Volunteer photographer Don Chernoff has pointed his lens at the beautiful blooms of the JC Raulston Arboretum, and he was kind enough to share his work with us!
“For many years I was very into photographing wildlife and even published a book of wildlife in the Washington DC area called Wild Washington,” he says. “When I moved to the Triangle about four years ago I wanted to try something different but still nature related. Plants are MUCH easier to photograph than animals! I also joined the NC Native Plant Society and I’m learning a lot about plants, but have barely scratched the surface.”
“I wish people would buy and plant more native plants that benefit wildlife like butterflies, bees, and birds. Way too much of our suburban landscape is composed of foreign species that provide zero benefit to wildlife,” Don says.
The Arboretum offers myriad ways to learn about plants, from native to exotic, and how to cultivate them in your own garden.
Plant Lover’s Tour: Ladies’ Choice
March 3, 1-2 p.m.
Kick off Women’s History Month with some professional insight from the women of JCRA. Nursery Technician Sophia McCusker and master’s student and former arboretum intern Eileen Gahan lead you through the garden, highlighting the plants they love most. Free for members, $5 for nonmembers.
Top 5 Spring Bulbs
March 18, 3-4 p.m.
From familiar favorites to things you’ve never heard of, research technician Tim Alderton presents his top 5 (or maybe 20) spring bulbs as part of the free Midweek Program online series.
Budding Explorers: Tree-mendous Discoveries
March 21, 10 a.m. to noon
Youth participants, accompanied by an adult, will step into the role of junior dendrologists as they explore how trees grow, move water, and make their own food. Through creative activities, simple science experiments, and close-up observation in the garden, we’ll investigate leaf shapes, bark textures, and the important jobs different parts of a tree perform. Recommended for ages 8-10. $8 per child.
Want to dig deeper? See the full JCRA program schedule.
