Category Archives: Featured
Ironweed: The resilient perennial transforming North Carolina landscapes
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener We all want resilient plants for our landscape. Frankly we want something that is cost effective. A plant which fulfills that description and expectation is "Ironwe...
Oct 12, 2025
KIX Kitties and K9s: Meet Ziggy!
Ziggy is a 3-year-old poodle mix with a big heart and plenty of pep! He's the best of both worlds-happy to go for walks and burn off his energy, then just as content to curl up on the couch, the bed, ...
Oct 08, 2025
Witchy native shrub brings spring bottlebrush blooms and fiery fall color
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener If you have ever wanted to grow your own bottle brushes, then you have come to the right place. The Fothergilla latifolia or F. major or the Dwarf Fothergilla (gard...
Oct 05, 2025
KIX Kitties and K9s: Meet Smelt!
Smelt is a lovable boy with a heart as big as his golden eyes. His little white chest patch adds to his handsome good looks-and his gentle, easygoing personality makes him a friend to everyone he meet...
Oct 01, 2025
One year later, western North Carolina still recovers from Hurricane Helene
SPRUCE PINE, N.C. (NCN News) - It has been one year since the worst storm to ever hit North Carolina devastated the western part of the state.Hurricane Helene was not even on the list of storms to wor...
Sep 25, 2025
KIX Kitties and K9s: Meet Dunkin!
Say hello to Dunkin, a 10-month-old (roughly 40 pound) bundle of love and energy who's ready to find his forever home! With his sleek best in show-good looks and a dash of hound dog charm, Dunkin is a...
Sep 24, 2025
Russian sage: Not from Russia, but perfect for NC gardens
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerI planted some Russian Sage (Salvia yangii) decades ago. Alas, I can't remember when it faded into oblivion. It is really not native to Russia and hails from Central...
Sep 24, 2025
Red and black chokeberries thrive in North Carolina landscapes
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) and Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) are versatile shrubs native to North Carolina. I have seen many of the red varieties, ...
Sep 14, 2025
Bottlebrush blooms, fall color make Clethra a versatile shrub
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerI have many different species of plants in my landscape. However, I do not own a "Clethra alnifolia" or "sweet pepper bush" or "summersweet". I bet if I were to ask ...
Sep 07, 2025
Bottlebrush blooms, fall color make Clethra a versatile shrub
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener I have many different species of plants in my landscape. However, I do not own a "Clethra alnifolia" or "sweet pepper bush" or "summersweet". I bet if I were to ask...
Sep 07, 2025