By Amy Mackintosh reporting for Native Plant News Winter 2025
For eleven hours a day during the eleven days of the North Carolina State Fair, a total of sixty-five North Carolina Native Plant Society volunteers, led by Jackie Trickel–who was there throughout–again promoted the importance of native plants and shared information with thousands of fairgoers. Visitors from across the state, young and old, newcomers to North Carolina and lifelong residents, stopped by to learn, swap stories, and play games.
Activities for both kids and adults
Children were intrigued by the pot of Venus Flytraps and pitcherplant pitchers and had fun searching the gardens for scavenger hunt items. Adults and families challenged themselves to distinguish native plants from invasive plants on a board showing twenty plants commonly grown in gardens. Many visitors were interested in the handouts and other literature, and some availed themselves of the native plants available for donations, or by joining the NCNPS during the fair. Most days also included a presentation about winter sowing. Four other local environmental groups joined us at the booth some days to help spread the word about native plants and their organizations.
Amy Mackintosh (left) demonstrates winter sowing and Devon Hull gives a winter sowing demonstration.
NCNPS gardens at the fair
The North Carolina Native Plant Society via the Margaret Reid Chapter has maintained a permanent native garden in the Flower Show area of the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh for 19 years – next year will be the 20th anniversary! Recently, in 2022, a second garden and an information booth were added. This newer garden area is across the walk from the booth and features mostly native perennials and groundcovers.
One garden features NC native plant nurseries
In 2024, we added another garden that features North Carolina native plant nurseries. The native nursery garden, located down the hill from the main gardens, gets more sun, and features sun-loving “prairie” plants and shrubs. The original garden, a place of calm and respite from fair’s crowds, features a diversity of North Carolina native trees, shrubs and shade-loving herbaceous plants, as well as a water cascade and rock lined pool.
Flowers bloom near a path at the Native Nurseries Garden.
Thanks to the native plant nurseries who staffed the NC Native Nurseries garden and donated plants for the gardens and give-aways, and a huge thanks to our NCNPS volunteers!
Amy Mackintosh is a co-chair of the Margaret Reid chapter of the NCNPS (Triangle region), a retired landscape architect, and owner/steward of the Margaret Reid Wild Flower Garden in Raleigh.