Garden Journal

Posted on by Cecil Bothwell

Grab your clippers!: Trim water sprouts on trees now while the plant energy is moving into the roots. Come springtime, sap and energy rise back up into the plant, and trimming may actually encourage water-sprout growth.

Mums the word: The North Carolina Chrysanthemum Society hosts its annual show at the North Carolina Arboretum on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21 and 22, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year’s show features a Japanese theme and highlights the exceptional variety of chrysanthemums in their size, shape and color. The program is free of charge; usual parking fees will apply. For more information, call 665-2492 or visit www.ncarboretum.org.

Got Hydrangeas?: Mal Condon of Nantucket Hydrangea Farms hosts “Got Hydrangeas?,” a slide presentation and lecture on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the North Carolina Arboretum. Sponsored by the Blue Ridge Hydrangea Society, Condon’s presentation will cover such topics as new ideas for winter protection as well as pruning techniques for this region. The group will also be selling T-shirts that feature a spectacular, monster-sized hydrangea from New Zealand, and members will be on hand to answer questions. The program is free of charge; usual parking fees will apply.

Complete mastery: Think you might be interested in becoming a Master Gardener volunteer, but want to learn more? Attend an introduction to the Extension Master Gardener Program at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Buncombe County Center (94 Coxe Ave. in Asheville) on Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information, call 255-5522 or e-mail linda_blue@ncsu.edu.

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About Cecil Bothwell
A writer for Mountain Xpress since three years before there WAS an MX--back in the days of GreenLine. Former managing editor of the paper, founding editor of the Warren Wilson College environmental journal, Heartstone, member of the national editorial board of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, publisher of Brave Ulysses Books, radio host of "Blows Against the Empire" on WPVM-LP 103.5 FM, co-author of the best selling guide Finding your way in Asheville. Lives with three cats, macs and cacti. His other car is a canoe. Paints, plays music and for the past five years has been researching and soon to publish a critical biography--Billy Graham: Prince of War:
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