We help people in our community learn about plants and gardening.

What’s coming up

  • yellow and white blooms of chamomile, a medicinal herb

    Sept. 13: A talk about medicinal Herbs

    Join us on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2-3:30 p.m., for a free Dig Deeper talk on “Gardening for Self Care,” about growing and using medicinal herbs.

    The talk will be at the Orange County Public Library, 137 West Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC 27278.

    The speaker will be Hannah Popish, who has an herb farm in Chatham County.

    (Please consult your health care provider before using herbal treatments.)

    More Dig Deeper talks:

    Oct. 18, 2 p.m.: Gardening for Pollinators in Our Changing Climate. Speaker: Danesha Seth Carley, a horticultural science professor at NC State University.

    Nov. 15, 2 p.m.: The Plant Toolbox. Speaker: Scott Zona, a botanist at NC State University who oversees the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.

    (Photo of chamomile by Manuel, CC-BY-SA 2.0.)

  • Flyer with date/time/activity information about PlantFest.

    Save the date for PlantFest: Oct. 10

    Mark your calendar for PlantFest 2026, the annual plant sale and garden festival hosted by the Master Gardener volunteers of Orange County, NC.

    This year, PlantFest will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Blackwood Farm Park, north of Chapel Hill. Parking will be available at the park entrance on New Hope Church Road. New this year: A tram will shuttle people between the parking area and the event.

    We’ll have a big plant sale, kids’ activities, helpful gardening exhibits, music, food, free seed packets and more!

    We’ll share details in the coming weeks.

    Visit the PlantFest website www.PlantFestNC.org for more information. A plant list for the plant sale will be available later in September!

  • Photo of woman standing at table, talking to two people and pointing to soil and plant information sheets.

    Find us at farmers' markets

    The Master Gardener volunteers of Orange County host booths at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market and at the Eno River Farmers’ Market in Hillsborough.

    We have a booth at the Eno River Farmers’ Market on the third Saturday of each month, March to October.

    The Sept. 19 Eno River market will be at the Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Center because of Hog Day activities in downtown Hillsborough. When you visit the market, take time to visit our demonstration gardens at the Bonnie B. Davis center! Volunteers will be on hand from 9 a.m. to noon to talk to you and answer questions.

    Our booth at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market (301 West Main St., Carrboro) - will return on Saturdays, starting Sept. 12, after a summer break. That booth is open 8 a.m. to noon.

    At both markets, we love to answer gardening questions. We offer soil testing boxes and other information. Stop by and say hi!

    (Photo by Eric Kurtz.)