As autumn arrives and the air turns crisp, North Carolinians usually reach for mums to brighten their fall gardens. But the More than Mums Festival at Juniper Level Botanic Garden (JLBG) offers a more biodiverse fall palette – featuring native perennials, rare and unusual plants and ornamental grasses that thrive in cooler weather. Visitors can stroll 10 acres of gardens, join free “Gardening Unplugged” talks twice daily, shop for unique plants, and enjoy waterfalls, winding trails and a wildlife scavenger hunt for kids. With more than 27,000 plant varieties, JLBG is one of the top five collections in the U.S. Admission is free, rain or shine.