By Kim Hawks, Chatham News + Record Staff

If you’re looking for somewhere to go during these times of COVID-19, plan a visit to enjoy the beautiful flowers and pollinators in the Pollinator Gardens at Chatham Mills.

The garden beds, designed and maintained by Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos of the Chatham County Cooperative Extension, feature native perennials and vines that attract butterflies and other pollinators.

Typically, commercial spaces plant parking lot island beds with evergreen shrubs and trees. The seasonal annuals planted in highly visible areas add color to an otherwise drab look.

By contrast, the Pollinator Garden is continualy buzzing with life and changes daily, weekly, monthly and seasonally. As you drive through the parking area, you are greeted by beautiful garden beds filled with lush summer-blooming wildflowers, perennials and vines buzzing with activity.

The first garden you see is the “pollinator garden entrance” bed. There are also “parking lot” garden beds and lovely borders of perennials planted in the open lawn and picnic area located near the entrance to Chatham Marketplace.

After your garden walk, grab groceries at the Chatham Marketplace. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Marketplace features specialty coffees, smoothies, wraps, sandwiches, premade burritos, rotisserie chicken, salads and other goodies. There are tables and picnic areas outdoors. Every Saturday from spring to fall, the Chatham Mills Farmers’ Market operates from 8 a.m. to noon in the open lawn area.

 

The Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea has vivid reddish orange central cones.
This Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa attracts large milkweed bugs.
The Pollinator Garden entrance bed greets visitors at Chatham Mills in Pittsboro.
Garden beds are planted in islands around parking spaces at Chatham Mills.
Bees and butterflies gather on Coneflowers, also know as Echinacea purpurea.
Lovely borders are planted in the picnic area at the Pollinator Garden at Chatham Mills. Debbie Roos of the N.C. Extension Service takes care of the garden.
Summer Coneflowers are perfectly suited as cut flowers.
The vertical spikes of Liatris spicata, also known as Blazing Star.
Tiers of purple covers the top third of Lemon Bee Balm Monarda citriodora.

 

Chapelboro.com has partnered with the Chatham News + Record in order to bring more Chatham-focused stories to our audience. 

The Chatham News + Record is Chatham County’s source for local news and journalism. The Chatham News, established in 1924, and the Chatham Record, founded in 1878, have come together to better serve the Chatham community as the Chatham News + Record. Covering news, business, sports and more, the News + Record is working to strengthen community ties through compelling coverage of life in Chatham County.

Related Stories
‹
Local Government Meetings: February 9-13, 2025
This week in local government: residents in Chatham County push back against Flock license-plate cameras and AI data centers.
Haw River Assembly Shares Annual Report on Health of the Watershed, Issues Facing It
In February, the Haw River Assembly will host several opportunities for the community to hear updates on the state of the watershed.
On Air Today: Nora Anaya from Ta'Contento
Tacantento owner Nora Anaya spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, February 3. She discussed the restaurant's back story, from food truck to full restaurant on 15-501 just over the Chatham County Line. She also talked about a new location for Tacantento at The Plant in Pittsboro, new "grab-n-go" burrito options at UNC, and more. She also talked about a new coffee and desert van that is adding to the restaurant's repertoire, and more.
Chatham County Roundup: Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp on Storm Response and Monks Walking for Peace.
Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, January 27, discussing town news and events. He discussed the weekend snow and ice event and how it affected Pittsboro. He discussed the plan for another round of winter weather this weekend. He also talked about a downtown park dedication that was delayed by the weather. He discussed a recent procession of monks that passed through Pittsboro on their walk for peace, and more.
Top Stories of 2025: In Orange County, An Anticlimactic Election
The municipal election was always going to be one of the top stories of 2025 in Chapel Hill - though this year's race was unusually quiet.
The Filing Period For 2026 Elections is Over. Who’s Running in Chatham County?
The filing period for races in North Carolina began on Monday. Here's who has declared intentions to run in Chatham County so far.
On the Porch: James Whalen, for NC Court of Appeals
James Whalen is an experienced appellate attorney in private practice at Brooks Pierce LLP. Earlier this year, he was part of the legal team that defended Justice Allison Riggs’s win and stopped a dangerous attempt to overturn a free and fair election.
Pittsboro Commissioners Swear In New Members, Honor Longtime Mayor Pro Tem in Final 2025 Meeting
The Pittsboro Board of Commissioners welcomed in its latest members while closing out its business for the calendar year on Monday night,
Pittsboro Seeks Community Input on the Future of 28 Acres Downtown
Community members have the opportunity to weigh in on the future of several sites in downtown Pittsboro which could be up for redevelopment.
Chatham County Roundup: Pittsboro's Communications Specialist Caitlin Murphy
Caitlin Murphy, a communications specialist for the Town of Pittsboro, joins 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell on Wednesday, Nov. 26 to discuss the latest news around the town government. She details the success of Pittsboro’s Holly Days from the past weekend to ring in the holiday season, and the upcoming parade in December. Murphy also […]
›