News for the Garden – July-August 2015
New License Plate Celebrates Gardening
Backyard gardeners, landscapers and flower lovers soon will have a way to show off their passion for gardening with an “NC Gardening” specialty license plate from the N.C. Commercial Flower Growers Association. According to the association, flowers are a big business in North Carolina. The state’s floriculture industry ranks fourth nationally, generating $179 million in wholesale value and an additional $29 million from potted flower plants. All the flowers in the license plate design are grown in North Carolina. A minimum of 500 signatures is needed with the accompanying fees paid before the association can petition the General Assembly to introduce a bill authorizing this specialized plate. The association needs all signatures by February 15, 2016. For information about the license plate, call 919-607-1370.
Harold Johnson-show host / by Lise Jenkins
* Congrats to the Getting Dirty Radio Show, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in June. Produced by the Master Gardeners in Durham County, the show features stories about horticulture and innovation and the people who are leading the way. It is the first in the country to be produced by Master Gardener volunteers. The show broadcasts live at 2pm on Tuesdays on WCOM 103.5 FM in Carrboro and on Saturdays at 8am on WDFC 101.5 FM in Greensboro. Podcasts are available on iTunes.
* Bayer CropScience and The Lucy Daniels Center in Cary have partnered to create a first ever 1,400 square-foot community therapeutic teaching garden. The garden will provide those with mental health challenges a safe and alternative rehabilitative program and will serve as a community source for fresh produce. The Lucy Daniels Center is the largest and most comprehensive non-profit in the Triangle focused on providing mental health services to young children and their families. (lucydanielscenter.org).
* A new book, Modern Terrarium Studio: Design + Build Custom Landscapes with Succulents, Air Plants + More, was written by local author Megan George. The book is a step-by-step guide to everything about terrarium building and more. (thezensucculent.com)
* A standing-room only crowd saluted individuals and organizations committed to preserving and improving the environment at the City of Raleigh’s eighth annual Environmental Awards in April. Among the honored was Triangle Gardener writer Helen Yoest, who received the Native Landscaping Award for creating a sustainable wildlife habitat that uses water-wise gardening techniques and drought-tolerant and native plants. Congrats, Helen!