The Gardens of Old Salem
Join us this summer in the garden for guided tours, exclusive speakers, extraordinary exhibits, hands on experiences, and more!
Gardens Speaker Series
Join us for a series of events focused on the Gardens of Old Salem, tips for your own garden, and the history of various plants found in Old Salem and throughout the southeast!
All sessions will take place at 12:00 PM in the Single Brothers Workshop. Sliding scale program fee, pay what you can. Pre-registration is required for all sessions individually as space is limited.
Registration for ALL speaking sessions is now available, so just click your preferred date!
Ask a Gardener – past event
For the first in our series, join the gardeners of Old Salem for an interactive community panel where you can ask anything about our gardens – or yours! Our multigenerational team is ready to share their knowledge and help you grow with confidence.
Wednesday, August 20th
Saturday, August 23rd
Moravian Botanists and Plant Collectors: A Global Legacy
Travel through time and across continents as we trace the stories of Moravian botanists and plant collectors whose curiosity, faith, and fieldwork wove a global tapestry of plants and people.
Wednesday, September 10th
Saturday, September 13th
Heirloom Apples
Celebrate the beginning of the fall harvest with this lecture discussing the importance of apple trees to the Moravians and North Carolina while sampling centuries-old apple varieties.
Wednesday, October 15th
Saturday, October 18th
Forgotten Fruits
Discover the lost tree fruit varieties of the South and learn more about the ongoing efforts to not only preserve them, but reintroduce them to local foodscapes.
Wednesday, November 12th
Saturday, November 15th
Seed Saving
Learn the art of seed saving and how Old Salem’s historically authentic plant collection preserves regionally adapted heirlooms – while exploring how you can help steward this living legacy in the Piedmont.
Guided Tours
Join our educators for a themed guided tour of our Gardens, included with your standard ticket!
Click here to get yours today!
June 8th – August 30th: Pollinator Tours
This summer, explore our Gardens and discover how pollinators like Monarch butterflies and native bees help our flowers and crops thrive on guided walking tours through blooming landscapes.
Fridays and Saturdays | 11:30 AM & 1:00 PM
September 6th – September 27th: Apple Tree Tour
Make this tree tour the apple of your eye! Learn about social and environmental factors which affected the apple orchards of historical Wachovia.
Saturdays | 11:30 AM & 1:00 PM
October 18th and October 25th : Harvest Tour
Join our educators for a stroll through the gardens to learn about the uses of our bountiful harvest and get a closer look at our growing produce.
11:30 AM & 1:00 PM
November 1st – November 22nd : After the Harvest: Compost Tour
What happens after the growing season? Come find out in a behind-the-scenes exploration of what crops are doing at the end of their life cycle.
Saturdays | 11:30 AM & 1:00 PM
Hands-On Experiences
Whether you are a beginner or a passionate green thumb, join our Gardens crew for an even more immersive experience. Events meet at the Single Brothers’ Workshop.
History of Beekeeping Tour
August 15th and 16th | 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM or 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM | $10
Celebrate World Honey Bee Day by exploring the history of the honey bee in America and Old Salem, including the beekeeping practices of Moravians in the 1800s!
REGISTRATION OPEN NOW – click your preferred date and time!
Watercolors in the Garden
September 27th | 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM | $35
Capture the essences of historic herbs, flowers, and crops in the Single Brothers’ Garden through watercolor painting. Enjoy the cool air and birdsong of Old Salem as our Gardeners and Educators guide you through the process with gentle instruction.
For beginners and seasoned painters alike!
Events for Young Gardeners
Check out these hands-on experiences designed with young gardeners in mind! These experiences are designed for ages 6-10 with an accompanying adult.
Boys’ School Botany
August 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | $10
Learn about botany in the Salem Boys’ School through a blend of classroom teaching and hands-on outdoor exploration.
REGISTRATION OPEN NOW – click your preferred date!
| Wednesdays | Thursdays |
| August 6th | August 7th |
| August 13th | August 14th |
Dead, Down, Detached: The Three Ds of Conservation
October 4th and 18th | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | $10
Venture into the garden with our educators and find organic materials for an art project without hurting our environment. Learn about conservation while getting crafty! Event meets at the Single Brothers’ Workshop.
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | $10
REGISTRATION OPEN NOW – click your preferred date!
Saturday, October 4th
Saturday, October 18th
Exhibits and Self-Guided Tours
Enjoy our upcoming exhibits and explore the Gardens at your own pace.
Exhibits available for viewing as long as nature allows.
No separate ticket necessary! These Gardens exhibits are included with your standard ticket.
Click here to reserve your spot!
June 14th – July 30th: Red, White, and Bloom
Celebrate this season with our most vibrant red and white flowers at their peak.
June 30th : Monarch Butterfly Lifecycle
Visit the Monarch butterfly enclosure in the Horticulture Center to witness these fascinating insects transform from tiny caterpillars to chrysalises and finally into beautiful butterflies.
September 3rd : Ghosts of Gardens Past Exhibit
This autumn, learn about past botanists, gardeners, and foresters of Salem as well as long lost gardens and endangered plant varieties.
October 4th : Eye Spy Garden Plants
Solve the riddles of this self-guided tour to catch a glimpse of the plants growing in the Gardens of Old Salem.
November 8th : Holiday Evergreens
Adventure through Old Salem’s winter wonderland at your own pace to get a closer look at many of our evergreen trees and shrubs.
November 12th: Holiday Evergreens Exhibit
Visit the Garden Education Center this holiday season to learn the natural history of native evergreens used as winter decor throughout history.