County Extension

Carol Weaver
Master gardener
There are many reasons to raise your own annual flowers and vegetables from seed. Aside from the personal satisfaction you gain from successfully propagating your own plants, you can grow varieties that are not readily available at the local nursery or big-box store. Growing from seed may also be more economical than purchasing small plants at retail prices.

The folks from NSF International have a great article on kitchen cleanliness posted on its website. It’s called the “Top Five Germiest Places in the Home.”
NSF is a nonprofit organization that provides health and safety standards for equipment used in the home and food service industry.
The article on germy kitchens is part of NSF’s consumer-safety program to educate consumers on how to keep their lives safer every day.

By Charlie Spencer
Master gardener
There have been a large number of calls to the hot line recently concerning moving plants. Generally speaking, the optimum time for moving plants is during the dormant period.
Following are a few suggestions:
Most shrubs and trees should be moved during their dormant season. For some, this will be just after they shed their leaves. Others, such as azaleas, will require waiting until late fall, winter or early spring. For this area, dormant season is January through March.

The Bits-n-Boots girls went to the North Carolina State University Vet School Horseman’s Youth Day in Raleigh on Saturday, March 6, attending several lectures on horse health and touring the school.
Those attending included Rebekah Taylor, Mackenzie Snyder, Sierra Hart, Kaitlin Jones, Jillian Bowling, Lena Devlin and Breanna Long.
The day of equine-oriented activity combines education and fun and is designed to provide students ages 9-18 hands-on experiences with the anatomy, physiology and veterinary care of horses.
Participants were grouped