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.
Grafting Japanese Maples: A Hands-On Workshop with Fritz McCall and Matthew Rollins
Join us for an immersive experience in the art of grafting Japanese Maples, led by expert horticulturist Fritz McCall, owner of Blue Ridge Nursery and longtime Bullington supporter and Matthew Rollins.
Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs
Pruning techniques are essential for promoting the health and productivity of plants. Different techniques can control diseases, stimulate new growth, and maintain aesthetically pleasing landscapes. Join us as horticulture expert John Murphy teaches the basics of pruning ornamental trees and shrubs.
February 2, 2026-1:00-3:00. $16 public/$13 friends.
Small Scale and Niche Crops to Grow in the Home Garden or Homestead
Join regional specialty crops expert Craig Mauney to explore a fascinating range of less common fruits and vegetables that thrive in Western North Carolina. You’ll learn which unique crops perform well in our local climate, along with practical growing tips for success on any scale — from backyard plots to homestead gardens. Perfect for anyone eager to expand their growing horizons and try something new.
February 9, 2026. 1:00-3:00. $20.00
Divide and Bloom-Dividing Dahlias and their Culture
Bullington Gardens is known for our expansive collection of dahlias. Each year our volunteer dahlia crew work tirelessly to ensure we have the best crop possible. These amazing plants take quite a bit of work to be successful, and it starts with dividing your tuber. Join Isaac Wyatt as we walk through the culture of dahlias. We will also have a tuber dividing demo after the class. Participants will get a chance to divide a clump of tubers and take one home!
March 2, 2026, 1:00-3:00 pm. Fee: $32.00
Rooted in Beauty: Orchid Culture & Care Class
Discover the secrets to keeping your orchids thriving! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the essentials of orchid care, from proper watering techniques to ideal light conditions. We’ll guide you step-by-step through repotting your orchid into a provided terracotta pot with fresh potting media. Bring your own orchid, and leave with the skills and confidence to keep it blooming beautifully! Perfect for beginners and orchid enthusiasts alike. Let’s grow together!
Terracotta pot and potting media included.
March 9, 2026 and April 27, 1:00-3:00. Maximum of 20 students.
Master Dahlia Class Series
Join the experienced Bullington Gardens Master Dahlia Team for a monthly class series that takes you behind the scenes of cultivating over 600 dahlias. Each 1.5–2 hour session will guide you through the specific tasks and techniques needed throughout the growing season, combining classroom instruction with hands-on work in the garden.
This comprehensive series offers the opportunity to learn expert-level dahlia care while engaging with a passionate gardening community. The final class will feature an evening among the dahlias in full bloom — a truly rewarding celebration of the season’s work. Enrollment is limited; early registration is encouraged. Class size is limited to 15.
Basics of Vegetable Gardening
Late winter is the perfect time to start planning for summer gardens and what better way to start than with the Basics of Vegetable Gardening class! Come prepared to learn about what it takes to start growing your own vegetables in our area. Join experienced teacher and former director, John Murphy, as he guides you through vegetable gardening basics.
March 16, 2026, 1:00-3:00pm.
$15 FOB/$20 general public
Plant Identification Master Series
Enhance your botanical knowledge in this comprehensive monthly series with Isaac Wyatt, Interim Director of Bullington Gardens. Each session focuses on learning to identify 10–15 plant species, spanning native, non-native, and invasive varieties found across Western North Carolina.
Trees and Me
Join Mary Ann Eichorn for an interactive workshop that uses the beauty and diversity of tree photography as a mirror for the human spirit. Through guided reflection and creative exploration, we’ll tap into the wisdom and soulfulness of trees—symbols of strength, resilience, and renewal—to reconnect with our own inner humanity.
Together, we’ll explore and reawaken essential qualities such as resourcefulness, regeneration, reliability, resilience, optimism, and most importantly, hope.
March 20, 2026. 1:00-3:00pm with Mary Ann Eichorn.
Starting Seeds-Sow It Begins
As gardening grows in popularity across the country, plant prices continue to rise—making it costly to fill your garden. A more budget-friendly alternative is starting your own plants from seed. Not only is seed-starting economical, but many plants also thrive when grown from seed. While the process may seem intimidating, it doesn’t have to be!
Join our Education Coordinator, Isaac Wyatt, for an in-depth class on seed starting. You’ll learn everything from the essential supplies to successfully transitioning seedlings into the garden.
March 23rd, 2026. 1:00-3:00pm.
Spring Ephemerals
Discover the delicate and fleeting world of ephemeral flowers that grace our landscapes with their beauty. Join Margaret Bloomquist to learn how to identify these early spring wonders, understand their unique lifecycles, and explore their roles in the ecosystem.
April 13th, 2026. 1:00-3:00pm.
Establishing a Pocket Meadow
“Pocket” meadows of native plants provide an attractive, low-maintenance, and wildlife-friendly alternative to traditional perennial plantings. Unlike larger meadow plantings, small, informal, and simply managed pocket borders can be tucked into a variety of spaces in your landscape, providing habitat and sustenance for pollinators and other insects, as well as being attractive landscape additions. Lisa will share her experiences with a variety of small meadow plantings using native Southeastern wildflowers and grasses and talk about how to manage them for four-season interest. She’ll also provide suggestions for native plants best suited for combining in informal meadow plantings in WNC.
Rooted in Beauty: Orchid Culture & Care Class April 27, 2026
Discover the secrets to keeping your orchids thriving! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the essentials of orchid care, from proper watering techniques to ideal light conditions. We’ll guide you step-by-step through repotting your orchid into a provided terracotta pot with fresh potting media. Bring your own orchid, and leave with the skills and confidence to keep it blooming beautifully! Perfect for beginners and orchid enthusiasts alike. Let’s grow together!
Terracotta pot and potting media included.
March 9, 2026 and April 27, 1:00-3:00. Maximum of 20 students.
Bring Bullington Beauty Home! May 2, 2026
Get your hands dirty and your creativity blooming in this fun, hands-on workshop where you'll design your very own Bullington-style container garden — using the same vibrant, seasonal plants featured throughout Bullington Gardens!
Bring Bullington Beauty Home! May 4, 2026
Get your hands dirty and your creativity blooming in this fun, hands-on workshop where you'll design your very own Bullington-style container garden — using the same vibrant, seasonal plants featured throughout Bullington Gardens!
Edible Landscapes
Join three of Henderson County’s top fruit-growing experts — Karen Bladow, Terry Kelly, and Craig Mauney — for an interactive session on growing everything from berries and tree fruits to unique specialty crops. Whether you’re a beginner gardener or a seasoned homesteader, you’ll leave inspired and equipped to grow an abundant, diverse harvest at home.
May 11, 2026 - 1:00-3:00pm. $20.00.
Revitalizing Aging Azaleas June 8, 2026
Discover the secrets to reviving and caring for aging azaleas! This class will guide you through pruning, fertilizing, and nurturing techniques to bring new life to your beloved shrubs, ensuring vibrant blooms and healthy growth for years to come. Perfect for garden enthusiasts of all levels!
June 8th, 2026 or June 12th, 2026. 1:00-3:00pm. Limit of 20 people.
Revitalizing Aging Azaleas June 12, 2026
Discover the secrets to reviving and caring for aging azaleas! This class will guide you through pruning, fertilizing, and nurturing techniques to bring new life to your beloved shrubs, ensuring vibrant blooms and healthy growth for years to come. Perfect for garden enthusiasts of all levels!
June 8th, 2026 or June 12th, 2026. 1:00-3:00pm. Limit of 20 people.
Flower Power: Dahlia Photography Course
In this class led by Sue Ann Williams we will discuss what constitutes good basic photography practices and how you can make your photos and videos more interesting. The information can be used for taking pictures with SLR and DSLR cameras and phone cameras. Among the topics we will discuss, framing your images, lighting, subject matter, and visual interest.
Sue Ann Williams has been a master gardener since 2019. In her previous life, beginning in 1978, she worked as a videographer, editor, producer and director for local WBTV/Charlotte) and national news (NBC) and corporate media. She retired from the NBC News Channel in 2017 after working there for 26 years.
Bring your camera or phone. The final 30 minutes of the class will be devoted to taking pictures for instructional critiquing.
September 28, 2026.1:00-3:00. $20.00.
Strength Training Classes Sept. 30
Join us for free strength training classes. Every Tuesday at 1pm starting August 26-September 30th, 2025.
Macro Magic: Capturing Dahlia Details
This workshop taught by Lois Van Reese will focus on Macro photography during this beautiful dahlia season. There will be an emphasis on composition, lighting and focus. While our current cell phones take amazing photos, this class will be utilizing DSLR/mirrorless cameras or a point and shoot. While not required, a tripod for your camera is helpful particularly when honing your focus skills.
Strength Training Classes Sept. 23
Join us for free strength training classes. Every Tuesday at 1pm starting August 26-September 30th, 2025.
Strength Training Classes Sept. 16
Join us for free strength training classes. Every Tuesday at 1pm starting August 26-September 30th, 2025.
Strength Training Classes Sept. 9
Join us for free strength training classes. Every Tuesday at 1pm starting August 26-September 30th, 2025.
Strength Training Classes
Join us for free strength training classes. Every Tuesday at 1pm starting August 26-September 30th, 2025.
Embracing Change
Nature can be a wonderful teacher, and a tool we can use to reflect on certain seasons of life. During this class, participants will learn how certain plants prepare for cycles of growth and seasonal shifts. At the end of the class, participants will be invited to reflect on their own lives by noticing what season they are in and gain inspiration for how to prepare for times of change.
Date: Tuesday August 26. Time: 2:00 - 4:00. Fee: $20.00
The Joy of Propagation
Learn how to sow, divide, root and nurture plants for your garden. Get easy practical explanations on how to increase your stock of existing plants and how to create new cultivars by hybridization.
Petals & Possibilities: Designing Stunning Floral Arrangements with Annuals
Unleash your creativity and dive into the enchanting world of floral design! Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn to craft beautiful arrangements using easy-to-grow, self-seeding annuals. Led by Mary Quirk, a seasoned floral designer with experience at the Biltmore House, this class is perfect for beginners and gardening enthusiasts alike.
From Debris to Renewal: A Post-Storm Action Plan
CANCELLED!
From Debris to Renewal: A Post-Storm Action Plan
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, communities across Western North Carolina are facing significant challenges in recovery. With widespread tree loss, increased fire risks, and the need for careful rebuilding, having the right information and resources is essential.
Bullington Gardens, Family Tree Care, and Steve Pettis, N.C. Cooperative Extension are hosting a series of free educational events to help landowners, homeowners, and community members navigate the recovery process. These sessions will provide expert guidance on safety, cost-effective solutions, and long-term strategies to restore and protect our forests and landscapes.
Free to the public! No registration necessary.
Step into Spring
Spring can be a time where life starts to suddenly speed up as the winter chill melts away. Take some time for a guided mindful walk through the garden with short therapeutic horticulture activities incorporated throughout the walk. This class is great for anyone needing to take time to slow down, anyone curious about what therapeutic horticulture actually is, or anyone wishing to get to know Bullington Gardens better.
Two different dates to choose from!
Tuesday, March 18th, 9:00-11:00 or Wednesday, March 19th, 9:00-11:00. $20/$15 for Friends of Bullington Gardens.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.