Winter Symposium and Rare & Unusual Plant Auction
"Gardening with Gusto"
- Saturday, February 21, 2026 – 9:00 am–12:30 pm
Infuse Your Passion Into the Garden and Let it Grow
Winter may quiet the garden, but it doesn’t have to quiet your passion. Gardening with Gusto, the JC Raulston Arboretum’s Winter Symposium, is designed to stoke the fires of curiosity, creativity, and love for plants during the cold months, so you can head into spring inspired and energized.
This morning symposium is for anyone who loves plants and gardening—whether you’re just starting out or have spent years nurturing your landscape. Through a series of engaging presentations from passionate horticulturists, you’ll be reminded why gardening captures our hearts and how it continues to connect us to nature, our communities, and each other. Along the way, you’ll cultivate joy, spark ideas, and gather inspiration to bring back to your own garden.
Gardening with Gusto is offered both in person and online, so you can join us no matter where you are. Recordings of all presentations will also be available to attendees, making it easy to revisit the ideas and inspiration that resonate most.
Stay tuned—more details about our exciting guest speakers and sessions will be shared soon. For now, mark your calendar and prepare to cultivate your passion and joy, even in the heart of winter.
Registration
Registration opening soon!
This program is available both in person and online. Recordings of the presentations and supplemental materials provided by the speakers will be made available to all participants.
- Early Registration (ends Sunday, February 1, 2026): $50.00 for members, $65.00 for nonmembers.
- Regular Registration (Monday, February 2 through Sunday, February 15, 2026): $65.00 for members, $80.00 for nonmembers.
- Late Registration (Monday, February 16 through Friday, February 20, 2026): $75.00 for members, $90.00 for nonmembers.
Registration is considered complete when payment is received. You will receive a confirmation receipt from notify@cashnet.com when registered.
Cancellation
Program cancellations can be made up to two weeks before the program's start date. No refunds will be made after this time. A 15% cancellation fee applies.
Auction
It's that time once again when the JCRA team pulls out all the stops and raids our own nursery collection plants to share in the Winter Auction. As always, we have some exceptionally cool plants.
No matter how jaded a plant lover you might be, there is sure to be something on the list to get your blood pumping and your temperature rising—the perfect antidote to the winter blues.
Auction Opens 3:00 pm et, Wednesday, February 18, 2026 and closes 12:30 pm et, Saturday, February 21, 2026. Times will be scheduled for auction winners to pick up plants from the JCRA.
All proceeds from the plant auction benefit the daily operations of the JC Raulston Arboretum. All funds raised from the plant auction are collected and managed by the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit (tax ID 56-6049304).
- Registration
Advance registration is required. Registration is available for in-person, on-site attendance or online attendance.
Registration is considered complete when payment is received. You will receive a confirmation receipt from notify@cashnet.com when registered.
- Cancellation
Program cancellations can be made up to two weeks before the program's start date. No refunds will be made after this time. A 15% cancellation fee applies.
To request a cancellation, send an email to the JCRA Education Team at jcraprograms@ncsu.edu with the participant name and program information.
- Location
- Online and in person at the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center, JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC 27606.
- Directions
- Need directions? Click here.
- 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.