Calendar of Events

The Garden Helpline is open March 2 through October 27 in 2022.

Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteers will be staffing the Helpline as indicated in the schedule below. You may send an email or leave a voicemail at any time and an Extension Master Gardener volunteer will respond during Garden Helpline hours. When emailing, please include a photo if it helps describe your garden question. Soil test kits can be picked up at the Extension office, 24/7, located in a box outside the front door.

Two ways to contact the Garden Helpline
Call 828-255-5522
Email questions and photos to [email protected]

Garden Helpline Hours
March:  Monday 12:00 – 2:00; Wednesday 10:00 – 12:00
April – September:  Monday and Wednesday 10:00- 2:00; Tuesday 10:00-12:00;
Thursday 12:00-2:00
October:  Tuesday 10:00-12:00; Thursday 12:00-2:00

We are here to help and support you! Please contact us; we look forward to answering your gardening questions.

Visit Grandad’s for the day and enjoy a variety of family fun activities on a 100-acre family farm and apple orchard located in Hendersonville NC near Asheville.  Select pre-picked apples fresh off the trees daily from our bins or enjoy you-pick on select weekends. Starting in late September, in Grandad’s pumpkin patch you will find pumpkins and jack o’lanterns in every size and shape. At Grandad’s Barn and Country Store, you will find a great selection of fall harvest decorations, apple peelers, apple bakers, and other apple gifts. Come by our bakery where we have hot cider donuts all day along with apple pies, cookies, hot cider, apple cider slushies, and many other apple goodies to eat!

The Justus Family has been growing delicious NC Apples in Hendersonville for more than Four Generations, our Fifth generation is now an active part of Justus Orchard as well.  At our NC Apple Orchard, you will find U Pick or We Pick Apples, Blackberries, and Pumpkins  Whether you choose to U Pick or We Pick, you can sample, mix and match to make sure go home with your favorite apples for eating or cooking.  Review the apple varieties we grow and sell and their usual ripening times here.

We invite you to experience picking your own NC Apples, enjoy a day in the beautiful Western North Carolina Mountains, there is something for everyone and all ages.  Tour the orchard picking apples, stop by the pond to see our ducks, visit the farm animals, let the kids take a ride on the Cow Train through the orchard, visit Apple House for pre-picked Apples, Honey, Jams, Jellies and Preserves and other homemade goodies.  Visit the Bakery which offers our famous homemade Fried Apple Pies, Apple Cider Donuts, Apple Cider, Cider Slushies, Caramels, Apple Bread and more! You can also find fresh Mountain Cabbage, Sweet Potatoes and other local fall vegetables.

We look forward to having you visit one of the oldest U Pick or We Pick Apple Orchards in Western NC.  We guarantee fresh apples, delicious baked good, beautiful views and wonderful hospitality!

Currently picking: Gala, Golden Delicious, Early Fuji, Mutsu, and a few Honeycrisp

Sky Top Orchard has been a family-owned & operated farm since 1967 when father and son duo Everette and David Butler planted the first trees on Mt. McAlpine, in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. For almost 60 years, Apple Dave and his wife Lindsey grew Sky Top from a small roadside tent into what it is today.

Built with love, sweat, and a lot of hard work, Sky Top has grown to include our hayride and bee train, the apple cannon, and of course, our famous apple cider doughnuts. But throughout the years, one thing stays the same: tradition. At Sky Top, we believe family and creating long-lasting memories is the most important part. We look forward to being a place for you to bring your families for years to come.

The Garden Helpline is open March 2 through October 27 in 2022.

Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteers will be staffing the Helpline as indicated in the schedule below. You may send an email or leave a voicemail at any time and an Extension Master Gardener volunteer will respond during Garden Helpline hours. When emailing, please include a photo if it helps describe your garden question. Soil test kits can be picked up at the Extension office, 24/7, located in a box outside the front door.

Two ways to contact the Garden Helpline
Call 828-255-5522
Email questions and photos to [email protected]

Garden Helpline Hours
March:  Monday 12:00 – 2:00; Wednesday 10:00 – 12:00
April – September:  Monday and Wednesday 10:00- 2:00; Tuesday 10:00-12:00;
Thursday 12:00-2:00
October:  Tuesday 10:00-12:00; Thursday 12:00-2:00

We are here to help and support you! Please contact us; we look forward to answering your gardening questions.

Verner Center for Early Learning is a nonprofit agency providing high quality, affordable early care and education to children birth to five years of age throughout Buncombe County. The mission of Verner Center is to foster holistic learning environments where young children and families thrive. The organization embraces a philosophy that includes excellence in early childhood practices, diversity among children and families, and partnerships and collaboration with families and communities. This philosophy is demonstrated through provision of high quality education, family services, health and nutrition services, and professional development for teachers.

We are currently looking for compassionate volunteers to support our experiential garden.

Volunteer Opportunity Includes:

• Pulling weeds
• Cleaning out garden beds
• Prepping new garden beds
• Building small projects
• Mowing
• Weed eating
• Laying mulch
• Watering

Volunteer Requirements:

• Respond to the shift
• Comfortable working in various weather conditions
• Comfortable bending, stooping, twisting
• Ability to stand for 1-2 hours at a time

Visit Grandad’s for the day and enjoy a variety of family fun activities on a 100-acre family farm and apple orchard located in Hendersonville NC near Asheville.  Select pre-picked apples fresh off the trees daily from our bins or enjoy you-pick on select weekends. Starting in late September, in Grandad’s pumpkin patch you will find pumpkins and jack o’lanterns in every size and shape. At Grandad’s Barn and Country Store, you will find a great selection of fall harvest decorations, apple peelers, apple bakers, and other apple gifts. Come by our bakery where we have hot cider donuts all day along with apple pies, cookies, hot cider, apple cider slushies, and many other apple goodies to eat!

The Justus Family has been growing delicious NC Apples in Hendersonville for more than Four Generations, our Fifth generation is now an active part of Justus Orchard as well.  At our NC Apple Orchard, you will find U Pick or We Pick Apples, Blackberries, and Pumpkins  Whether you choose to U Pick or We Pick, you can sample, mix and match to make sure go home with your favorite apples for eating or cooking.  Review the apple varieties we grow and sell and their usual ripening times here.

We invite you to experience picking your own NC Apples, enjoy a day in the beautiful Western North Carolina Mountains, there is something for everyone and all ages.  Tour the orchard picking apples, stop by the pond to see our ducks, visit the farm animals, let the kids take a ride on the Cow Train through the orchard, visit Apple House for pre-picked Apples, Honey, Jams, Jellies and Preserves and other homemade goodies.  Visit the Bakery which offers our famous homemade Fried Apple Pies, Apple Cider Donuts, Apple Cider, Cider Slushies, Caramels, Apple Bread and more! You can also find fresh Mountain Cabbage, Sweet Potatoes and other local fall vegetables.

We look forward to having you visit one of the oldest U Pick or We Pick Apple Orchards in Western NC.  We guarantee fresh apples, delicious baked good, beautiful views and wonderful hospitality!

Currently picking: Gala, Golden Delicious, Early Fuji, Mutsu, and a few Honeycrisp

Sky Top Orchard has been a family-owned & operated farm since 1967 when father and son duo Everette and David Butler planted the first trees on Mt. McAlpine, in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. For almost 60 years, Apple Dave and his wife Lindsey grew Sky Top from a small roadside tent into what it is today.

Built with love, sweat, and a lot of hard work, Sky Top has grown to include our hayride and bee train, the apple cannon, and of course, our famous apple cider doughnuts. But throughout the years, one thing stays the same: tradition. At Sky Top, we believe family and creating long-lasting memories is the most important part. We look forward to being a place for you to bring your families for years to come.

The Garden Helpline is open March 2 through October 27 in 2022.

Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteers will be staffing the Helpline as indicated in the schedule below. You may send an email or leave a voicemail at any time and an Extension Master Gardener volunteer will respond during Garden Helpline hours. When emailing, please include a photo if it helps describe your garden question. Soil test kits can be picked up at the Extension office, 24/7, located in a box outside the front door.

Two ways to contact the Garden Helpline
Call 828-255-5522
Email questions and photos to [email protected]

Garden Helpline Hours
March:  Monday 12:00 – 2:00; Wednesday 10:00 – 12:00
April – September:  Monday and Wednesday 10:00- 2:00; Tuesday 10:00-12:00;
Thursday 12:00-2:00
October:  Tuesday 10:00-12:00; Thursday 12:00-2:00

We are here to help and support you! Please contact us; we look forward to answering your gardening questions.

Visit Grandad’s for the day and enjoy a variety of family fun activities on a 100-acre family farm and apple orchard located in Hendersonville NC near Asheville.  Select pre-picked apples fresh off the trees daily from our bins or enjoy you-pick on select weekends. Starting in late September, in Grandad’s pumpkin patch you will find pumpkins and jack o’lanterns in every size and shape. At Grandad’s Barn and Country Store, you will find a great selection of fall harvest decorations, apple peelers, apple bakers, and other apple gifts. Come by our bakery where we have hot cider donuts all day along with apple pies, cookies, hot cider, apple cider slushies, and many other apple goodies to eat!

The Justus Family has been growing delicious NC Apples in Hendersonville for more than Four Generations, our Fifth generation is now an active part of Justus Orchard as well.  At our NC Apple Orchard, you will find U Pick or We Pick Apples, Blackberries, and Pumpkins  Whether you choose to U Pick or We Pick, you can sample, mix and match to make sure go home with your favorite apples for eating or cooking.  Review the apple varieties we grow and sell and their usual ripening times here.

We invite you to experience picking your own NC Apples, enjoy a day in the beautiful Western North Carolina Mountains, there is something for everyone and all ages.  Tour the orchard picking apples, stop by the pond to see our ducks, visit the farm animals, let the kids take a ride on the Cow Train through the orchard, visit Apple House for pre-picked Apples, Honey, Jams, Jellies and Preserves and other homemade goodies.  Visit the Bakery which offers our famous homemade Fried Apple Pies, Apple Cider Donuts, Apple Cider, Cider Slushies, Caramels, Apple Bread and more! You can also find fresh Mountain Cabbage, Sweet Potatoes and other local fall vegetables.

We look forward to having you visit one of the oldest U Pick or We Pick Apple Orchards in Western NC.  We guarantee fresh apples, delicious baked good, beautiful views and wonderful hospitality!

Currently picking: Gala, Golden Delicious, Early Fuji, Mutsu, and a few Honeycrisp

Sky Top Orchard has been a family-owned & operated farm since 1967 when father and son duo Everette and David Butler planted the first trees on Mt. McAlpine, in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. For almost 60 years, Apple Dave and his wife Lindsey grew Sky Top from a small roadside tent into what it is today.

Built with love, sweat, and a lot of hard work, Sky Top has grown to include our hayride and bee train, the apple cannon, and of course, our famous apple cider doughnuts. But throughout the years, one thing stays the same: tradition. At Sky Top, we believe family and creating long-lasting memories is the most important part. We look forward to being a place for you to bring your families for years to come.

The Garden Helpline is open March 2 through October 27 in 2022.

Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteers will be staffing the Helpline as indicated in the schedule below. You may send an email or leave a voicemail at any time and an Extension Master Gardener volunteer will respond during Garden Helpline hours. When emailing, please include a photo if it helps describe your garden question. Soil test kits can be picked up at the Extension office, 24/7, located in a box outside the front door.

Two ways to contact the Garden Helpline
Call 828-255-5522
Email questions and photos to [email protected]

Garden Helpline Hours
March:  Monday 12:00 – 2:00; Wednesday 10:00 – 12:00
April – September:  Monday and Wednesday 10:00- 2:00; Tuesday 10:00-12:00;
Thursday 12:00-2:00
October:  Tuesday 10:00-12:00; Thursday 12:00-2:00

We are here to help and support you! Please contact us; we look forward to answering your gardening questions.

Presenter: Cynthia Gillooly, Co-owner of Verde’ Design, a custom floral and season garden container business

Plants have been grown in closed  glass terrarium cases for hundreds of years, and it’s still a creative, engaging way to grow plants indoors today.  Join Cynthia Gillooly, an experienced indoor plant expert, and learn about terrarium containers and plant selection for those high-humidity gardens.  Cynthia will teach us about soil, plant care and maintenance, and her tricks, tools and accessories to make your own terrific terrariums.

Registration: The talk is free but registration is required. Please click on the link below to register. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.

Zoom seminar access: After registration, you will receive an email with instructions and a link to join this online live broadcast via Zoom. The ability to access Zoom through a computer, tablet or smartphone with a reliable internet connection is necessary to attend.

Verner Center for Early Learning is a nonprofit agency providing high quality, affordable early care and education to children birth to five years of age throughout Buncombe County. The mission of Verner Center is to foster holistic learning environments where young children and families thrive. The organization embraces a philosophy that includes excellence in early childhood practices, diversity among children and families, and partnerships and collaboration with families and communities. This philosophy is demonstrated through provision of high quality education, family services, health and nutrition services, and professional development for teachers.

We are currently looking for compassionate volunteers to support our experiential garden.

Volunteer Opportunity Includes:

• Pulling weeds
• Cleaning out garden beds
• Prepping new garden beds
• Building small projects
• Mowing
• Weed eating
• Laying mulch
• Watering

Volunteer Requirements:

• Respond to the shift
• Comfortable working in various weather conditions
• Comfortable bending, stooping, twisting
• Ability to stand for 1-2 hours at a time

Meet up with Betsy and Florrie by the Bowen Bridge along Riverside (look for balloons) for a leisurely walk and informative talk about the first two pollinator habitats created by Bee City USA-Asheville committee members and friends along the Greenway. We’ll cover a brief history of the Greenway habitats as we walk around the River Arts District Habitat (RAD HAB) and then to the second habitat nearby, emphasizing good habitat characteristics, discussing shrubs and perennials there, and looking for pollinators. We’ll also talk about expansion plans, the difference in the RAD HAB and the pollinator meadow, and invasive plants along the way, finishing at the meadow.

Betsy Savely is co-chair of GreenWorks’ Bee City USA-Asheville Leadership Committee and was the first Asheville resident to have her pollinator habitat certified by GreenWorks. She graduated from the North Carolina Arboretum’s Blue Ridge Naturalist Program in 2020, co-creating a large pollinator habitat in the River Arts District for her BRN project. She has been an avid landscaper and gardener for over 30 years and has created many wildlife and pollinator habitats in the Asheville area.

Florrie Funk has been on the board of Bee City USA-Asheville for six years. She has had a life-long love of wildflowers and wild places. She has spent the last thirty years learning about native ecosystems and working as a volunteer in nature education, citizen science projects, plant diversity restoration, and removal of invasive species. Recently she has focused on native habitat gardening and photographing pollinators. She is of the opinion that in all creation, there are no insignificant pieces.