaker's Tent, Great Lawn

Educational Displays and Demonstrations

Herpetology Club at NC State
Leopold Wildlife Club
Wake County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers
Vermicomposting
Wake County 4-H
Wake Audubon
Bluebirders of Wake County
Five County Beekeepers Association
BASF (Pollinators and Monarchs)
Girl Scouts

Plant Sales

JC Raulston Arboretum
Superior Plants Nursery
Pine Knot Farms
Mr. Maple
Green Hill Farm

Artists and Crafters

Cedar Works by Frank
Kathryn Wiegand Artisanal Jewerlry
Mary Jo's Studio
Vole King

Food Trucks

Bam Pow Chow
Baguettaboutit
Dusty Donuts
Baltic Bites

Proceeds from Raulston Blooms! benefit the daily operations of the JC Raulston Arboretum. Raulston Blooms! is sponsored by and fund-raising efforts operate under the auspices of the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit (tax ID 56-6049304).

Cost

Free for members and college students with college identification, $5.00 for nonmembers, $10.00 per family. Admission includes admission to the 19th Annual Birdhouse Competition and JCRA Plant Sale, too. The last tickets will be sold at 3:30 pm.

Registration

Tickets for Raulston Blooms! are available the day of the event at the entrance to the JC Raulston Arboretum.

Cancellation

This event is rain or shine and all ticket sales are final.

Location

JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Directions

Need directions? Click here.

Parking

Free parking is available along Beryl Road and in the Brickhaven Building's parking lot.

Questions

Please call (919) 515-3132 for more information about this event.