The Extension office is open, weekdays 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Call 828-255-5522 or contact the agent directly using this link. While the county Covid-19 mask mandate has been lifted, participants for in person events and activities are welcome to wear a mask to feel more comfortable, indoors or outdoors. The events calendar at the bottom of this page is currently being updated with the details for 2023. Click each event on the calendar below for program details and registration instructions. For a quick overview of our Gardening Education Programs for 2023, click here.
Special 2023 Events:
Thursdays in The Learning Garden. New in 2023! The Learning Garden is offering the public the opportunity to learn in the garden, on selected Thursdays, February – October. Each month, programs will be selected from one of five Series: Dahlia Series, Dye Garden Series, Rose Garden Series, Sun and Shade Garden Series, and Vegetable Garden Series. Visitors can also walk around and soak in our lovely gardens! Our gardens open at 9:00 am and demonstration programs run between 10-11:30 a.m. Click here for an overview of the 2023 in-person programs. The details around the programs in each Series are currently being finalized and will be posted to the Events Calendar as soon completed. To ensure a good experience, attendance will be limited and registration will be required for all programs. Portions of each program may be held outside; please dress approproately for the weather.
2023 Spring Fling Plant Sale. May 6. Mark your calendar and get ready for the 2023 Spring Fling annual rose and plant sale, sponsored by the Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society, the Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers of Buncombe County, and the Men’s Garden Club of Asheville. Click here for the 2023 Spring Fling Plant Sale flyer
WNC Gardening Symposium – October 11. The event was a success. We have already started planning for 2024. Click here for information on the the 2023 Speakers and Sponsors.
OctoberFest in The Learning Garden – October 14. Family Fun in the Garden! Come join us in The Learning Garden to celebrate the end of the growing season. Enjoy fun activities for children and adults. Explore the gardens filled with Master Gardener volunteers to answer your gardening questions. Details about the Events will be shared later this summer.
Ongoing educational activities & events:
GARDEN HELPLINE – The Garden Helpline is open March 6 – October 26, 2023.
Specific information on how to contact the Helpline and the hours it will be staffed is located on the Garden Helpline page on this site. We are here to help and support you! Please contact us.
Gardening in the Mountains Series: A series of 60 minute on-line seminars covering various gardening topics. These on-line programs will be offered the third Thursday of each month, February thru October, unless otherwise indicated. The schedule of informative topics and great speakers has been finalized. Click here for the 2023 Gardening in the Mountains Schedule. The details of each program and how to register will soon be available on the Events Calendar at the bottom of this page.
Saturday Seminar Series*: A series of 90 minute hands-on seminars, presented by Master Gardeners covering various gardening topics. These programs will be offered in-person in The Learning Garden on selected Saturdays, February – September. To ensure a good learning experience, attendance will be limited and registration will be required. Click here for the 2023 Saturday Seminar Schedule. Refer to the calendar at the bottom of this page for the program details, and registration instructions. While the Buncombe County mask mandate has been lifted, participants are welcome to wear a mask to feel more comfortable, indoors or outdoors.
Backyard Composting Demonstrations: Extension Master Gardener Volunteers maintain two compost demonstration sites―one at Jesse Israel Garden Center in the Western NC Farmers Market and the other at The Learning Garden on the property of the Extension Center on Mount Carmel Road. The Farmers Market site provides demonstrations from 10:00am to 1:00pm on the second Saturday each month, May through September in 2023. Exceptions will be noted on the Events calendar on the bottom of this page. Note: July demo will take place on July 15.
Extension Master GardenerSM Plant Clinics*: The Extension Master GardenerSMPlant Clinics are back in-person at Asheville City Market on the third Saturday of each month, April through September. The specific dates will be April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, and September 16. Master Gardener volunteers will be at the Asheville City Market, located at 52 N. Market Street, Asheville, NC 28801, to answers to all of your gardening questions and address your concerns. EMGVs also plan to staff Plant Clinics at the North Carolina Arboretum Plant Sale, Growing in the Mountains, the Black Mountain Garden Sale. Click here for more details. All the Plant Clinics planned for 2023 will be held rain or shine, so please check the forecast and dress appropriately for the weather.