Category Archives: Gardening Tips

By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) - I'm sure at some point our WPTF Weekend Gardener crew has discussed the virtues of growing Eastern columbine (*Aquilegia canadensis*) in our ...

WAYNE COUNTY, NC - With warmer temperatures, longer days, and the last frost behind us, May is one of the busiest and most rewarding months for gardeners across eastern North Carolina. Local horticult...

By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) - I can vividly recall the first time I ever laid eyes on a "Fringe Tree" (Chionanthus virginicus), also known as "Grandfather's Beard." I was ...

By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) - The hemlock found in North Carolina is a towering, majestic tree that can live for hundreds of years. The Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) ...

April is one of the most exciting months for gardeners across Eastern North Carolina. With warmer temperatures, longer days, and the threat of frost fading, this is the perfect time to plant vegetable...

By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener Even if I did not have access to a calendar, I would always know when we are nearing the end of winter. Of course, there are many signs in nature, but I defer to th...

Eastern North Carolina Gears Up for Spring Goldsboro, NC - March 2026 - As spring approaches across Goldsboro and Eastern North Carolina, backyard gardeners and landscape enthusiasts are gearing up fo...

WAYNE COUNTY, NC - February is typically a month of transition for gardeners in Wayne County and Eastern North Carolina, but this year's below-freezing temperatures and rare snowfall have slowed outdo...

By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener I have always been fascinated by unusual plants, trees, shrubs and flowers that I rarely see, especially those growing in North Carolina. Autumn-blooming cherry, Hi...

By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener I have spent many hours looking out our window into the backyard. It gives Melissa and me great pleasure. The same can be said for the joy of watching the many bird...