Upcoming Events
Bullington Gardens hosts a variety of events and programs throughout the year. From educational opportunities for students and adults to social events with a garden flair. We offer Horticultural Therapy and are the only Horticultural Therapy Garden in Henderson County.
Creating Bonsai Trees
Bonsai is the ancient art of dwarfing trees. The goal is to create in miniature a tree that looks like a mature tree. The word bonsai literally means ‘plant in a tray’. The concept is simple; restrict the growth of a plant’s roots and shoots, allowing the trunk to grow. The end result is a plant that appears to be a miniature representation of its relatives in the wild. Join Horticulture Agent Steve Pettis to learn how to create bonsai trees. Attendees will get to take home their very own bonsai tree!
Native Bees Family Program
Kids ages 5-10 are welcome as Jill and Brannen from Spriggley’s Beescaping introduce kids to native bees and other spectacular pollinators! There will be a quick story, along with a kid-friendly craft to help create habitat for native bees! Jill Jacobs and Brannen Basham.
Native Bees Adult Program
Honeybees are a well-known pollinator, but have you ever heard of mason bees, one of our more efficient pollinators? Or learned more about the bumble bee, known for it’s “buzz pollination” that helps flowers bee more productive? Join native bee experts Jill and Brannen from Spriggley’s Beescaping to learn more about the native bees in our area and why it’s so critical that we support them.
Planting for Pollinators
Henderson County Extension Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show Steve Pettis will discuss the importance of beneficial insects and pollinators and how to garden for their benefit. Then Steve will lead a pollinator walk through the Bullington Garden grounds.
July 11, 2-4.
$15 public/$12 friends
Insect ID and Management for Natural Pest Control
This class will provide a comprehensive overview of identifying common insects and pests in your garden and how to implement eco-friendly strategies to manage them. Blue Ridge Community College faculty member Rachel Meriwether will discuss effective natural pest control for home gardeners.
The Secret Lives of Trees
Henderson County Extension Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show Steve Pettis will talk about the importance of Western North Carolina’s tree canopy, tree health, tree care and how individuals can make a difference.
August 8, 2-4 pm
$15 public/$12 friends
Pawpaw Class
Learn all about North America’s largest native fruit, the pawpaw! Join Henderson County Specialized Extension Agent Craig Mauney in exploring this curious fruiting tree.
August 22 , 2-4
Seed Saving
Isaac Wyatt, Agricultural Program Assistant with Henderson County Extension, will teach the basics of seed saving. Learn to save seeds from your favorite veggies, flowers, and herbs to start for the next year!
September 12, 2-3 pm
$15 public/$12 friends
Making Fire Cider
Fire cider is a great herbal tonic used to support the immune system, especially during the fall and winter season. It has been a traditional medicine of various cultures over the centuries. Come learn about the history of fire cider and make your own to take home with Education Coordinator Rosie Reeves. The information presented in this class is intended for educational purposes and should not be considered an endorsement of or recommendation for any medical treatment. Please consult your health care provider before pursuing any herbal or homemade treatments.
September 12, 2-3 pm
$15 public/$12 friends
Ephemerals, Mosses, and Ferns
Ephemerals, Mosses, & Ferns
Henderson County Extension Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show Steve Pettis will discuss the many flowers that grow in the Spring time in the forests of Western North Carolina. He will discuss some of the most common spring ephemeral plants' biology, their pollinators and some of the interesting history of these special plants as well as mosses and ferns.
May 2, 2-4 pm.
$15 public/$12 friends.
Mountain Mushrooms
Back by popular demand!
Steve Pettis, Henderson County Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show, will teach attendees about basic fungal biology, how to grow mushrooms at home, and the top wild mushrooms to collect in the forest.
Rescheduled for January 23, 2-4pm.
$15 public/$12 friends
Gnome for the Holidays
Build your own evergreen gnome in this kid-friendly and family oriented workshop. Price is per gnome and up to 3 family members.
Fall for Gardening in the Mountains-Mushroom Basics
FALL FOR GARDENING IN THE MOUNTAINS-Mushroom Basics
Join us for our autumn gardening class series, with Steve Pettis, Henderson County Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent, who will make you *fall* (or fall back in love with!) gardening in our unique mountain landscape. Friends of Bullington take 25% off the regular course fee!
Mushroom Basics
January 10, 2023 – 2pm-4pm
$15 per person. $12 for Friends of Bullington.
Are you fungi-curious? In this class students will learn basic fungal biology, discover the top wild mushrooms to collect in the forest, even get pointers on how to grow mushrooms at home!
Fall for Gardening in the Mountains-Secret Lives of Trees
This class was so well-attended this summer, Steve returns to talk more about our amazing trees! The forests of Henderson County make it such a wonderful place to live; but our forests are being cut down for development, and trees that are planted into new landscapes are often planted improperly. Learn how we can protect our forests, plant trees for the future and keep Henderson County green!
FALL FOR GARDENING IN THE MOUNTAINS-Native Plants of the WNC Mountains
New to our area? New to gardening? Need a plant identification refresher? Steve will introduce students to the many wonderful native plants that are available to gardeners in Western North Carolina.
Walking Stick Workshop
What could make an autumn stroll in the beautiful forests of Western NC even better? Hiking along with your own hand-crafted walking stick! Join our Education Director, Tracy Calla, for this fun DIY workshop to create a unique walking stick for yourself, or to give as a gift to your favorite hiker.
Fall for Gardening in the Mountains-Mushroom Basics
Are you fungi-curious?
In this class students will learn basic fungal biology, discover the top wild mushrooms to collect in the forest, even get pointers on how to grow mushrooms at home!
Arts in the Garden-Flower & Forest Photography
Arts in the Garden
FLOWER AND FOREST PHOTOGRAPHY
FRIDAY, SEPT. 23, 2PM-4PM
$30 per participant. $25 for Friends of Bullington
Registration limited to 12 students
This 2-hour class is geared to learners of all skill levels from Beginner to Advanced, with whatever kind of camera you have! Our focus will be on macro and close-up photography of beautiful flowers as well as intimate woodland scenes. Chris will provide both creative and technical suggestions to help participants make their photos more impactful and satisfying for both themselves and their audience. Above all, the experience is meant to be fun and without pressure to achieve that proverbial “trophy shot”. It’s all about practice and making improvements over time.
About the Instructor:
Chris Allen is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology with a BFA degree in photography. His career direction took him into a 30-year sales career until he retired in 2018 to pursue his photography passion again. High on Chris’s list of favorite photography subjects are flowers and forest scenes. His photos have won numerous awards in local and regional clubs and conferences. He and his wife Bonnie moved to Asheville in 2005, and couldn’t help making photography a part of their exploration of the beautiful Blue Ridge area. Together, they own and operate Asheville Photo Tours, LLC, offering photo tours and instruction for nature photography enthusiasts.
Bullington Gardens Cancellation Policy:
Please note that due to limited class capacity, refunds will not be available for cancellations made after 72 hours of purchase. We appreciate your understanding.