Around the Azalea Coast | May 2025

Make it your PLACE: the North Carolina Coast.

Settling Your Pets Into Your New Home

Prepare Your Pet Before the Move

If spring means a new home is in your future, and you have four-legged housemates, you need to start preparing your pet as soon as you know you'll be moving. Animals are sensitive to changes in their environment and your emotions.

Pets that are out-of-sorts when they see a suitcase will be even more upset with piles of moving boxes. If you're stressed, your pet will likely pick up on it. Try to maintain their normal routine of feeding, walks, and playtime. Begin introducing moving boxes gradually so they can get used to seeing them around. For cats and small dogs, let them explore the boxes at their own pace. Before the big moving day, explore your new neighborhood with long dog walks and drive through frequently so that it is not completely unknown.

Find more tips here.

Growing Your Own Home Orchard

The Cape Fear Region is Perfect for Fruit Trees

Living on the coast in USDA Hardiness Zone 8 puts us in one of the sweetest spots in the country for growing fruit trees. With mild winters, long growing seasons, and a touch of maritime influence that tempers extreme temperatures, coastal Zone 8 offers unique opportunities—and a few challenges—for the home orchardist.

Zone 8 typically experiences minimum winter temperatures between 10°F and 20°F. Along the coast, however, the ocean moderates temperature swings, meaning fewer late frosts in spring and less risk of deep freezes in winter. Humidity tends to be higher, and the salty breeze is a fact of life. These factors all play into how you choose, plant, and care for your fruit trees.

See our list of the best fruit trees for Coastal Zone 8.

Super Useful Links.