Welcome. The site below searches NCSU site, and man, do they have plant info! NCSU holds more patents than any other institution and many of them are ag-related. The handouts you mention will be on this site, since NCSU is land grant university associated with local county extension offices. Here's your county site: http://mecklenburg.ces.ncsu.edu/ "Master Gardeners are available at 704-336-4011, from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM, Mondays through Fridays (March 1 through October 31)." Also try
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/index.html

You have the Elezabeth Lawrence Garden there. Grab one of her books and visit the place if you want to really immerse yourself! http://www.elizabethlawrence.org/tour.html
(And count yourself lucky cuz Raleigh failed to preserve her garden here.)

Posting here is fun and I've never seen anyone "flamed."

Here is a link that might be useful: Google search of NCSU

Thanks,
I checked out the UNSC site and found some programming on a local T.V. station they offer about gardening. I also noticed they have a free pamphlet that they distribute around town at several locations. I'll be sure to pick up a few, or even fork over the 12 bucks to have it delivered :)

I guess from reading other posts that my first nursery trips should be to Rountree, and Garden Grove and Dearness in Huntersville (one more place to get lost finding). LOL

I see that I missed a Charlotte Swap by about a month or so :( and I know I missed all the Spring Sales that were probably held at the assorted botanical gardens *sigh*.

Thanks again to any and all who might offer up some exciting tips for beginning my Charlotte gardening experience.

Welcome to NC. I was up at the Charlotte Spring Show and discovered that the local extension runs a WONDERFUL yard waste recycling program. That great black gold is available for you to ammend your clay soil before you plant. Call your local extension office for information.

If you're interested in tomatoes you could come to Raleigh
this Saturday for Tomatopalooza[tm] IV. See link below.

While here, you could check out Logan's Trading Company and Homewood Nurseries, go to the NCSU arboretum and/or the Duke Botanical Gardens, and/or just take a walk through Umstead Park.

I guaratee you'll go home tired! But in a good way!

Lee

Here is a link that might be useful: tomatopalooza

Farmer's markets? That's an easy one...check out the Charlotte Region Farmers Market over on Yorkmont Road. This time of year it is full of locally grown produce and all sorts of other food. There is also a "Greenery Shed" where local vendors sell plants. This time of year they're there but not in full force like they are in the spring. For great deals on great plants check it out on a Saturday mornings. I'll post a link to a recent column that ran in the Charlotte Observer.

As far as my favorite nursery....don't miss Rountree Plantation Nursery. It is located off of Old Pineville Road and is wonderful. Healthy, happy plants at decent prices.

On Saurday mornings there are two gardening shows on the radio. On WBT (1110 am) the Carolina Gardener is on from I think 8 am to 10 am. Then switch over the 106.1 FM at 10 for their gardening program.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/food/15119794.htm

I too am really new (about 3 weeks) to the Charlotte area and have been watching this thread with interest. I went over and checked out the Roundtree Nursery this morning and was really impressed. Like Calorlezone7b said, reasonable prices, healthy plants, and good selection. Actually a lot of things I have been lusting for by mail order were there waiting for me. I spoke to the guy in charge and he said if I didn't see what I was looking for just tell him and he would try to get it. He also said they would be getting in big shipments of plants and bulbs for fall planting in mid September.

I'm glad you found Rountree and liked it....it is certainly my favorite nursery in Charlotte. The people who work there are wonderful.

Hotroses...I see from your page that you are a big fan of roses, you do know that both Roses Unlimited and Ashdown are within a couple of hours of here? I have close to 80 roses in my yard and try to make the trip to each at least once a spring.

One of my favorite Charlotte visits is to UNC Charlotte Botanical Garden - They have a great Spring plant sale

Here is a link that might be useful: UNCC Gardens

Welcome to Charlotte. If you live in town, one of your best resources is Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary in Myers Park. It's a three-acre garden of densely planted bird-attracting plants and trees with formal and informal garden 'rooms,'and it's open to the public. Been there 80 years. Many of us learned to garden in this region by becoming volunteers there. You can also be a member without volunteering; you get a regular newsletter and discounts on their popular symposiums. Also,there are two big plants sales there, in April & October, and members get to shop on members-only day. Take a break from packing and visit there, hours are Wednesday 10-12 and Sunday afternoons. Info is available on www.winghavengardens.com

There is a Charlotte Hosta Club. Sponsors a garden tour, heavy on the hostas, every summer. For info, e-mail royal2227@aol.com

Daylilies do well here and there are at least 6 daylily farms in the local area. Visit our local club's website.

Here is a link that might be useful: Piedmont Daylily Club

Does Roundtree do its own propagation or just sell what other nurseries propagate?

:::Does Roundtree do its own propagation or just sell what other nurseries propagate?::::

To be honest I have no idea but if I had to guess I'd say they do both. They have a huge wholesale business so I would think that some of the stuff is theirs. The geraniums I've bought there look like they are grown in-house. The bigger plants (including trees and bushes) look like they are grown elsewhere.

Why?

I also love King's nursery in Indian Trail and Dearness Gardens in North Charlotte.

Wow, I've been back in FL. for the last 2 weeks and just returned to Charlotte and my computer :) There are so many great responses to my post!

Where do I begin? I've got some time this week to explore the city so I'll be sure to head over to both Roundtree and the Wing Haven gardens. If I can coax my fiance out of bed Sat. morning maybe we could explore the market together.

I've got to build an arbour or something to hang my hoyas from this week as well, I'm just trying to plot out the sunny and shady parts of the lawn still.

I'll post back here once I've gotten some miles under my feet and let you all know how the city is treating me.

Thanks again

Welcome to Charlotte! I second the Yorkmont Farmer's market. I can always find good local produce there for a great price. And its open during the week, as well. There is also the King's Drive FM...not as many vendors, but quality produce and also a woman who sells plants. She has a lot of nice perennials that you won't find in the big box stores. There is a very small farmer's market on Sat AM in the Plaza Midwood area. I haven't checked it out, but I think it's more of a "community building" venture than anything else.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/

quite possibly one of the best gardening websites for this area. I seee soemone has already posted that one link but this one is the main page. NCSU is a great agricultural university.

Does Roundtree have a website?

Thanks,
Carla