Master Gardeners available to chat

Learn more about gardening at the Master Gardener Booth, available 8 a.m. to noon on the second and third Saturday of the month through August at the Haywood Historic Farmer’s Market, located in the HART Theatre parking lot in Waynesville.

Haywood County Master Gardener volunteers staff the booth. Available are planting and pruning calendars, pollinator and native plant information, gardening publications, information about the Master Gardener Plant Clinic, soil test kits, children’s seed planting and information about programs at Haywood County Extension.

Stock up on plants

The Mountain View Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 1, during the Haywood Historic Farmers Market in the HART Theatre parking lot in Waynesville.

Plants for sale include ostrich fern, hostas, lilies, herbs, native plants and grasses, perennials, shrubs, house plants and terrariums. Additionally, hand-crafted items made by garden members will be available, including garden chimes, stone mosaics, signs, painted garden pots and bird nest necklaces. 

Proceeds will allow the club to continue beautification and maintenance projects at various community gardens in Waynesville, including those at Shelton House, the Waynesville Public Library, the U.S. Post Office, Waynesville Welcome Sign and Waynesville Recreation Park Serenity Garden.

Become a Master Gardener

The 2023 Master Gardener class is now forming in Haywood County, with applications accepted for a 13-week course starting Thursday, Aug. 3.

Training sessions will be held on 13 consecutive Thursday mornings plus one local field trip to be held on a Saturday morning. Topics will include soils and fertilizers; lawns and weeds; woody ornamentals; landscaping with native plants; vegetable gardening; pesticide selection and use; insect and disease problem diagnostics; plant identification; integrated pest management; and plant propagation.

Graduates of the program become Master Gardener Volunteers who help the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service provide research-based information to Haywood County residents about lawn, garden and landscape care, with an emphasis on environmental stewardship.

Course cost of $175 covers materials and fees. Candidates must be full-time Haywood County residents and agree to volunteer at least 40 hours in various activities in the 12 months after the class. For more information, contact 828.456.3575 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

See peonies in bloom

The Festival of Peonies in Bloom will return to Wildcat Ridge Farm Monday, May 1, providing a daily opportunity for the public to witness fields of flowers, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through May 31.

Herbaceous and intersectional peony plants and peony flowers will be available for sale — just bring a bucket.

The farm is located at 3552 Panther Creek Road in the Crabtree area of Haywood County. 828.627.6751 or wildcatridgefarm.com. 

Join the Franklin Farmers Market

The Franklin Farmers Market is taking vendor applications for this year’s market, which runs through Oct. 31. The market runs 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday, and registration costs $35. For more information or for the guidelines and an application, contact Christy Bredenkamp at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..