Durham County Seed Library needs  volunteers

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Join other volunteers and gardening enthusiasts for the Seed Library Envelope Stuffing on Tuesday, December 11, 3–5pm, at the Durham General Services Department office (2011 Fay St). The Durham County Library Seed Library, where gardeners can donate and/or receive free seeds, made a bulk order of pollinator seeds from Mellow Marsh Farm. You can help divide the seeds into small portions and slide them into the small envelopes used by the Seed Library. Pollinator seeds attract bees and butterflies to gardens and yards, and food growers love it when they pollinate their crops.

NC State’s ‘Extension Gardener’

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Here’s the Winter edition of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s online publication, “Extension Gardener”:

Duke Gardens workshops,  tours & shows

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SARAH P DUKE GARDENS, 426 Anderson St, Durham,
919-684-3698, gardens.duke.edu; gardening workshops are held in the Doris Duke Center; call 919-668-1707 or 1708 to reserve your spot. Register online or ask questions by writing to gardenseducation@duke.edu. Here’s the link to the fall and winter seminars and workshops (note that parking is free after 5pm):
  • Holiday Greenery—Saturday, December 1, 10am–noon and 1–3pm; make a fragrant indoor holiday wreath Greenery, colorful stems, berries, and pods will be supplied, and you’re welcome to take your hand pruners any other decorative items to be incorporated in your design. Call for info.
  • Plants of Distinction: Creating Winter Interest—Wednesday, December 5, 2:30–4pm; held in the Doris Duke Center; $8.75. ​
  • Walk on the Wild Side—Thursday, December 6, 11am–noon. Take a tour of the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants; $8.75; register online.​​​​​​
  • Durham Garden Forum: Controlling Invasive Plants—Tuesday, December 11, 6:30–8pm; $10, free for DGF members.
  • Walk on the Wild Side—Thursday, January 3, 11am–noon. Take a tour of the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants; $8.75; register online.​​​​​

Digging Durham Seed Library

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A creative partnership of the Durham County Library, SEEDS, the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, NC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, and the Durham Library Foundation has resulted in the Digging Durham Seed Library. Now you have a place to get free seeds to start your garden, including flowers, vegetables, and herbs. The South Regional, East Regional, North Regional, and Southwest Regional libraries have seed libraries. Contact Margaret Anderson at 919-560-8598 or manderson@dconc.gov for more details.


Tell us your success story about planting a garden using seeds from the Digging Durham Seed Library:

Main Library—300 N Roxboro St, 919-560-0100 [closed; under renovation]
South Regional—4505 S Alston Ave, 919-560-7409
East Regional—211 Lick Creek Ln, 919-560-0203
North Regional—221 Milton Rd, 919-560-0231
Southwest Regional—3605 Shannon Rd, 919-560-8590.

Free workshops

  • Evergreen Wreaths with Orlaya Flora—Saturday, December 1, 10–11:30am, at the Durham Garden Center (4536 Hillsborough Rd, 919-384-7526). Make a holiday wreath; all materials will be supplied. This special workshop isn’t free; the cost is $40. Click here to register.
  • ​Rose Care 106: Winterizing Roses—Saturday, December 8, 9:30am–noon, at Witherspoon Rose Culture (4800 Garrett Rd, 800-643-0315). Click here to register.​