Photos from Extension’s Pollinator Workshop & Native Plant Sale

(Updated: Sept. 29, 2025, 10:18 a.m.)

On September 19, 2025 the Chatham County Center of North Carolina Cooperative Extension conducted a workshop on Landscaping for Pollinators and Other Wildlife at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro. Approximately 190 participants from 26 NC counties attended the sold-out five-hour workshop taught by Sustainable Agriculture Agent Debbie Roos.

The afternoon was dedicated to a Native Plant Sale on site featuring Chatham County’s three native plant nurseries: Growing Wild Nursery, Mellow Marsh Farm, and Rachel’s Native Plants. The sale attracted hundreds of shoppers from the piedmont area. If you missed the sale, visit the nursery websites to check out what days/hours they are open. Fall is an excellent time for planting…especially the months of October and November!

Below are some photos from the workshop and native plant sale.

Pollinator Workshop in the Exhibit Hall of the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center.
Pollinator Workshop in the Exhibit Hall of the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center. The workshop portion of the event included a slide show lecture and a hands-on garden design exercise. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Hands-on design exercise during the pollinator workshop.
Hands-on design exercise during the pollinator workshop. Participants learned about the basic principles of garden design and were given plant lists and resources developed by Agriculture Agent Debbie Roos to help them design their own garden. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Hands-on design exercise during the pollinator workshop.
Hands-on design exercise during the pollinator workshop. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Hands-on design exercise during the pollinator workshop.
It was great seeing folks working in groups to design pollinator gardens for their community back in their home county! Photo by Debbie Roos.
Hands-on design exercise during the pollinator workshop.
Hands-on design exercise during the pollinator workshop. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Hands-on design exercise during the pollinator workshop.
Many participants worked on designing a pollinator garden for their own yard. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Native plant sale.
Native plant sale. This was the third year for the native plant sale which was open for the workshop participants and then the general public. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Customers line up to purchase perennials and shrubs from Rachel's Native Plants.
Customers line up to purchase perennials and shrubs from Rachel's Native Plants. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Customers choosing plants from Rachel's Native Plants.
Customers choosing plants from Rachel's Native Plants. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Happy customer at Rachel's Native Plants!
Happy customer at Rachel's Native Plants! Photo by Debbie Roos.
Rachel talks plants with some of her customers.
Grower Rachel Nelms (second from right) talks plants with some of her customers. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Rachel talks plants with one of her customers.
Rachel answered a lot of questions about the plants she grows. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Lots of smiling faces at the native plant sale!
Lots of smiling faces at the native plant sale - the energy and enthusiasm were amazing! Photo by Debbie Roos.
Lots of smiling faces at the native plant sale!
Growing Wild Nursery and Mellow Marsh Farm. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Customers lining up at the Growing Wild Nursery booth.
Customers lining up at the Growing Wild Nursery booth. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Grower Alistair Glen tends to customers at the Growing Wild Nursery booth.
Grower Alistair Glen tends to customers at the Growing Wild Nursery booth. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Gorgeous pitcher plants and venus fly traps at the Growing Wild Nursery booth.
Gorgeous pitcher plants and venus fly traps at the Growing Wild Nursery booth. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Alistair and Charlotte wait on customers at the Growing Wild Nursery booth.
Alistair and Charlotte Glen wait on customers at the Growing Wild Nursery booth. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Mellow Marsh Farm booth.
Mellow Marsh Farm brought lots of beautiful trees and shrubs plus perennials. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Mellow Marsh Farm booth.
Mellow Marsh Farm booth. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Mellow Marsh Farm booth.
Mellow Marsh Farm booth. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Beautiful perennials at the Mellow Marsh Farm booth.
Beautiful perennials at the Mellow Marsh Farm booth. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Happy customers!
Happy customers! Photo by Debbie Roos.
Growers Rachel Nelms (left) of Rachel's Native Plants and Sharon Day of Mellow Marsh Farm celebrate a successful plant sale!
Growers Rachel Nelms (left) of Rachel's Native Plants and Sharon Day of Mellow Marsh Farm celebrate a successful plant sale! Photo by Debbie Roos.
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