Playing in the Dirt Archives

Playing in the Dirt: Mushrooms!

Posted by Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers | Dec 5, 2025 | Columns, Playing in the Dirt, Town Square

Mushrooms are a type of fungi, a kingdom of millions of species that evolved in the oceans a billion years ago and then colonized land 500 million years later.

Playing in the Dirt: Don’t Miss Plantfest 2025 on October 11!

Posted by Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers | Sep 26, 2025 | Columns, Playing in the Dirt, Town Square

Whether you’re an avid or beginning gardener, or you’re looking for a fun family outing, you don’t want to miss PlantFest 2025 on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Blackwood Farm Park.

Playing in the Dirt: Count Bees and Butterflies! The Great Southeast Pollinator Census

Posted by Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers | Aug 22, 2025 | Columns, Playing in the Dirt, Town Square

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census was founded by the University of Georgia Extension in 2017 and has grown into a community science project taking place across five states including North Carolina.

Playing in the Dirt: It’s Not Too Late to Grow Popular Summer Vegetables

Posted by Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers | Jun 6, 2025 | Columns, Playing in the Dirt, Town Square

Visit any garden center, grocery store or farmers’ market this time of year and you’ll be tempted with all kinds of herbs and vegetables to plant.

Playing in the Dirt: A Better Butterfly Garden in a Small Space

Posted by Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers | Apr 25, 2025 | Columns, Playing in the Dirt, Town Square

The monarch butterfly population in the eastern United States has declined sharply — an estimated 80% loss since the 1990s. Among the factors contributing to the decline: Loss of habitat, exposure to pesticides and extreme weather.

Playing in the Dirt: Herbs of the South — A Long Tradition

Posted by Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers | Apr 4, 2025 | Columns, Playing in the Dirt, Town Square

Herbs are a fantastic addition to any home or patio garden. The plants can be sprinkled throughout your native or edible garden, utilized as stunning ornamentals along a pathway or kept potted on a windowsill or patio ready to be added fresh to any dish or drink.

Playing in the Dirt: Landscaping To Manage Stormwater Runoff

Posted by Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers | Feb 28, 2025 | Columns, Playing in the Dirt, Town Square

Did you know that stormwater runoff is the greatest source of water pollution in urban areas? During heavy rain, water flows from rooftops, down driveways, and across parking lots and streets. As stormwater flows, it picks up many types of pollutants!

Playing in the Dirt: Gardening In A Changing Climate

Posted by Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers | Jan 31, 2025 | Columns, Playing in the Dirt, Town Square

North Carolina is experiencing climate change: warmer temperatures (especially at night), more frequent extreme rainfall and a rise in sea level, scientists have found. Farmers and gardeners must change their methods of growing plants, both to help plants grow in changing conditions and to avoid harming the environment.

Playing in the Dirt: Care for Cut and Living Christmas Trees

Posted by Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers | Dec 27, 2024 | Columns, Playing in the Dirt, Town Square

If you have a live cut tree in your home, you may be wondering how much longer it should stay up. Does it matter when it was cut? Not as much as you may think!