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The Umstead Coalition 
Celebrating Umstead State Park since 1934!

EVENT CALENDAR

Upcoming events

    • 01/31/2026
    • 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    • Visitor Center, William B. Umstead State Park (access off US70)
    • 18
    Register


    Discover the beauty and art of Japanese paper folding with award winning educator and author, Barbara Pearl. Learn how to create a variety of park like models such as a leaf, a tree, a fox, an acorn, jumping frog, perhaps a bat and a box to hold them all, to share  with friends and family, display, or give as one-of-a-kind-gifts — all you need is a "peace" of paper. Unfold the joy and mindFOLDness of origami—you are never too old to fold. 

    About the Instructor: Barbara Pearl's background is in education and mathematics. She is an online college math professor, author, and story teller. She uses origami to teach math through her "Math in Motion" program. In addition, she teaches a variety of origami workshops throughout the county to adults and children at libraries, museums, and Senior Community Centers.  Some of her  more advanced models are currently on display at the Museum of Life and Science, Durham Center for Senior Life (DCSL), Philadelphia Airport, The Children’s Museum, The Franklin Institute Science Museum, Lockheed Martin Aerospace, Libraries including East Regional Library, and Schools throughout the country.

    All are Welcome. No Experience Required. Materials provided. 

    Adults and children (7+) / $5/Donation


    • 04/17/2026
    • 9:00 AM
    • 04/18/2026
    • 5:00 PM
    • Umstead State Park (2100 N Harrison Ave, Cary, NC 27513)
    Register

    We're looking for volunteers to help us with our popular Spring Native Plant Sale on April 26! Volunteer tasks will include organizing the plants and Umstead State Park merchandise,  assisting folks buying plants and takedown.

    We have the following volunteer time slots:

    • Friday: 9am - 11:30am (perhaps longer depending on number of volunteers)
    • Saturday: 9am-1pm: Event setup, assisting shoppers
    • Saturday: 1pm-5pm: Assisting shoppers, event takedown

    We are also looking for volunteers to help with set-up on Friday.

    We're looking for up to 30 volunteers to help make this event run smoothly.

    Location: We'll be setting up in the grassy area on the right when you pull into the Reedy Creek entrance parking lot at Umstead State Park (2100 N Harrison Ave, Cary, NC 27513)

    • 04/18/2026
    • 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    • Umstead State Park (2100 N Harrison Ave, Cary, NC 27513)
    Register

    Our Sprint Native Plant Sale will be on Saturday, April 18 from 12pm-3pm. We'll be selling locally-grown, native  flowers, shrubs and trees.

    Early Entry! Umstead Coalition Members (with current membership or donations over $15 from October 1, 2025) will get early access from 11am-noon. 

    100% of all proceeds from the event go to support William B. Umstead State Park.

    Location: We'll be set up in the grassy area on the right when you drive into the parking lot at the Harrison Ave, Cary entrance to Umstead State Park (2100 N Harrison Ave, Cary, NC 27513).

    Registration is not required, but will help us know how many to expect. 

    Pricing & plant list

    • 4": $10
    • 1 gallon: $20, except dwarf azalea
    • 1 gallon dwarf azalea: $25

    The list of plants will change, below is the list we had at our last spring'2025 plant sale to give an idea of the types of plants we will likely have.  The list will be updated in March. 

    Species Common Name Size
    Asclepias incarnata Swamp milkweed 4 inch
    Asclepias syriaca Common milkweed 4 inch
    Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly milkweed 4 inch
    Authamia caroliniana Carolina grass-leaved goldenrod 4 inch
    Conoclinium coelestinum  Blue mist flower  4 inch
    Echinacea purpurea Purple coneflower 4 inch
    Helianthus angustifolius Swamp sunflower 4 inch
    Hibiscus moscheutos Rose mallow 4 inch
    Iris virginica Southern blue flag 4 inch
    Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal flower  4 inch
    Monarda fistulosa Wild bergamot 4 inch
    Muhlenbergia capillaris Hairawn muhly grass 4 inch
    Physostegia virginiana Obedient plant  4 inch
    Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas fern 4 inch
    Pycnanthemum muticum Clustered Mountain Mint  4 inch
    Stokesia laevis Stokes aster 4 inch
    Vernonia noveboracensis Ironweed 4 inch
    Veronicastrum virginicum Culver's root 4 inch
         
    Adiantum pedatum Maidenhair fern gallon
    Aesculus pavia Red buckeye gallon
    Callicarpa americana American beautyberry gallon
    Calycanthus floridus Sweet shrub gallon
    Cercis canadensis Redbud gallon
    Dryopteris filix-mas Male fern gallon
    Hydrangea quercifolia Oakleaf hydrangea gallon
    Itea virginica Virginia sweetspire gallon
    Lyonia lucida Fetterbush gallon
    Morus rubra Red mulberry gallon
    Rhododendron atlanticum
    Dwarf azalea gallon
    Sambucus canadensis
    Elderberry
    gallon
    Swida amomum Silky dogwood gallon
    Viburnum nudum Possomhaw gallon

    Interested in volunteering?

    We have hundreds of people attend our sale and needs lots of help. Sign up for a shift here

The Umstead Coalition

We are a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the natural integrity of William B. Umstead State Park and the surrounding open space.

WHO WE ARE

The Umstead Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.