NASH IN BLOOM

By Jenny White

One Nash County location perfect for admiring the landscape is the Nash County Arboretum. Located in front of and around the Nash County Agriculture Center on Eastern Avenue in Nashville, the arboretum is a living mural of the plants and trees found in eastern North Carolina.

Nash County Extension Agent Matt Stevens is the official superintendent of the arboretum, but Nash County Extension Master Gardeners conceptualized it in 2000 and have provided the ideas and manpower to nurture and grow it since then.

“Today there are 11 demonstration gardens in the arboretum and what you can see in each garden changes through the seasons and over the years,” Stevens said.

The demonstration gardens include the Rose Garden, Woodland Garden, Rain Garden, Pollinator Garden, Terraced Garden, Patriot Garden, 4-H Garden, Screening Garden, Tranquility Garden, Holly Garden and Homestead Garden that’s located behind the Agriculture Center beside a historic log cabin that has been moved to the property.

While the gardens are beautiful to walk through and enjoy, Stevens said they’re also educational. “People in the community can come and see options for their gardens at their homes. If you’ve got a shady spot where you can’t get anything to grow, our Woodland Garden can offer up some ideas. We try to show the community the diversity of plants you can plant in our area that are proven to work well with our climate,” Stevens said.

Self-guided tours are offered every day, sunrise to sunset.

Master Gardener Sue Battle Moore of Rocky Mount says the arboretum is one of her favorite places anywhere.

“I see our arboretum as a virtual outdoor museum and classroom featuring ‘mother nature’ at her best,” Moore said. “There is always something in motion in the gardens, whether it be the flitting of busy pollinators, the wafting of floral aromas, something budding or blooming, the forming of new leaves and twigs — and yes, even weeds popping up.”

Master Gardener Linda Tippette said her favorite garden to visit is the Tranquility Garden but she spends most of her time planning and working in the Homestead Project and Garden area.

“I’ve learned a lot from seeing the gardens here at the Arboretum and have applied what I’ve learned to my gardens at home,” she said. “That’s the beauty of the arboretum — you can learn and enjoy at the same time.”

50