April 15 - 16 - coastal NC. Please visit www.nccoast.org for more information about the festival and for a complete listing of native plants available for sale.

Regarding We-Du Natives (Meadowbrook Nursery), I just wanted to add some commentary regarding my most recent experience with this nursery with the hope that it's of some help here. I had never dealt with this on-line operation prior to ordering a 2 gallon Hamamelis virginiana 'Mohonk Red'. It arrived incredibly well-packed and in excellent health. Immediately after planting, it has taken off. This prompted me to cancel an order I had with another on-line nursery for some other items and a 'Diane" witch hazel in order to place another order with Meadowbrook for a 'Sunburst' witch hazel and a raspberry mountain laurel. I received tracking numbers from Meadowbrook immediately after my orders shipped. As further testament to their outstanding customer service, I telephoned Jamie with a question while waiting for the Sunburst and mountain laurel. Even as busy as they must be with Mother's Day coming up, Jamie, pleasant as could be, was more than happy to field my queries. After he remembered my name from my previous orders, he informed me that he had shipped me a 'Diane' by mistake instead of the Sunburst I had ordered with the mountain laurel, but that it was my lucky day, as he told me that he had caught the error and immediately shipped me a Sunburst on them! The Sunburst will arrive the day after the Diane and my planting will carry on without a blip! I couldn't recommend this nursery more.

Thanks for thinking about natives. The Triad group does not, alas, have a regular meeting spot but often meets in Kernersville since most members are from the WS/Gsb area. In the late spring and summer months we usually do hikes and have indoor things when the weather is not so kind. The Triad group has no local dues, but you have to be a member of the state organization...(see first posting). Please join and then come to our hikes and meetings. Contact kathy@ncwildflower.org. She is our fearless leader. We also have two groups at the coast, one in the Raleigh/Durham/Carey area, and one in Asheville, I think. Contact tom@ncwildflower.org for those addresses. I have learned so much meeting and hiking with this group!

April 16 - NC Coastal Federation, Newport NC More info: www.nccoast.org NC Coast - Morehead City/Jacksonville/Newport area