Cape Fear Botanical Garden

03/27/2025

Veggie Volunteer Report - 3/26/25 (excerpted)
As we walked over to Heritage this morning we noticed new plants blooming along the path. A lovely bed of ‘Bunch Flowering Daffodils presented us with a spectacular show.

Marty was already tackling the Florida Betony around the composting area. We gathered to discuss today’s goals and took a little walk about to check last week’s progress. The seed potatoes are planted, the asparagus is producing, the sweet pea vines are growing with their companion radishes now peeping, and the strawberries are bearing fruit.

Today’s overall goal was to complete as much weeding as possible and to concentrate our efforts on cleanup for a few more weeks until all danger of frost has passed before we plant warm weather vegetables – no matter how much we are tempted!

Cleanup included weeding the potatoes and other beds, laying paper under the walkways, and tackling the Florida Betony on both the north and south ends of the garden. Nickie made a monumental pile of this “rattlesnake weed” which was then taken to the trash dumpster. Leslie will find quite a lot of henbit in compost bin #1.

Although today was a true “Wednesday Weeding”, there were other interesting things happening as well; the lemon balm was thinned for propagation, the remaining blueberry bush was planted on the south end fence, the hellebores spilling out on the walkway by the farmhouse were thinned, and radish seeds were planted in the cleaned potato bed.

There was some excitement when Nickie encountered two of the first snakes to be spotted this season. They appeared to be either Smooth/Rough Earth Snakes. Marty found a really small one in that same “weedy” spot a couple of weeks ago - Another good reason to get those weeds under control!

Visitors from Boise, Idaho. stopped by the veggie garden near the end of our shift; visiting a new grandchild, they often make CFBG part of their Fayetteville experience. The family will soon be transferring to Colorado and took an offered mint plant as a memory of their time here.

03/26/2025

Why visit the Garden in April? Because everything comes to life. From blooming trails to buzzing pollinators, it’s the perfect time to get outside, shake off winter, and soak in the beauty of spring. Here's what's happening this month at Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

Learn more, see other classes, and register as needed at capefearbg.org

* Family Art Night: Earth Flags - April 3
* BioBlitz Kids Science Day - April 5
* Drop-In Garden Tour - April 6
* Intro to Propagation Workshop - April 10
* Dog Day in the Garden - April 12
* Day Camp - Art Adventures - April 15
* Day Camp - Wild Wonders - April 17
* Drop-In Garden Tour - April 19
* Kids Night Out - April 25
* Family Program: Soapstone Carving - April 26
* Art of Noticing & Nature Journaling - April 26
* Drop-In Garden Tour - April 26
* Composting 101 - April 29

PLUS: Garden open daily for self-exploration (Extended Hours on Thursdays); Tai Chi (Tuesdays) and Yoga (Thursdays)

Let us see you at the Garden in April!

03/25/2025

Picnics Welcome at the Garden!

Planning a peaceful lunch outdoors? You’re welcome to bring your own picnic to Cape Fear Botanical Garden! Pack your favorite treats, bring a blanket or chairs, and find a cozy spot to relax among the flowers and trees.

We also offer light snacks and sweets at Lucia’s Coffee & More, and you’re welcome to use any tables throughout the Garden that aren’t reserved for a class or event. The Visitor Pavilion patio (overlooking the Cypress Pond) is a favorite spot, too!

Whether you’re here for a stroll or just soaking up the sunshine—make it a picnic day!

03/23/2025

Saturday, March 24 at 10am or 2pm -- Join a Guided Garden Tour and let our expert docents uncover hidden gems, share fascinating stories, and point out seasonal highlights you might have missed. Every tour is a new adventure! No reservations needed—just drop in and explore with us.

Also Happening at the Garden this Week:
* Monday, March 25: Tai Chi (adults)
* Thursday, March 27: Yoga (adults)
* Friday, March 28: Framed Flower Art - FULL

See information on all upcoming Garden events at capefearbg.org/event

03/21/2025

Happy Spring!

03/20/2025

Longer Days, More Time to Explore!

Cape Fear Botanical Garden is now open until 7 PM on Thursdays—giving you extra time to soak up the beauty of longer daylight hours.

Whether you're winding down after work, enjoying an evening stroll, or browsing the Gift Shop (which stays open, too!), take advantage of the extra time to experience the Garden in a whole new light.

Now through November.

Come enjoy a little more nature in your evening! 🌿✨

03/20/2025

Veggie Volunteers Report for March 19 (excerpted)

There are signs that warmer weather is near but we are still preparing and gardening with the average last spring freeze date in mind; according to the NCSU freeze map Fayetteville’s date is listed as March 31st. However; it is not uncommon for gardeners in our area to wait a couple more weeks in case of a weather surprise.

At the Veggie Garden, beds are being cleaned and cultivated, cool weather crops are being planted, while brassica and herbs are being tended. The two-week-old garden peas have sprouted and today there was the planting of radishes. Speaking of signs, deer tracks and other evidence were visible in the garden this morning. No apparent damage was spotted, but we plan to refurbish the whirligigs to possibly help deter them. Thankfully, the newly covered raised bed protected the strawberries!

We were joined today by Sabrina, another FSU student who has chosen to complete her volunteer hours at CFBG. We also welcomed back Master Gardener Nickie and her expertise, as well as our great MG Interns! With their help we accomplished quite a bit, primarily transplanting rogue herbs and chives, and cleaning the perimeter and planting beds. Alicia tended the lavender she planted last week with some TLC.

About midmorning we took a break around the new picnic tables by the farm house. We learned more about our student volunteers and caught up with everyone else. We could see large groups of school children touring Heritage.

Long time Master Gardener Leslie was able to join us near the end of our break. She graciously gave us a tutorial on her specialty - the three-bin compost system at Heritage. Marty and Amir have been helping her turn the compost; and since most volunteers also garden at home this was an extra special opportunity for learning - thank you Leslie!

03/19/2025

We're Hiring! Event Closer Position Available

Cape Fear Botanical Garden is looking for a Part-Time Event Closer to help ensure smooth and successful events! From weddings and galas to fundraisers and private celebrations, you'll play a key role in making memorable experiences happen.

✨ What You’ll Do:
✔ Represent the Garden during events
✔ Assist clients and vendors
✔ Help with event logistics and venue wrap-up
✔ Secure the building at the end of the night

📅 Evening & weekend availability required
🍹 NC ABC beverage service training required (online course provided)

Love events? Have great customer service skills? This could be the perfect fit!

📍 Apply now: capefearbg.org/careers/

03/17/2025

🌸 Spring Break Day Camps – Spots Still Available!

Give your child a spring break adventure filled with creativity, exploration, and hands-on fun at Cape Fear Botanical Garden!

🎨 Art Adventures – Tuesday, April 15 (Ages 5-8)
🐾 Wild Wonders – Thursday, April 17 (Ages 6-10)

Whether they love making art inspired by nature or exploring the wild wonders of the Garden, these one-day camps are the perfect way to spend a spring day outdoors!

📍 Spots are limited—register now! capefearbg.org/event

February 1 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am FULL! Nature Tales: Sparkling Snowflakes Cape Fear Botanical Garden 536 N. Eastern Boulevard, Fayetteville, NC, United States Every Nature Tales includes an engaging, themed storytime led by Cumberland County librarians and a child friendly craft project selected and...

03/16/2025

The Garden After Dark - Saturday, March 22 - For one night only, Cape Fear Botanical Garden transforms into an after-hours escape where music, lights, and nature collide. Sip, explore, and play your way through a night of unexpected encounters, glowing games, and wild experiences you won’t find anywhere else.

Get your tickets here: capefearbg.org/event/adult-night-nocturnal-nature/

***
Also Happening in the Garden this Week

* Monday, March 17; Homeschool - FULL
* Tuesday, March 18: Tai Chi (adults)
* Wednesday, March 19: Preschool - FULL
* Thursday, March 20: Yoga (adults)
* Sunday, March 23: Drop-In Garden Tours

See all event information at capefearbg.org/event

03/15/2025

The Leprechauns have left the Garden for today. Sneaky little guys. Please check back tomorrow to get a leprechaun update. ☘️

03/14/2025

🌸 Spring is Showing Off—Take a Guided Garden Tour in March 🌸

There’s no better time to explore the Garden than right now, with spring in full bloom! Join a guided tour led by an experienced docent or staff member and discover the Garden in a whole new way.

* Saturday, March 15: 10am & 2pm
* Sunday, March 23: 2pm
* Saturday, March 29: 10am & 2pm

On this one-hour walking tour, suitable for all ages, your guide will:
🔎 Point out unique features you might otherwise miss
📖 Share stories from 35 years of Garden history
🌿 Highlight areas you'll want to revisit on your own for a deeper experience

You'll get to see:
🦋 Butterfly Stroll – A pollinator’s paradise
🏡 1800s Heritage Garden – Step back in time
🌳 Treetop Canopy Walk – A unique view from above
🌸 Reflection Garden – A peaceful retreat
AND MORE!

📅 Tours resume this weekend! Just drop in and sign up the day of—no reservations needed. Only a $5 add-on to your admission.

CFBG is a public garden & venue situated on 80 acres just 2 miles from downtown Fayetteville, NC.

03/14/2025

Help Create Summer Memories! 🌞
Summer camp is a place for adventure, discovery, and unforgettable moments—and you can help make that possible for even more kids in our community!

Your donation to the CFBG Summer Camp Scholarship Fund provides opportunities for exploring nature, getting hands-on with science, and experiencing the joy of outdoor learning.

💚 $25 – A day of camp fun
💚 $133 – A full week of adventure
💚 $170 – A week of culinary camp
💚 $250 – Day Camp for 25 kids
💚 $1,000 – A full week for 15 kids from a local organization

🎯 Goal: $8,900 to bring more campers into the Garden this summer!

Together, we can spark curiosity, build confidence, and create lasting memories. Gifts of any about are welcome.

📩 Give now:

Please click the link to complete this form.

03/13/2025

Weekly Veggie Volunteer Report

Spring bulbs of hyacinths and daffodils alongside the sidewalk greeted us on our walk over to Heritage this morning giving the impression that spring had arrived; however, the chilly morning air told a different story with temperatures hovering around 45 degrees. Nonetheless, dressing in layers was a testament to our faith that temperatures would soon warm up.

Our Heritage volunteer group today – MG Interns, an FSU student, as well as some long-time volunteers – made the trek to gather tools from the barn and plants from the greenhouse. At the veggie garden, a little walk about acclimated the new volunteers with the area and the potential vision for the growing season. Everyone set to work in their chosen task and soon enough pansy, lavender, and parsley plants were transplanted, garlic was hoed, compost was turned, and weeds were pulled. Before long coats were shed!

Marlena and Stevie planted blueberry bushes and amended beds along the inside perimeter, while the east facing outside raised bed was planted with strawberries. We wondered if this would be setting a buffet for the deer, but Marlena had an innovative solution with the help of Evan, a hardscape volunteer at CFBG. He built a hinged gate elevated on legs on top of the bed and covered with chicken wire. Evan is a part of the Army Career Skills Program (CSP), a vocational program that allows Soldiers to train in career opportunities after the completion of military service.

Gardening is our purpose at Heritage, but the people we meet there also make it a special experience. Today’s visitors included a first-time visitor from Texas who took some of the mint for his tea home with him. One young one completing a scavenger hunt with her Mom came looking for a bulb she planted last fall during an education class. We marked an area that looked like a possibility for locating it in the future. Adam, the Horticulture director, was spotted gleaning plants for an upcoming class. College student and volunteer Amir planted his first ever plant today – actually five!

Finishing up for the day and heading back to the parking lot, the mostly happy sound of children’s voices heard at the visitor’s complex, matched the joy in the heart after a wonderful day of gardening with friends - new and old.

03/12/2025

We LOVE Field Trips! Spring Dates filing quickly. Contact our Education Department for information on bringing your class to the Garden -- OR our Educators coming to your School!

[email protected]

03/12/2025

GOT YOUR TICKETS YET?

By day, the Garden is peaceful, a retreat filled with flowers and sunlight. But for one night only, it transforms into something entirely different—a place where nightlife meets nature.

Music fills the air. Lights glow against the trees. Drinks in hand, you explore after dark—guided night hikes, wild science experiments, unexpected encounters. This isn’t your usual Garden visit. This is The Garden After Dark - An Adults-Only Nighttime Nature Experience

Round up your crew, grab a drink, and step into an unforgettable night of music, games, and glowing surprises.

📅 March 22 | 6-9 PM
🎟 Tickets on sale now: capefearbg.org/event/adult-night-nocturnal-nature/

Please click the link to complete this form.

03/11/2025

MANY THANKS to American Heritage Girls Troop 4445 of Fayetteville for helping in our Heritage Garden last week. Along with their chaperones and the CFBG Horticulture Team, this crew really dug into their work while learning about NC plants and their importance to our history.



If your group is interested in coming out to the Garden for volunteering, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected]

03/10/2025

🌿 Meet the Amazing Team Behind CFBG Summer Camp! 🌞

Great camps start with great leaders—and our CFBG Summer Camp Team is the best of the best! With advanced degrees, certifications, and years of experience, they bring expertise, creativity, and a love for nature to every camp session.

From hands-on science to outdoor adventures, our educators make sure every camper has a safe, engaging, and unforgettable summer! 🌱✨

Give your child a camp experience led by experts who love what they do! Learn more & register today: capefearbg.org/camps2025

P.S. This is the same amazing team that leads nature programs all year long! Check out upcoming classes at capefearbg.org/event 🌿📅