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 Gardens
Pine Knot Farms
Superior Plants Nursery

Proceeds from Raulston Blooms! benefit the daily operations of the JC Raulston Arboretum. All funds raised at Raulston Blooms! are collected and managed by 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 JCRA Plant Sale. The last tickets will be sold at 2:30 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, NC 27606.
Directions: Need directions? Click here.
Parking: Free parking is available along Beryl Road.
Questions: Please call (919) 515-3132 or e-mail jcra-events@ncsu.edu for more information about this event.

JC Raulston Arboretum

Special Hours for Raulston Blooms!