Tenth annual Native Plant Festival happening this week in New Hanover County
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Gardeners and nature enthusiasts will soon have a chance to dig deeper into the world of native plants during the 10th Annual Native Plant Festival, happening September 17–21.
The event is hosted by the New Hanover County Arboretum, Cooperative Extension, and the Native Plant Alliance, and will feature a week of education, shopping, and hands-on inspiration for transforming yards into sustainable habitats for pollinators and wildlife.
The festival begins with its evening Speaker Series, held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. each night at the Arboretum.
- Wednesday, Patrick Bradshaw, a New Hanover County resident, will share his journey of turning a traditional yard into a native plant oasis.
- Thursday, Emilee Morrison, Onslow County Extension horticulture agent, will demonstrate how to design a native plant container garden.
- Friday, keynote speaker Basil Camu, co-founder of Leaf & Limb, will discuss his book “From Wasteland to Wonder” and share insights on purposeful gardening with trees, flowers, and soil.
On Saturday, local nurseries and garden centers will take part in Native Plant Shopping Day. Extension Master Gardener volunteers will be stationed at select vendors to answer questions, share research-based advice, and guide visitors toward the best native plants for their space. A list of participating vendors can be found here.
