Drop-In Discoveries: Awesome Amphibians

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Come explore the fascinating frogs and salamanders that live in the Garden! Discover what makes amphibians so unique, try out your best frog calls, and enjoy a hands-on craft activity to take home. Then, head to the Garden’s ponds with your new knowledge to look and listen for amphibians in their habitat! All ages welcome....

Hybrid Lunchbox Talk: Urban Forestry & Birds

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

This talk will offer an introduction to Urban Forestry, highlighting its importance to birds and how we can contribute to its health. Hannah will cover the various components of your urban forest, its role as a habitat, its connection to bird migration, and the relationships between birds and people. Additionally, there will be a high-level overview of tree ordinances to inform the community about how decisions regarding the tree canopy are made.

Nature Tales: Fairy Tales

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Join us for a story hour filled with enchanting tales about fairies, forests, and a bit of make-believe magic. After the stories, let your imagination soar as we build fairy homes using nature's supplies. Come dressed for the weather and prepared to take a walk!

This family-friendly program has been designed especially for children ages 3–7. FREE, but registration is required.

Free

Spring Break Camp (for ages 6-8)

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Enjoy a full week of nature adventures at the Garden this spring break! Campers will become springtime explorers, discovering the wonders of the season as they search for signs of new life in ponds, forests, and gardens. From spotting animals emerging from hibernation to uncovering plants as they begin to bloom, each day will be filled with exciting hands-on activities and outdoor time. In addition to nature exploration, campers will enjoy lively games, storytelling, and spring-themed crafts. With small groups and experienced environmental educators, this camp promises a fun and educational spring break experience!

$360

Annual Evelyn McNeill Sims Native Plant Lecture: Adventures in Ecological Horticulture

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States +1 more

Who doesn’t love butterflies? Habitat cultivation is a vital component of creating ecologically healthy landscapes, particularly in urban settings. But traditional landscaping practices rarely take biodiversity into consideration, and there is a dearth of effective guidelines to inform this goal.

For ecological horticulturist Rebecca McMackin, biodiversity is central to landscape management. In her 10 years as Director of Horticulture at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Rebecca oversaw 85 acres of diverse, organic landscapes, all managed to support birds, butterflies, and soil microorganisms.

Join us to learn how to use ecological insight and experimentation to develop new management strategies – and why careful observation and documentation of the insects, birds, and other wildlife in your gardens is crucial to their success.

Hybrid Lunchbox Talk: Native Grasses and Sedges – Smart Choices for Better Landscapes

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Looking for strategies to boost your landscape’s ecological impact? Join us for a look at plant-based solutions to common landscape challenges. Rather than oceans of mulch and vast expanses of turf grass, try using use native grasses and sedges. These extraordinary plants help preserve and build the soil, outcompete weeds, and offer a host of ecosystem benefits. Discover how greener grasses help build better landscapes and communities.

Nature Tales: Flower Power

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Get ready to stop and smell the flowers! Join us for a flower-themed story hour filled with colorful tales, songs, and activities that celebrate the beauty of blooms. Afterward, we'll set off into the gardens for a flower scavenger hunt. Come dressed for the weather and prepared to take a walk!

This family-friendly program has been designed especially for children ages 3–7. Free, but registration is required.

Free

Drop-In Discoveries: Plants & Pollinators

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Buzz on over to the Garden where the beauty of nature is in full bloom!  Learn about the fascinating world of native pollinators—bees, butterflies, moths, and more—and the important role these tiny workers play in our ecosystems. Whether you're a budding naturalist or just curious about the wonders of nature, this discovery station is buzzing with fun for all ages! 

Drop-In Discoveries: Plants & Pollinators

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Buzz on over to the Garden where the beauty of nature is in full bloom!  Learn about the fascinating world of native pollinators—bees, butterflies, moths, and more—and the important role these tiny workers play in our ecosystems. Whether you're a budding naturalist or just curious about the wonders of nature, this discovery station is buzzing with...

Hybrid Lunchbox Talk: Finding the Fabulous Ordinary, a book talk by Georgann Eubanks

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Join writer Georgann Eubanks for an introduction to her latest book from UNC Press, The Fabulous Ordinary: Discovering the Natural Wonders of the Wild South. Georgann and photographer Donna Campbell traveled across seven states to find the seasonal joys of ecosystems in the Southeast. These ordinary destinations and events include a half a million purple martins roosting on an island in a South Carolina lake, the bloom of 30 acres of dimpled trout lilies in a remote Georgia forest, gnat larvae that glow like stars on the rock walls of an obscure Alabama canyon, and the overnight accumulation of elaborately patterned mots on the side of a North Carolina mountain cabin. These phenomena and others reveal how plants, mammals, amphibians, and insects are managing to persevere despite pressures from human invasion, habitat destruction, and climate change. All of the destinations in the book are publicly accessible and can provide memorable family activities, especially with children.