The New Hanover County Arboretum and Cooperative Extension will host a morning of educational programming and a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new Horticultural Showcase Garden on May 19. Registration is required for both events, and community members can visit the event website to learn more or sign up.
The event highlights ongoing efforts to expand horticultural education in the region. The new garden is part of a significant transformation at the Arboretum, which began in July 2025 with support from Friends of the Arboretum. Fundraising by this group enabled completion of the $37,000 project, furthering the Arboretum’s goal to serve as a leading Extension education facility.
Before the ribbon-cutting, attendees can participate in “Garden Innovations: New Plant Developments,” an educational program presented by NC State University. The presentation will focus on research led by Dr. Tom Ranney and his team at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River. According to organizers, “This presentation will explore the groundbreaking work of Dr. Tom Ranney and his team at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River.”
The Showcase Garden features unique crop varieties bred by Dr. Ranney’s team that have been introduced into commercial horticulture through partnership with Spring Meadow Nursery, parent company of Proven Winners. While not serving as an official coastal trial site for Dr. Ranney’s research, organizers say that “the garden aims to demonstrate which of these crops thrive in a specific coastal environment, especially as the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones continue to shift.” The space retains its previous layout but has been replanted for year-round interest and practical landscaping solutions based on research.
In related local education news, among New Hanover County school district students who took portions of the ACT during the 2022-23 school year, between approximately 27% and 44% were considered ready for college depending on subject area according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
More information about programs or registration is available on the New Hanover County Arboretum and Cooperative Extension website.
