National gardening week, Cape Fear Beauty Spots awards
Every year, the first full week of June is designated National Garden Week by National Garden Clubs Inc. This week is an opportunity for garden club members to encourage pride in your community, interest new members, and work with other groups to be part of those efforts. A powerhouse local community group, the Cape Fear Garden Club, has a Civic Improvements Committee that brings “Beauty Spot Award” signage to a selected home, business, and a neighborhood every year during National Garden Week. The recipients will keep this signage for one year in honor of their garden’s beauty.
The New Hanover County Arboretum was honored to host the business site “Beauty Spot Award” in 2019; the annual tradition has continued this year on June 8, 2022 as the Beauty Spot committee, led by Pia Ann Robinson, installed signage at the following: the business Wendy's House at 126 Sebrell Avenue in Wilmington, the home of Lisa and David Nieves at 112 Colonial Drive, Wilmington, and the neighborhood of River Lights/ Marina Village at 109 Pier Master Point in Wilmington.
The celebration of National Garden Week is also always the kick-off event for the term of the new incoming officers in the Cape Fear Garden Club. This is Meredith Lewis's first official celebration as the new President of the club for 2022-2023. This club is one of the largest and oldest in North Carolina and is best known for producing the annual Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour© featuring the finest and most exquisite gardens in our area. For more information, visit: https://www.capefeargardenclub.org/.
The folks of the New Hanover County Arboretum are fond of the relationship and community service offered by this club, as well as the other members of the National Garden Club, Inc. that share our educational spaces: Harbor Island Garden Club and New Hanover Garden Club. Other plant-adoring community collaborators meeting at the Arboretum include Scene 3 Garden Club, Cape Fear Bonsai Society, Cape Fear Orchid Society, Hobby Greenhouse Club, Ikebana International, Tidewater Camellia Club, Wilmington Cape Fear Rose Society, Wilmington Tree Commission, and the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees. If you are a plant lover and seek community and service opportunities with like-minded people, seek out a club meeting your interest in celebration of National Gardening Week.
Although National Gardening Week has passed for this year and we’re into the summer season, let’s keep the spring spirit of community and gardens alive and growing in New Hanover County; create and celebrate your own “beauty spot” at your home or business. And if you need advice, stop by our Extension Master Gardener Plant Clinic Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. for free, research-based information (including soil testing).
Here are a few quotes to inspire you. "Out of gardens grow fleeting flowers but lasting friendships." - Beverly Rose Hopper. “Alone we can do so little. Together, we can do so much.” - Helen Keller. “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” - Audrey Hepburn. And plan to stop by the beautiful New Hanover County Arboretum at 6206 Oleander Drive in Wilmington. The gardens are free and open daily from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Lloyd Singleton is the director of the New Hanover County Arboretum/N.C. Cooperative Extension, and can be reached at 910-798-7660 or lsingleton@nhcgov.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Cape Fear Beauty Spots awards
