Raulston Blooms! and Plant Sale
A Garden Festival for All Ages
- Saturday, April 29, 2023 – 10:00 am–3:00 pm
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 – access to exceptional unusual plants
- 21st Annual Birdhouse Competition
- Gardening talks – learn from the experts
- Used gardening book sale
- Educational displays and demonstrations
- Hands-on fun for children and families
- Invited artists and crafters
- Food trucks and NC State Howling Cow ice cream cups




Schedule of Events
- 10:00 am
- All Activities Open
JC Raulston Arboretum Plant Sale – Great Lawn
Educational Displays and Demonstrations – Great Lawn, The Nook
Artists and Crafters – Great Lawn
Food Trucks – Great Lawn
Family Fun Scavenger Hunt – The Yurt
21st Annual Birdhouse Competition, Howling Cow Ice Cream Cups, and Used Book Sale – Ruby C. McSwain Education Center - 11:00 am
- Jim Putnam, HortTube – "Proven & Potential Power Plants" – Speaker's Tent, Great Lawn
- 12:00 pm
- Brie Arthur, Brie Grows – "Creating Creative Containers" – Speaker's Tent, Great Lawn
- 1:00 pm
- Shawna Joplin, Dirtbag Gardens – "Success with Houseplants" – Speaker's Tent, Great Lawn
- 3:00 pm
- All Activities Conclude
Plant Sales
This is a plant sale you don't want to miss! Our horticulture staff will have over 250 types of plants ready for all plant lovers. Shop special theme areas like the collector's corner featuring small quantities of rare plants. There will be plenty of great choices for your home landscape that are sure to become your new favorites.
Can't wait? There are three ways to shop the sale this year! Shop early during the Online Spring Plant Sale starting Thursday, April 6 for members and Monday, April 10 for the general public. Members can shop the in-person sale early during the Members Only Spring Plant Sale on Friday, April 28. Whatever way you like to shop, there will be great plants to take home and enjoy!
At Raulston Blooms, we will be joined by some spectacular plant vendors. Make sure to stop by their tents and find even more plants.
Dirtbag GardensPine Knot Farms
Superior Plants Nursery