Successful Gardener Sept 5 at 7pm
with Patrick Larkin of 
​Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens

Many people believe that the forests they see around this part of North Carolina is the native ecosystem for this region. The reality is that this area was once covered by grasslands known as prairies, and they play an important role with regard to the various ecosystem services they provide. Come hear about the newly opened Piedmont Prairie Garden at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and learn why the Garden worked to restore 1.5 acres of the property to prairie.
Patrick Larkin
...is the Executive Director of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. His career includes leadership positions at numerous gardens across the country, including the Smithsonian Institution, Green Bay Botanical Garden, Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden, and most recently Cheekwood. He and his wife, Ana, have four children: Gabriela, Rafael, Daniel, and Angela. In his free time Mr. Larkin loves to cook. He has a Master of Science degree in Public Horticulture Administration from the University of Delaware and a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Virginia Tech. 

Educational Meeting Sept 25 at 7pm
for Extension Master Gardeners Only

Our September Educational Meeting is set aside for Union County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers to go over our membership survey and to review the processes for using NCSU Garden and our other websites and social media.

​Sonia McElveen and Betsy Muse will lead this meeting.

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Successful Gardener Aug 1 at 7pm
Extending the Growing Season
​With Steven Stegall

Educational Meeting - Aug 15 at 7pm
Cell Phone Macrophotography in the Garden with Wendy Wilson

Pushing the seasons can really increase your garden’s productivity. I love growing indoors because it is such a nice environment for the farmer and the crops. Let me show how you can grow everything from lettuce, to tomatoes, to cucumbers, to herbs early and late with easily assembled protected culture. In our climate, anyone can have an abundant year round garden.
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Steven Stegall is the current Farm Manager at Middle Ground Farm. They specialize in hydroponic lettuce, medicinal hemp; have a diversified orchard, including many fruits and berries; and event hosting. Previously, he was the Vineyard Manager at Treehouse Vineyards. He’s also the owner/operator of The Cracked Pot’s Garden in Monroe. 

This meeting is for Certified Extension Master Gardeners in Union County.

We are limited to 15 EMGVs for this meeting. Lenses will be supplied and you get to take them home!

​Please plan on joining us and if demand is high we will schedule a second meeting.

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Successful Gardener
​is on vacation in July

Please visit our gardens and bring the whole family. Enjoy a picnic on one of our tables located in shaded areas of the garden.

​Check out the flowers that are blooming in our gardens and enjoy a self-paced scavenger hunt with  your kids. Scavenger hunt supplies can be found in the mailbox near the greenhouse.

Educational Meeting July 18 at 7pm
Danger Zones: Thermal limits of Insect Pests 
with Dr. Erika Niland 

Erika Niland is an Associate Professor of Biology at Wingate University where she earned her B.S. in Biology. She followed that up with a M.S. in Entomology and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of Georgia.

​Erika is originally from Pennsylvania and continues to root for the Pirates and Steelers despite many years down south. She and her family reside in the Wingate community. 

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Successful Gardener June 6 at 7pm
Dirt vs Soil with Aaron Moore

Aaron Moore is an Area Specialized Agent servicing Union, Anson and Stanly Counties in North Carolina. Aaron’s work is centered around Small Farm production and marketing as well as local food systems.

​Aaron grew up on a small family farm in the piedmont region of North Carolina and loved the lifestyle and experiences of farm life. This love of agriculture lead Aaron to pursue both his education and his career in agriculture. Aaron has over 12 years’ experience in the agriculture and green industry working for Universities and private industry. 

Educational Meeting June 20 - TBD

Our scheduled speaker has had to reschedule due to a conflict. We will do our best to offer a new educational topic. 

​Stay tuned here for an announcement.

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Successful Gardener May 2 at 7pm
Small Space Gardening
with Erin Hostetler

Educational Meeting May 16 at 7pm
Tips for Terrific Tomatoes
​with Mary Roberts

Farmer Erin is a Charlotte native. She's a farmer, teacher and an all- around-do-it-yourself'er. She has been farming for the last 5 years and has extensive vegetable production experience with large-scale, Certified Organic operations, sustainable agricultural practices and urban farming.

​Erin is most passionate about teaching people how to grow food for themselves and guiding folks on their green thumb journeys. She currently lives near Mountain Island Lake on a 1.6 acre homestead where she and her boyfriend tend a small backyard goat herd, pasture-raised chickens, a few raised beds and a healthy compost pile. 

After twenty years as a corporate instructor and project manager, Mary used her passion for growing plants organically into a business that supplies market farmers and home gardeners with over 250,000 heirloom vegetable, flower and herb plants each year.

In addition to growing hard-to-find plant varieties, Mary also conducts on-farm classes to help beginning farmers and gardeners learn the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture. 

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 Successful Gardener ​April 4 at 7pm
Women Botanists with Jean Woods

We are excited to welcome Jean Woods of the NC Native Plant Society.

Jean is a Past President of the NC Native Plant Society, has been Chair of the Education Committee, and the local Chapter Chair. In addition, she has served on the board of the Catawba Lands Conservancy and the Friends of Plant Conservation.

Jean is a graduate of the Certificate in Native Plant Studies program at UNCC, and was involved in its establishment. Jean learned to love gardening from her father and grandmother and comes from a long line of people who like to dig in the dirt and look at flowers.

Education Meeting ​April 18 at 6pm 
A Walk and Talk in our
Teaching Gardens

Please join us as Gary Dudley the Teaching Garden Chair 2019 takes us on a tour of the Cottage and Woodland gardens. Come see what's in bloom and enjoy the peaceful birdsong as we walk through the cool shade of the Woodland garden.

Carole Larrimore, our medicinal herb specialist and the driving force behind the creation of the Heritage Trail, will be on hand to answer questions about the medicinal herb bed.

​Please notice the time change for this event.

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CLASS LOCATION:
Union County Agricultural Center
3230-D Presson Road
Monroe, NC    
Questions?  Contact us at:  

ucmgwebsite@gmail.com

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March 2nd: Successful Gardener
'Pruning Hydrangeas'
... presented by Deborah Dillion, our Union County Extension
​Horticulture Agent

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March 16th: Educational Meeting
'Pests and Diseases'
... presented by Dr. Erika Niland of
Wingate University

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April 6th: Successful Gardener
'Atmosphere and Intro to Weather'
​... presented by Don Corbett

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April 20th: Educational Meeting
'What Plants Talk About'
... movie with popcorn & drinks

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May 4th: Successful Gardener
'Walk and Talk in the Gardens'
​... presented by Mary Sipe, Tracy Brown and Carol Larrimore, UCEMG Volunteers

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May 18th: Educational Meeting
'Creating Curb Appeal'
... presented by Mary Sipe