Summer is here and we have some great suggestions on what to do this weekend! 

Weekend best bets: Beer festival, pimento cheese fest and more

The Science of Beer event, where happy hour meets science, was h

In the wake of tragic and traumatic events, feelings like stress, anxiety, grief and depression are natural. Here is a list of crisis counseling and county-by-county resources in North Carolina, as well as nationally. These resources are available for you -- just call. 

Get Help: County-by-county guide to mental health and crisis resources in NC

 Mental health graphic

All assets associated with the tag: North Carolina Botanical Garden

North Carolina Botanical Garden Coverage

"Hoticulture, Hooch, and Outlaws in Fast Cars" is now open at Cape Fear Botanical Garden in Fayetteville. Enjoy the beauty and peace of the botanical garden, and explore the history of moonshine and the birth of NASCAR in North Carolina.

01:00PM TO 06:00PM AT DIX PARK. >> BOTANICAL GARDEN IS AN URBAN OASIS IN THE MIDST OF THE DOWNTOWN NOISE. THE NOISE IN OUR LIVES AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY. WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1989. SO WE'RE GOING INTO OUR 35TH YEAR. WE ARE A 501, C 3 NONPROFIT AND WE ARE SELF-SUPPORTING THROUGH DONATIONS WEEKEND FROM DONORS AS WELL AS ADMISSIONS SPONSORSHIPS GRANTS AND FUNDING THAT WE SEEK FROM OTHER SOURCES. WE ARE OPEN 360 DAYS A YEAR AND WE OFFER CLASSES FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS. THOSE WITH SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES THROUGH OUR THERAPEUTIC COURT PROGRAM. WHAT A BETTER PLACE TO BE THAN TO JUST COME OUT. ENJOY NATURE. I THINK THE BEST THING ABOUT THE GARDEN IS WE'RE ALL SO BUSY AND THE WORLD MOVE SO FAST AND WE'VE ALWAYS GOT A PHONE ATTACHED TO OUR HIPS ARE IN OUR HAND AND THIS IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN COME AND GET AWAY BY YOURSELF. YOU CAN COME WITH SOMEONE, A FRIEND OR SOMEONE ELSE JUST TO SHARE NATURE. YOU CAN BRING YOUR FAMILY. WE HAVE A CHILDREN'S GARDEN WHERE KIDS COME IN PLAY. ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF MY DAY IS HEARING KIDS LAUGHING IN THE CHILDREN'S GARDEN. WE HAVE A HISTORIC GARDEN, OUR HERITAGE GARDEN THAT HAS FARMHOUSE GENERAL STORE CORN CRIB AND TOBACCO BARN FROM THE LATE 18. 100'S PLUS IN OUR 80 ACRES. 23 OR LANDSCAPE. BUT THE REST ARE NATURAL TRAILS THAT GO ALONG THE CAPE FEAR RIVER. SO IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO COME. ENJOY THE OUTSIDE THE ENVIRONMENT. THE WILDLIFE AND JUST THE PEACE WITH YOURSELF. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH TODD VESELY WHO IS A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. AND WE HAVE BROUGHT AN EXHIBIT TO THE GARDEN HORTICULTURE FOODS AND OUTLAWS IN FAST CARS. IT TRACES THE ROOTS OF WHAT WE KNOW IS NASCAR TODAY THAT TO HORTICULTURE. >> THIS EXHIBIT SPECIFICALLY IS AN EXHIBIT FOR THE SOUTHEAST WHERE THE HEART OF THE NASCAR COUNTRY AND WE LOOK AT THIS EXHIBIT AS NOT BEING JUST ABOUT NASCAR, BUT BEING ABOUT PLANS FOR US AND PASSIONATELY TELLING THE STORY ABOUT HOW PLANS REALLY CRAFTED A WHOLE SOCIETY THAT PEOPLE ARE. THEY PROBABLY HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE ON, BUT REALLY DON'T KNOW THE TRUE STORY. THE MOONSHINE IS HOW DISTILLERIES AND BERLIN CROSS THE COUNTRY AND DISTILLERIES THAT THE BASIC INGREDIENT COMES FROM PLANTS. AND SO ARE ALL THE DIFFERENT PLANTS THAT ARE INFUSED INTO AND SHINE TODAY ARE AND ALCOHOL TO YOUR MIXOLOGISTS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING ALL THAT ARISE FROM PLANS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, NASCAR HAS REALLY, REALLY REINVENTED ITSELF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH DIVERSITY. AND WE LOOK AT WHAT'S THAT CONNECTION AND HOW NASCAR ACTUALLY HAS TO THE TREE PLANTING. AND THAT'S THE BUT ALSO LOOKING AT HOW BIO FUELS ARE BEING USED AND THE NASCAR INDUSTRY. SO ETHANOL, BUT ALSO HOW NASCAR HAS KIND OF WORKED WITH SLEET AT USING ALGAE BIO FUELS AS AS A POSSIBLE NEXT GENERATION CONNECTION TO THE PLANT WORLD TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE. >> I WAS AMAZED WHEN I STARTED DOING THE RESEARCH FOR THIS EXHIBIT, JUST HOW CLOSELY HORTICULTURE IS TIED TO NASCAR AND THE HISTORY OF THAT. IF YOU'RE IS STILL LEARNING HOW TO MAKE SERIOUS CRIMES BITTERS AND TINCTURES TO SORT OF FLAVOR YOUR MOONSHINE. WE'LL HAVE CLASSES ON THAT AS WELL AS THOSE AIRLINE CLASSES WILL BE TEACHING WEAVING AND EMBROIDERY TANNING. ALL THOSE THINGS THAT GO WITH THE EXHIBIT AND WERE USED FOR MAYBE NOT SUCH A GOOD WAY BACK THEN. BUT WE'RE TURNING THAT AROUND TODAY. WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME VISIT US. THE EXHIBIT WILL BE HERE THROUGH AUGUST. 20TH, IF YOU WILL, FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM AND THEN OUR WEB SITE IS CAPE FEAR. BEACHY DOT ORG.

Cape Fear Botanical Garden has a new exhibit

The N.C. Botanical Garden always is a great place to visit, what with its outdoor space and trails. But now, especially, is a great time to head over to the Chapel Hill destination, part of UNC-Chapel Hill. The weather is cooler, and it's an easy place to keep your distance from others as the pandemic continues.

Take the Kids: 5 reasons to head over to the N.C. Botanical Garden right now

N.C. Botanical Garden

Spring produce is ready for harvest at UNC's Carolina Community Garden. 
"This has probably been the best spring we've had in years," said Claire Lorch, program manager for the garden. But, the timing couldn't be worse for Lorch. 

Carolina Community Garden donates fresh produce to medical staff

UNC Community garden donates produce to medical staff

At the N.C. Botanical Garden, you'll find a variety of plants, flowers and trees that come from the southeastern United States, trails and activities for kids.

Spring Blooms: Celebrate mom with a trip to the N.C. Botanical Garden

Spring blooms at the N.C. Botanical Garden

The Chapel Hill botanical garden is full of blooms and color, making it a perfect spot to take mom this Mother's Day.

The afternoon celebrates spring and the garden's natural wonders with hands-on activities and nature play, including frogs, carnivorous plants, bird games and crafts, flower art, gnome home building, scavenger hunt and more, according to the description.