NEW BERN — Spring is blooming around Tryon Palace for the annual Spring Garden Lovers Weekend, which starts today.

The gardens will be open for the event from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Explore 16 acres of gardens full of spring favorites like tulips, irises, and more. Admission to all Tryon Palace Gardens is free throughout the weekend.

Also going on this weekend at the palace gardens:

• Spring Heritage Plant Sale Friday and Saturday

• 8th annual East Carolina Pottery Festival, Saturday

• “Gardens of North Carolina” free exhibit opens Saturday.

Garden Lovers Weekend is held in conjunction with the Spring Historic Homes & Gardens Tour, sponsored by the New Bern Historical Society and the New Bern Preservation Foundation. Visitors who show a ticket for the Spring Historic Homes & Gardens Tour will receive a 10 percent discount on a Tryon Palace One Day Pass. Please call 252-638-8558 for more information.

Plant Boutique to open at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

BELMONT — Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden will open its Plant Boutique in The Garden Store, on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

After the opening weekend, the boutique will be open daily throughout the growing season.

Specialty plant vendors including Charlotte Bamboo, Cure Nursery, Cindy’s Greenhouses and People’s Choice Organics will be onsite throughout the opening weekend.

Plants from North State Hostas, A World of Salvias, Rountree Plantation and Wilson’s Nursery & Garden Center will be for sale.

Garden-grown plants and favorites hand-selected by Stowe horticulturists will also be available. The sale will feature a wide variety of perennials, herbs and herb gardens, vegetable plants, succulents, hanging flower baskets, bird baths and feeders, sundials, garden ornaments and more.

A member preview will be held Saturday from 8 to 10:30 a.m.

Also on Saturday, The Garden Store will host a wine tasting at 3 p.m. that includes five samples for $10.

Admission to the Plant Boutique is free with garden admission. For more information, visit www.DSBG.org.

Old Salem to sell heirloom plants beginning April 16

WINSTON-SALEM —  Old Salem Museums & Gardens will offer heirloom plants for sale in the Garden Shop at T. Bagge Merchant at 626 S. Main St. beginning April 16 through the end of the growing season in October.

The Garden Shop offers many of the same varieties as those found growing in Old Salem’s gardens.

All plants are grown in the Old Salem Greenhouse. A selection of perennial and annual flowers, herbs and vines are available as are a broad selection of heirloom vegetable, flower and herb seed from Seed Savers Exchange, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and D. Landreth Seed Co.

The Garden Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

For more information, contact 336-721-7300 or info@oldsalem.org