The NC Certified Master Naturalist Volunteer program, a 50-hour classroom and fieldwork education program, offered by NC Cooperative Extension, Chatham and Durham counties, prepares volunteers for stewardship, advocacy, education, and citizen science projects with leading environmental organizations in the Triangle. This new program will begin January 2024, classes will be held on Saturdays once a month at locations in Chatham and Durham counties. A key feature of this program are the Impact Projects participants develop that integrate course concepts and benefit one of the Partner Organizations. These projects challenge the program participants to answer the question, “What impact can I make on our environment?”

Dogs, cats, and other pet animals may interact with poisonous plants in their homes, yards, and neighborhoods. As their humans, it’s our responsibility to be aware of the effects of potential exposures and to avoid these as much as possible. We’ll review some recent data from ASPCA Poison Control and Pet Poison Helpline on the plant poisonings they see most frequently in pets and look at some of the plants that occur in our area and their specific toxic effects.

Learn about the latest research on Carex, grass-like perennial plants that are native to diverse habitats and offer many benefits for wildlife, ecology, and aesthetics. Sam Hoadley, the manager of horticultural research at Mt. Cuba Center, will share the results of a four-year trial that evaluated 70 types of Carex native to the mid-Atlantic region. He will also show how Carex can be used as problem-solving perennials in your home garden, whether you need to cover shady areas, replace turfgrass, create rain gardens, or add texture and color to your landscape. You will also discover some of the most beautiful and adaptable Carex species that are native to North Carolina. Don’t miss this chance to learn more about these versatile and valuable sedges for your garden!

Imagine walking through a landscape of colorful wildflowers and waving grasses, where birds, butterflies, and bees abound. This is not a scene from the Midwest, but from the southeastern Piedmont, where Piedmont Prairies once covered a large part of the region. Greg Paige, Director of Horticulture at JC Raulston Arboretum, will take you on a journey through these fascinating grasslands, which he studied while working at Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory in Charlotte, NC. Discover how Piedmont Prairies are important for biodiversity and ecosystem services and how they might be used to better manage open or typically mowed space.