Texas wildflower lecture, plus more home & garden events around the Triangle

Texas Wildflower Lecture

Damon Waitt, director of the N.C. Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, will deliver a lecture on “Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Texas Wildflowers” at the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh.

The talk will be 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 13.

The lecture is sponsored by the Piedmont chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society and the arboretum. Free for members; $5 for nonmembers.

The arboretuem is at 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh.

Info: 919-513-7005, jcra.ncsu.edu.

Classes at Gather in Raleigh

Raleigh’s Gather shop is hosting a series of classes:

▪ DIY leather envelope case, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 8. Cost: $40.

▪ Cameras and Cocktails, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 20. Cost: $70.

▪ Handmade Bookbinding, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 15. Cost: $45.

▪ Weaving 101, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 22. Cost: $45.

▪ Screen-printing basics, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Feb. 27. Cost: $50.

▪ DIY hanging air plant, 6-8:30 p.m. March 4. Cost: $20.

▪ Watermelon Clutch, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. March 12. Cost: $55.

▪ DIY ceramic herb markers, 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 14. Cost: $35.

▪ Shibori dyeing basics, a Japanese technique, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. March 26, Cost: $50.

The shop is in the 200 block of East Franklin Street, Raleigh.

Info: shop.gathergoodsco.com/collections/classes

Birding event in Wake Forest

National Audubon Society leader Lena Gallitano will lead a community workshop, “Creation Care: A Bird’s Perspective,” on Feb. 13.

The program will include a talk on the future of birds while exploring Audubon North Carolina conservation initiatives to create bird-friendly communities throughout the state, according to the news release.

The talk will be 9:30 a.m.-noon Feb. 13 in the fellowship hall at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 830 Durham Road, Wake Forest. The event is free; light refreshments will be served.

Info: Contact Helen Holt, hwholt09@gmail.com or 919-556-1958.

Plenty Flower Shop taking orders for Valentine’s Day

The former Tir na nOg location in downtown Raleigh is being converted into a Chinese restaurant, brewery, bookstore and flower shop. The entire multi-faceted business won’t open until summer.

But the owners are operating a pop-up flower shop 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 12-14 for Valentine’s Day.

The deadline is Feb. 7 for pre-order, and cut flowers will also be available for purchase on those three days. Arrangements range from $69-$309, and there isn’t a red rose in sight.

The shop is at 218 S. Blount St., across from Moore Square.

Info or place an order: plentyflowershop.com.

Learn to make a terrarium

Raleigh’s The Zen Succulent is offering a hands-on terrarium class from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at The Makery/Mercury Studio in downtown Durham.

The class is $65 per person or $110 for two people. Couples can make a single terrarium together.

Owner Megan George will teach students how to create a classic closed terrarium featuring ferns, moss and tropical foliage. Students will go home with a terrarium and care instructions.

Info or sign up: thezensucculent.com/ourworkshops.

Events at The Scrap Exchange

Durham’s The Scrap Exchange has two cool upcoming events:

▪ Pop-up Thrift event is 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 6-7. Everything costs $1 on the first day, or fill a bag for $5 on the second day.

▪ Swap-o-rama-rama is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 13. Bring your unwanted clothing (hats, shoes and accessories included), swap them for new-to-you items and create one-of-a-kind fashions with DIY sewing and embellishing stations. Suggested donation: $10.

Scrap Exchange is at 2050 Chapel Hill Road.

Info: scrapexchange.org.

Reminder: Enter the annual birdhouse competition

It’s time to start thinking about entering the JC Raulston Arboretum’s annual birdhouse competition.

The contest, which is open to both children and adults, is part of the Raleigh arboretum’s annual Raulston Blooms! event April 1-2. The competition aims to raise awareness about bird habitats.

Adults have three categories: serious, flights of fancy and college students (those must be themed after the college or university or major). Serious entries are “best described as working birdhouses” and are judged on craftsmanship, functionality for humans and birds, mountability and aesthetics. Flights of fancy entries can “best be described as decorator birdhouses” and are judged on aesthetics, imaginative theme, craftsmanship and functionality.

Children have categories for ages 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 and 13-16. Entries will be judged on aesthetics, imaginative theme or concept, craftsmanship and functionality for birds.

Competitors are not limited to one entry; all entries should be portable. All entries are due at the Raleigh arboretum between 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 1.

Judges will choose winners in first, second and third place; the winners will receive gift certificates from Garden Supply Co. in Cary.

More details on entry requirements can be found at jcra.ncsu.edu/birdhouses.

The public can also view the entries and vote for their favorite birdhouse 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 2. Each vote costs 1 cent, which will be donated to the arboretum’s general fund within the N.C. Agricultural Foundation.

This story was originally published February 1, 2016 at 3:37 PM with the headline "Texas wildflower lecture, plus more home & garden events around the Triangle."