Your guide to this season’s most vibrant outdoor happenings, from tulip trails to Earth Day celebrations.
by WALTER staff

Raleigh is a bloom! Everywhere you look this time of year here in the City of Oaks there’s color, from bright red, pink and purple azaleas (just in time for Easter and the Masters!) to the dogwoods’ subtle display of white and pink. All the more reason to hit the trails of public landscapes, head to our local garden centers (if not for the plants, for the mimosas) and take advantage of the many festivals around town celebrating our little patch of Earth.

Visit Duke Gardens

The Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham brim with the beauty of a new season each spring as thousands of cherry trees, tulips, daffodils and poppies burst into bloom. Check out their range of historic gardens, including the Azalea Court, Hanes Iris Garden and the Iris Bridge, or the Sundial and Butterfly Garden. The Terrace Cafe is also open now, for the season. 
Sarah P. Duke Gardens, 420 Anderson Street, Durham; gardens.duke.edu 

Take a Trip West for Biltmore Blooms

Spring is the perfect time to make the trip to Asheville to see the historic Biltmore Estate surrounded by a sea of flowers. From colorful Cornelian-cherry dogwood trees to the orchids in bloom in the Conservatory to the hyacinth-filled Walled Garden, explore all the beauty of Biltmore and its gardens and grounds spanning 8,000 acres. Included in your ticket is a wine tasting at Antler Hill Village & Winery amongst the fragrant winter jasmine, spirea, daffodil, Japanese Pieris and more. 
Now – May 22 | Various times | From $86;  One Lodge Street, Asheville; biltmore.com

Grab a Mimosa at Atlantic Gardening

The local beers on tap at Atlantic Gardening’s bar get a fun new twist with garden tool taps, including shovels, rakes, and spades. Check out what’s on the tool taps for today, or opt for a glass of wine or one of their many mimosa flavors like mango, pineapple, peach and pear nectar before taking a stroll around the greenhouse and nursery. 
5217 Atlantic Avenue; atlanticgardening.com 

Support Horticulture Students at the Annual Azalea Sale 

Head over to Campbell Road Nursery for the 44th annual Azalea Sale hosted by the Gardeners of Wake County. Featuring locally grown azaleas in over 120 varieties, colors and sizes that can grow up to 10 feet tall, you won’t want to miss this chance to support your local gardeners and take home a one-of-a-kind flower. Don’t forget to ask how you can help support North Carolina State horticulture students at the sale. 
Now – April 12; 4285 Trinity Road; gardenersofwakecounty.weebly.com

Relish Spring at the Oakwood Garden Club Tour and Tea

Enjoy a leisurely stroll through Historic Oakwood for its annual garden tour, hosted by the Oakwood Garden Club. This self-guided tour visits six landscapes on about a 1.5-mile route, where you can expect to see whimsical water features, native plants and outdoor sculptures, in addition to your favorite April flowers, plus enjoy assorted iced tea and treats. For an extra $20, enjoy the hourlong Fascinator/Boutonniere workshop beforehand, which includes a mocktail and all the necessary supplies to enjoy the tour in DIY style.
April 12 & 13 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; From $25; 418 N. Person Street; historic-oakwood.org 

Discover 100 Years of Gardening with the Raleigh Garden Club

Celebrate a century of blooms, beauty and community impact as the Raleigh Garden Club marks its 100th anniversary. Their exhibit, Planting Power: 100 Years of the Raleigh Garden Club, is now open at the City of Raleigh Museum. As part of the yearlong festivities, the club also hosts its Lunchbox Lecture Series every third Thursday of the month. These casual midday chats hosted at the City of Raleigh Museum invite guests to listen to guest speakers discuss topics surrounding all things gardening, conservation and environmental stewardship. Up next: on April 17 from 12-1 p.m., hear from Russ Stephenson as he explores the garden and legacy of Raleigh artist and preservationist Isabelle Bowen Henderson.
Various times; 220 Fayetteville Street; https://raleigh-garden.squarespace.com/100th-anniversary-events 

Join the Fun at Earth Day and Arbor Day 2025

Join the City of Raleigh and We Plant it Forward for a free community celebration on April 25 to honor Earth Day and Arbor Day! From 4-5 p.m., enjoy interactive educational demos, check out eco-friendly booths and at 5 p.m., take a walk with a Arborist to learn about urban trees. Later in the evening, David Rahahę•tih Webb of the Tuscarora community will share a traditional welcoming, followed by Earth dances, environmental awards and a tree dedication. The day will close with a screening of The Wild Robot in Flowers Field.
April 25 | 4 – 10 p.m.; Free admission; 2105 Umstead Drive; raleighnc.gov

Support Umstead State Park at Native Plant Sale

The Umstead Coalition, the group dedicated to protecting and enhancing our area’s most popular state park, is hosting its annual sale of native flowers, shrubs and herbs with all proceeds going straight back to its mission. Afterwards, consider hiking one of Umstead State Park’s 15 trail options. Registration is encouraged but not required; you can also visit the Umstead Coalition’s website ahead of time to get an idea of the available plant varieties and pricing.
April 26 | 12 – 3 p.m.; Free admission; 2100 N. Harrison Avenue, Cary; umsteadcoalition.org 

Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival 

Bring the whole family to Cary’s Bond Park for one of the most anticipated festivals of the year. Featuring 170 local artists, mouth-watering food, an Earth Day Celebration and hands-on activities for kids such as paint-by-the-numbers on a collaborative giant canvas and games at the WakeMed Play Zone, Spring Daze is back in full form this year. Check out the entertainment happening simultaneously on four different stages all day long, including acts such as XOXOK, Purebred Mutts Band, Allison Hatfield Duo, Charles Newkirk, and more unique performers. 
April 26 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; free; 801 High House Road, Cary; townofcary.org

Celebrate Mother Nature at Raulston Blooms!

Raulston Blooms! returns to NC State’s JC Raulston Arboretum. A celebration of all things nature, this family-friendly event is set on the beautiful grounds of the public garden. Enjoy the impressive birdhouse competition, hands-on crafts, gardening talks and plenty of scrumptious food truck options! You can also take advantage of the arboretum’s plant sale, which offers a rare opportunity to score unique native and exotic saplings.
April 26 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; From $5; 4415 Beryl Road; jcra.ncsu.edu

Visit Fifth Season Gardening

Spring has arrived, and so has Fifth Street Gardening, Raleigh’s new spot for all things green and growing. Local gardeners might remember their hydroponic gardening shop near the State Fairgrounds (which operated from 2007 to 2021), and the new location on Wake Forest Road offers so much more. Now featuring a 2,500 square foot outdoor nursery, an expansive collection of organic gardening supplies, rare houseplants and homesteading essentials, the store is designed to inspire both seasoned (ha, ha) gardeners and beginners alike. Fifth Season Gardening will be offering hands-on workshops this spring such as a Floral Jewelry Making Class on April 26 for an Introduction to Indoor Growing and Hydroponics, or May 3 for a Container Planting workshop. 
From $25; 1930 Wake Forest Road; fifthseasongardening.com

Explore the Juniper Level Gardens

Celebrate the start of spring with a trip to Juniper Level Botanic Gardens that offers something for casual visitors and experienced gardeners alike. The 28-acre campus is home to multiple perennial greenhouses, exotic plants, a grotto garden, and rare trees and shrubs — many of which are available to purchase. Visit its Plant Delights Nursery on the way out and choose from over 1,600 different perennials and plants for your own garden.
May 2 – 4, 9 – 11, 16 – 18 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; free admission; 9241 Sauls Road; jlbg.org 

Try One of These Fresh Recipes

As spring brings a variety of vegetables into season, liven up your dinner table with one of these colorful vegetable forward recipes using produce from your own garden, or one of these Triangle-based CSA’s. 

Acquaint Yourself with Local Garden Centers

After gathering inspiration from this list, visit a local garden center to get started on your own personal garden. Whether you’re in the market for shrubs, delicate blossoms or just a unique vase to hold a fresh bouquet from the State Farmers Market, this list of garden centers has got you covered. 

Check Out the Logan’s Garden Shop’s New Location

Logan’s Garden Shop, a Raleigh favorite since 1965, has officially moved to a new home at the State Farmers Market. After saying goodbye to Seaboard Station in February, the store is now serving the entire Research Triangle at the new spacious location. Whether you’re just starting your gardening journey or have been growing for years, Logan’s Garden Shop offers a wide variety of plants, including annuals, perennials, vegetables and greenhouse plants. Also, Logan’s offers potting services, outdoor furniture, and everything else you may need to make your garden thrive.
Mon. – Sat.; 9 am – 6 pm; 1208 Farmers Market Drive; logantrd.com

Visit the Joslin Garden

Nestled between Anderson Drive and St. Mary’s Street, Joslin Garden is a serene, 4-acre city park that invites visitors to unwind and connect with nature. Originally developed by William and Mary Joslin over 60 years ago, the garden features a blend of native wildflowers, pollinator plants and lush greenery, perfect for a peaceful stroll. The park has numerous walking trails to explore, small creeks, bridges and two gazebo areas. Originally part of Arrowhead Farm, the land was lovingly cultivated by the Joslins, who planted rare species, created perennial beds and nurtured their love for gardening. In 2021, the garden became a public park, preserving the Joslins’ vision of accessible nature for future generations.

This article was oringally published on April 11, 2025 on waltermagazine.com