Take a fern garden walk and more upcoming home and garden events

A weekly roundup of home and garden classes, tours and more.

Don’t see your event listed here? You need to enter it at triangle.com. If you would like instructions on how to enter your event, send an email to Andrea Weigl, aweigl@newsobserver.com.

Open to the public only eight weekends each year, Plant Delights Nursery is the source for buying unique, rare, and native perennial plants. It is located on the 28-acre campus in Southern Wake County. Rain or Shine. Free parking. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 9-10 and 16-17; 1-5 p.m. Sept. 11 and 18; Free. Plant Delights Nursery & Juniper Level Botanic Garden, 9241 Sauls Road, Raleigh. 919-772-4794, plantdelights.com.

Learn how native plants play a very important role in providing the food birds need to survive and thrive and how you can start helping birds in your yard today. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 10. $36; $32 members. N.C. Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill. 919-962-0522, ncbg.unc.edu/calendar.

Create a unique English stone-like planting trough for your garden or patio. These planters are relatively light-weight and have excellent drainage. All materials are provided. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Sept. 10. $75. Lasting Impressions, 4904 Hermitage Dr., Raleigh. 919-787-6228, lastingimpressionsleaves.com.

Use a real leaf to create a unique concrete leaf for your home or garden. The little details you observe about the natural leaf are reflected in its concrete double. All materials provided. 1-3 p.m. Sept. 10. $65. Lasting Impressions, 4904 Hermitage Dr., Raleigh. 919-787-6228, lastingimpressionsleaves.com.

This festival features displays of gourds from around the world, special gourd workshops, and vendors of dried gourds, gourd seeds, gourd crafts, gourd art, books, and crafting supplies. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 10; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 11. $2; free for under 16. N.C. State Fairgrounds, Holshouser Building, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh. 919-733-2626, ncstatefair.org.

Join owner Keith Ramsey as he demonstrates how to open a beehive. This hive opening is part of a daylong garden tour, promoting pollination, sponsored by the Bee Better nonprofit. The hive opening is free at Garden Supply Co. Tickets to the garden tour can be purchased at BeeBetter.info. 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 10. $10. Garden Supply Co., 1421 Old Apex Road, Cary. 919-460-7747, gardensupplyco.com.

The Triangle Orchid Society will be auctioning a wide array of blooming orchids to help supports society programs and its upcoming Fall Orchid Show. 1-3:30 p.m. Sept. 10. Free. Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Pkwy., Morrisville. 919-460-3390, wakegov.com/parks/lakecrabtree/Pages/default.aspx.

Join Curtis Smalling, a diligent researcher and a tireless advocate for the birds of our region, and hear an urgent message for all of us about the actions we can take to help our feathered friends in the face of climate change. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Sept. 11. $12; $11 members. N.C. Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill. 919-962-0522, ncbg.unc.edu/calendar.

This seven week course will provide a series of historical snapshots that help to enhance understanding of “modern-day” gardening. By deepening the understanding and appreciation of where gardening came from, students will, in turn, be better gardeners today and in the future! 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 12. $215; $175 members. JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh. 919-515-3132, jcra.ncsu.edu/.

Brie and David Arthur began their suburban Fuquay Foodscape in January 2011. Utilizing the traditional landscape beds, Brie weaves edibles seamlessly through a woody ornamental base of plant material. Changing seasonally, this garden is beautiful and bountiful, providing more than 60 percent of their yearly produce. In addition to tour, she’ll serve guests snacks and beverages and enjoy tomato tastings. 12:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Sept. 13. $20; $15 members. JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh. 919-515-3132, jcra.ncsu.edu/.

Take a walk through the Garden for an introduction to common native ferns. Learn about their fascinating life cycle, tips for propagation and uses in the home landscape, and ways to distinguish and remember these graceful native plants. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Sept. 14. $12; $11 members. N.C. Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill. 919-962-0522, ncbg.unc.edu/calendar.

The Piedmont provides a stopover location for northern breeding species headed south to winter feeding grounds. Mid-September is peak fall migration time for our resident warblers. This photo essay and discussion includes tips for locating fall warblers as they pass through Mason Farm and the Botanical Garden. 12-1 p.m. Sept. 15. Free. N.C. Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill. 919-962-0522, ncbg.unc.edu/calendar.

Spend the morning having fun with little your one and apples. Garden Buds is a hands-on, seasonal themed program for preschool aged children. Parents and caregivers are requested to stay with their children and help guide their children through the activities. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Sept. 15-16. $5 per child for Arboretum family members, $7 per child for nonmembers (no charge for adult). JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh. 919-515-3132, jcra.ncsu.edu/.

This talk is presented by Michael Papay, NARGS Piedmont Chapter Member. 10-11:30 p.m. Sept. 17. Free for North American Rock Garden Society (Piedmont Chapter) members and Friends of the JC Raulston Arboretum members, otherwise $5. JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh. 919-515-3132, jcra.ncsu.edu/.

Whether you are new to the Triangle, new to planting and landscaping, or just want to refresh your existing yard, join us for an informative presentation on all of the basics of landscape design. Our landscape team will walk you through a yard from the eyes of a designer. They will discuss what are the good “bones” of a garden and how you can add trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and statuary to create your own garden oasis. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Sept. 17. Free. Garden Supply Co., 1421 Old Apex Road, Cary. 919-460-7747, gardensupplyco.com.

Enjoy an afternoon stroll as the garden transitions from summer to fall. This restful retreat for humans and refuge for native plants and wildlife is recognized as a Native Plant Habitat by the North Carolina Native Plant Society and as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National and North Carolina Wildlife Federations. 1:30-6:30 p.m. Sept. 18. Free. Swiftbrook Gardens, 5508 Swiftbrook Circle, Raleigh. gardenerbynature.com.

Enter the land of the little people as we help you create the perfect home for fairies or the perfect terrarium for your home or office. We will walk you through the steps necessary to build a fairy garden or terrarium and provide you with all of the “building materials” that you will need. Bring a container from home, or select one from the greenhouse. Plants and other miniature accessories are extra. Please register, as this workshop has limited space and is very popular. 2-3:30 p.m. Sept. 18. $25. Garden Supply Company, 1421 Old Apex Road, Cary. 919-460-7747, gardensupplyco.com.

Intended for all levels, students learn seed propagation techniques for native perennials and woody plants. Topics include seed collection methods, post-collection handling, cleaning equipment and techniques, seed storage, seed sowing techniques, sowing media, cultural requirements of seedlings, and dormancy requirements. 1-4:30 p.m. Sept. 18. $38; $34 members. N.C. Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill. 919-962-0522, ncbg.unc.edu/calendar.

Noon-2 p.m. Sept. 19. Free. JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh. 919-515-3132, jcra.ncsu.edu/.

Floral designers, flower farmers, and farmer-florists: How does your design style reflect your brand? Gardeners: How do your floral designs express your unique garden style as you bring the garden indoors? In this design workshop you will use flowers as a metaphor to communicate what makes you distinct. Fresh, local and seasonal botanicals are your muse and allow you to tell a story. For floral professionals, this allows you to connect with customers in a way that can set you apart in the marketplace. Debra Prinzing will lead the hands-on session that covers eco-friendly design techniques as well as Slow Flowers principles that you can adopt as brand messaging or use to extend your garden from the flower beds to the kitchen table. 3 p.m. Sept. 19. $65-$75. Pine State Flowers, 2001 Chapel Hill Road, Durham. 919-578-8150, pinestateflowers.com.

Learn about spectacular plants that offer both beauty and functionality. Sign up separately for each session to learn a new group of beautiful and useful plants, or take all four sections. Instructor: Stefan Bloodworth, curator of the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants, Duke Gardens. Information/registration: 919-668-1707. 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 21. Fee per section: Gardens members $7; general public $10. Fee to register for multiple sessions: Gardens members $5; general public $9 per session. Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Anderson St. and Erwin Road, Durham. 919-684-3698, gardens.duke.edu.

Learn about plants you can grow including perennials, annuals, and shrubs to use for making beautiful fall bouquets and arrangements. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Sept. 24. Free. Homewood Nursery & Garden Center, 10809 Honeycutt Road, Raleigh. 919-847-0117, homewoodnursery.com.

This story was originally published September 8, 2016 at 9:53 AM with the headline "Take a fern garden walk and more upcoming home and garden events."