The 23rd annual Strawberry Jam festival will be held May 17-18 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City.

The Darnell family celebrates their locally grown strawberry crop.

Do you have a gardening question? NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer your questions about lawns, vegetables, flowers, trees and ornamental plants; disease, insect, weed or wildlife problems; soils (including soil test results) and fertilizers; freeze and frost damage; and cultural and chemical solutions to pest problems. 

The Franklin farmers market will open up for the season beginning May. 

Lake Junaluska’s Spring Plant Sale will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at the Nanci Weldon Memorial Gym.  

For sale will be a few thousand plants, including an assortment of annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables, hanging baskets and several varieties of native plants from the Corneille Bryan Native Garden, said Melissa Marshall, Lake Junaluska director of grounds. 

The planting season is getting closer, and Master Gardeners are available to answer questions about lawns, vegetables, flowers, trees and ornamental plants; disease, insect, weed or wildlife problems; soils (including soil test results) and fertilizers; freeze and frost damage; and cultural and chemical solutions to pest problems. 

The growing season is winding down, but NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers are still available to answer questions about lawns, vegetables, flowers, trees, and ornamental plants; disease, insect, weed, or wildlife problems; soils (including soil test results) and fertilizers; freeze and frost damage; and cultural and chemical solutions to pest problems. 

Question: I have been having issues with constipation and my doctor told me to get more fiber in my diet.  What foods have fiber and how much should I get? 

It’s the time of year in the Southeast when our backyard gardens may be full of zucchinis and of course, you can always purchase fresh zucchini at your local Ingles Market. 

Pizza often has a bad reputation and is considered unhealthy, but if you think about it, it’s just bread with sauce, cheese, and toppings – kind of like an open-faced sandwich! As is the case with many things, if you eat pizza in large quantities, and if your toppings are higher in calories then your pizza night may not be the best choice. 

As both kids and parents head into summer vacation, thinking about having easy and inexpensive snacks available becomes more important: