Fire cider is a great herbal tonic used to support the immune system, especially during the fall and winter season. It has been a traditional medicine of various cultures over the centuries. Come learn about the history of fire cider and make your own to take home with Education Coordinator Rosie Reeves. The information presented in this class is intended for educational purposes and should not be considered an endorsement of or recommendation for any medical treatment. Please consult your health care provider before pursuing any herbal or homemade treatments.

September 12, 2-3 pm

$15 public/$12 friends

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Isaac Wyatt, Agricultural Program Assistant with Henderson County Extension, will teach the basics of seed saving. Learn to save seeds from your favorite veggies, flowers, and herbs to start for the next year!

September 12, 2-3 pm

$15 public/$12 friends

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Learn all about North America’s largest native fruit, the pawpaw! Join Henderson County Specialized Extension Agent Craig Mauney in exploring this curious fruiting tree.

August 22 , 2-4

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Henderson County Extension Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show Steve Pettis will talk about the importance of Western North Carolina’s tree canopy, tree health, tree care and how individuals can make a difference.

August 8, 2-4 pm

$15 public/$12 friends

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This class will provide a comprehensive overview of identifying common insects and pests in your garden and how to implement eco-friendly strategies to manage them. Blue Ridge Community College faculty member Rachel Meriwether will discuss effective natural pest control for home gardeners.

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Henderson County Extension Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show Steve Pettis will discuss the importance of beneficial insects and pollinators and how to garden for their benefit. Then Steve will lead a pollinator walk through the Bullington Garden grounds.

July 11, 2-4.

$15 public/$12 friends

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Honeybees are a well-known pollinator, but have you ever heard of mason bees, one of our more efficient pollinators? Or learned more about the bumble bee, known for it’s “buzz pollination” that helps flowers bee more productive? Join native bee experts Jill and Brannen from Spriggley’s Beescaping to learn more about the native bees in our area and why it’s so critical that we support them.

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Kids ages 5-10 are welcome as Jill and Brannen from Spriggley’s Beescaping introduce kids to native bees and other spectacular pollinators! There will be a quick story, along with a kid-friendly craft to help create habitat for native bees! Jill Jacobs and Brannen Basham.

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Bonsai is the ancient art of dwarfing trees. The goal is to create in miniature a tree that looks like a mature tree. The word bonsai literally means ‘plant in a tray’. The concept is simple; restrict the growth of a plant’s roots and shoots, allowing the trunk to grow. The end result is a plant that appears to be a miniature representation of its relatives in the wild. Join Horticulture Agent Steve Pettis to learn how to create bonsai trees. Attendees will get to take home their very own bonsai tree!

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Ephemerals, Mosses, & Ferns

Henderson County Extension Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show Steve Pettis will discuss the many flowers that grow in the Spring time in the forests of Western North Carolina. He will discuss some of the most common spring ephemeral plants' biology, their pollinators and some of the interesting history of these special plants as well as mosses and ferns.

May 2, 2-4 pm.

$15 public/$12 friends.

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Back by popular demand!

Steve Pettis, Henderson County Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show, will teach attendees about basic fungal biology, how to grow mushrooms at home, and the top wild mushrooms to collect in the forest.

Rescheduled for January 23, 2-4pm.

$15 public/$12 friends

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Build your own evergreen gnome in this kid-friendly and family oriented workshop. Price is per gnome and up to 3 family members.

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FALL FOR GARDENING IN THE MOUNTAINS-Mushroom Basics

Join us for our autumn gardening class series, with Steve Pettis, Henderson County Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent, who will make you *fall* (or fall back in love with!) gardening in our unique mountain landscape. Friends of Bullington take 25% off the regular course fee!

Mushroom Basics

January 10, 2023 – 2pm-4pm

$15 per person. $12 for Friends of Bullington.

Are you fungi-curious? In this class students will learn basic fungal biology, discover the top wild mushrooms to collect in the forest, even get pointers on how to grow mushrooms at home!

Register Here

This class was so well-attended this summer, Steve returns to talk more about our amazing trees! The forests of Henderson County make it such a wonderful place to live; but our forests are being cut down for development, and trees that are planted into new landscapes are often planted improperly. Learn how we can protect our forests, plant trees for the future and keep Henderson County green!

New to our area? New to gardening? Need a plant identification refresher? Steve will introduce students to the many wonderful native plants that are available to gardeners in Western North Carolina.

What could make an autumn stroll in the beautiful forests of Western NC even better? Hiking along with your own hand-crafted walking stick! Join our Education Director, Tracy Calla, for this fun DIY workshop to create a unique walking stick for yourself, or to give as a gift to your favorite hiker.

Are you fungi-curious?

In this class students will learn basic fungal biology, discover the top wild mushrooms to collect in the forest, even get pointers on how to grow mushrooms at home!