May 2024 Newsletter

Connecting people

and native plants

for a healthy planet


Be sure to scroll down to the bottom for a News Flash

about the 13-year cicada emergence!

FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS

with Hannah Lewis


Monday, May 13, 2024

6:00 – 7:00 pm EDT


Online via Zoom

Zoom link for May 13


FREE and Open to the Public

Program Information

with Jeffrey Schaarschmidt


Monday, June 10, 2024

6:00 pm EDT


green|spaces 63 E. Main St., Chattanooga


More details coming soon


FREE and Open to the Public



Beginning on Monday, May 20th, the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones presents Gardening with Native Plants, a series of six introductory classes about how to garden with native plants. These classes, led by experienced gardeners from the Tennessee Valley, are free and open to the public. The classes cover everything from why to use native plants to how to plan and maintain native gardens. 


Join us for all of the classes, several, or even just one. The classes are complimentary and together will greatly add to your understanding of native plant gardening.

The first Gardening with Native Plants class is an overview of many of the principles you will learn about in detail. It is a ‘survey course' designed to provide the latest science for the context of what we are trying to apply in individual yards and landscapes.

View/Download the "Gardening with Native Plants" Brochure
Program Info & Schedule

Do you want to receive a reminder email

in advance of our free public programs?

If so, join our Meetup group.


For event details and Zoom links, visit TNValleyWildOnes.org

Under the Programs & Events tab, click on Calendar.

The Certificate in Native Plants program is designed to expand students' knowledge of botany, ecology, conservation and uses of native flora in the southeastern United States. The CNP offers a blend of classroom instruction, hands-on learning and guided hikes. Participants are required to complete four core classes, eight electives, and 40 hours of volunteering for approved native plant projects. Classes are open to Wild Ones members and non-members, whether or not you are pursuing the certificate.


For more info about the Certificate in Native Plants program, click HERE.

Propagating Native Plants from Cuttings and Divisions

Instructor:  Henning von Schmeling


Saturday, May 11, 2024

9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EDT


Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, Chattanooga TN


ELECTIVE CLASS (4 Credits)


Have you ever wanted to learn to propagate native plants from your garden? Have you wondered how layering works in plant propagation? Propagation from root, stem and even leaf cuttings will be demonstrated, and participants will have the opportunity to apply these techniques as part of class.

INFO & REGISTER

Rain Gardens, Wetlands and Riparian Areas

Instructor:  Andrea Ludwig, PhD


Saturday, June 15, 2024

9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EDT


Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute

175 Baylor School Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405


ELECTIVE CLASS (4 Credits)


Tennessee is a wet state, with nearly 50 inches of rain falling in any given year. Managing water in our landscapes is important for healthy, resilient yards. We will examine a suite of strategies to address all that rainwater to beneficial ends.

INFO & REGISTER

More CNP classes will be open for registration soon!

Save the Dates!



VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Help our chapter and volunteer to staff the Wild Ones Information and Membership Table at local events and festivals.

Saturday, May 25 - Fairy & Folk Fest at Audubon Acres

900 N. Sanctuary Rd., Chattanooga TN


Monday, May 27 - McCoy Farm & Gardens Memorial Day Picnic

1715 Anderson Pike, Signal Mountain TN


Various shifts are available.

See more information about both events below.

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER

MEMBERS-ONLY EVENTS

Landscapes in Progress


Saturday, May 18, 2024

10:00 am - 12:30 pm EDT


Free for members of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones


Join members of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones for a tour of two of our members' gardens in the Red Bank area.



INFO & REGISTER

Members-Only

Pontoon Boat Field Trip


Sunday, May 19, 2024

10:45 am – 3:00 pm EDT


Hike Leader: Park Ranger Mark Taylor


Edgar Evins State Park

Silver Point TN


$15 registration fee

Limited number of spaces


The limestone bluffs are an exposed ecosystem which harbor distinct and primitive populations of several interesting species such as the western wallflower and an undescribed species of rose verbena/mock vervain.



We plan to cruise along the bluffs for about 2 hours viewing the wildflowers from the boat, spend nearly an hour eating lunch on the boat in a quiet cove, and then we may travel over to Floating Mill to see a rookery of Double-crested Cormorants and Great Blue Herons.

INFO & REGISTER

Members-Only Hike

Keel Mountain Preserve


Hike Leader: Zach Irick


Saturday, May 25, 2024

9:30 am – 2:30 pm EDT


Keel Mountain Preserve

Gurley, Alabama


Free for members of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones.


The preserve’s limestone karst ecosystem and its population of endangered leather flower are unique to the tristate area surrounding Chattanooga from south of Sewanee, TN to Huntsville, AL and east of Lookout Mountain, GA. A unique mix of soils and geography of these Southwestern Appalachian and Plateau escarpment regions have led to the evolution of several plant species distinctive to the region.

INFO & REGISTER

Landscapes in Progress


Saturday, June 15, 2024

10:00 am - 1:45 pm EDT


Free for members of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones


Join members of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones for a tour of two of our members' gardens on Signal Mountain.

INFO & REGISTER

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

To view all upcoming programs, classes and events presented by the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones, click below:

LIST View
MONTHLY CALENDAR View

MEMBER NEWS

Leon Bates

April 4, 1941 - April 18, 2024


We are sad to report the loss of Leon Bates, one of the founding members of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones. Leon was an avid hiker, naturalist and photographer. He was a frequent and much beloved hike leader for our chapter, and he generously shared his rich knowledge of the natural world with many members of our chapter.


After retiring from TVA as a botanist/biologist for almost 30 years, Leon managed a municipal Urban Forestry/Horticulture Department for seven years. He earned a B.S. Degree in Forestry (UGA) and a M.S. Degree in Botany (UTK) and in retirement devoted time to the study and enjoyment of local flora and fauna.


Since the early 70s, Leon was a member and officer of numerous wildflower, native plant, invasive plant and conservation organizations.  He presented programs for outdoor enthusiasts for more than 50 years, including at the Smoky Mountain Wildflower Pilgrimage.


Leon, our lives have been enriched because of you. We will miss you.



Wild Ones is a community of native planters growing healthier landscapes. This program honors the dedication and hard work of members who actively participate in this transformative journey, recognizing their efforts as crucial contributions to environmental restoration and sustainability.


Wild Ones Certified Native Habitats are symbols of dedication to biodiversity, ecological restoration, and the nurturing of environments where native flora and fauna can thrive. Join Wild Ones in spreading the message and inspiring others, showcasing your habitat as a beacon of environmental stewardship.

Learn More & Certify Your Native Habitat

SUPPORT THE WORK OF OUR CHAPTER

A healthy planet starts with native plants.


Dwindling biodiversity is a threat to the foundation of life on earth. In the last century alone, we’ve lost millions of acres of diverse ecosystems to urbanization. Native plants help protect and restore biodiversity, improve air and water quality and provide wildlife with quality food and shelter.


Our vision is native plants and natural landscapes in every community. Let’s create a movement of native planters growing healthier landscapes. With your help, Tennessee Valley Wild Ones can accomplish the Wild Ones mission in the Tennessee Valley community. We are a 100% volunteer force for good, and donations will go directly to our work in the community.


Please help if you can. Every donation makes a difference.

DONATE

PROGRAMS, CLASSES & EVENTS

Online and in the Region

Tennessee Native Plant Society Seminars


The Tennessee Native Plant Society hosts monthly Native Plant Seminars via Zoom on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Central (7:30 p.m. Eastern) and lasting about one hour. All members, and potential members, are welcome to attend the seminars. Videos of previous seminars are available via the link below.


May 21 – Deborah Rosenthal, Restoration Gone Wild

TNPS Seminars

Whether you're young or young at heart, the Fairy & Folk Festival promises a day filled with wonder and unforgettable moments, celebrating the magic of nature and the timeless allure of folklore. Wander through fairy-filled trails and encounter the wonders of the natural world. At the heart of the festival lies a deep commitment to preserving and protecting the natural world. Learn about the vital work of the Chattanooga Audubon Society and discover how you can play a part in safeguarding our planet's precious ecosystems.


More info & tickets

Monday, May 30, 2024

11:00 am - 4:00 pm EDT

McCoy Farm & Gardens

1715 Anderson Pike across from St. Augustine Catholic Church

Signal Mountain TN


Highlights include hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza by the slice. Entertainment will include the Mountain Cove Blue Grass Band, the DAA Dulcimers, several performances by children's groups and a large children's activity area with games, face painting and more.........


More info

Regional Wild Ones Chapters

Wild Ones is growing in Tennessee and the Southeast!

Check out the events at nearby chapters!

Middle Tennessee Chapter
Smoky Mountains Chapter
North Alabama Chapter
Georgia Piedmont Chapter

INTERESTING INFORMATION

Mini ponds are 'tiny universes' of biodiversity

for gardens and windowsills


"Ponds are absolute biodiversity hotspots – in terms of both the range and density of species that use them. After you fill a hole in the garden with water, wildlife will come – very, very quickly. It's astonishing how quickly it comes," 


Read more.

Why Are There So Many Kinds of Beetles?


Of the roughly 1 million named insect species on Earth, about 400,000 are beetles. And that’s just the beetles described so far. Scientists typically describe thousands of new species each year. So — why so many beetle species? 


Read more.


PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD

CICADA NEWS FLASH!


Our amazing photographer, Mike O'Brien, reports that the 13 year (Brood XIX) cyclical cicadas were emerging yesterday, May 4th, in North Alabama.


Mike's wife Marion often spots interesting creatures, and then Mike swoops in with his camera! That was the case with the cicada below, so thanks to Marion for spotting this beauty!


This year, for the first time since 1803, the two different cicada broods are co-emerging -- the 13 year (Brood XIX, the Great Southern Brood) with the 17 year cyclical cicadas (Brood XIII, the Northern Illinois Brood). This is a very rare event and is not projected to happen again until 2245.


The geographic overlap of the two broods is not extensive, so we are not likely to see both broods in the Tennessee Valley. Illinois is the center of the cicada emergence in the United States, the only state that may see two adjacent broods come up from the soil at once.  Generally, the 13 year ones emerge in late spring, and the 17 year ones emerge in early summer.


Genetics suggest that the 13 year cicada is dominant over the 17 year cicada, but it is not yet completely understood. Physically and behaviorally the 13 and 17 year types are very similar with large bodies, orange veined wings, red eyes and very loud sound mating calls. 


And just in case you're worried, cicadas don’t bite; they prefer to suck tree sap.


See a map of the two broods.


Read more.


The exoskeleton of this cicada (below) was on the leaf of a Spiderwort just above the leaf upon which the cicada was perched for the photos above. 

JOIN WILD ONES

Becoming a Wild Ones member shows your commitment to the native plant movement and is a great way to connect with a helpful and knowledgeable native plant community that will prove invaluable in your native garden journey!


Benefits of a Wild Ones membership include:


  • Access to the current electronic issue of the quarterly Wild Ones Journal
  • Invitations to workshops, garden tours, seed exchanges, plants sales, and stewardship project
  • Discounts for partner educational webinars such as NDAL, etc. and Wild Ones chapter programs
  • Participation in an annual national photo contest
  • Access to the Wild Ones Member Center for learning resources
  • Participation in Wild for Monarchs and Native Garden recognition programs
  • Involvement in citizen science and networking with conservation partners
  • Receiving Wild Ones National e-Newsletters
  • Invitation to Wild Ones' private Facebook discussion group and the national Wild Ones Annual Member Meeting
  • Networking opportunities and camaraderie with like-minded people who care about native plants and our planet


Additional benefits for members of the Tennessee Valley chapter:



  • Discounted admission to all Certificate in Native Plants classes year-round.
  • Free admission at members-only programs, including local and regional guided hikes, garden visits (Landscapes in Progress), the annual meeting, an annual plant swap, and other member social events.
  • Access to the chapter's Member Directory, so you can connect with other members.
  • Annual Welcome Party and Orientation for new members.
  • Monthly email Member Update, with news about chapter activities.
  • All members of the family who live at the same address are entitled to member benefits!


Your membership dollars help forward our mission of promoting the restoration of native landscapes by allowing us to:


  • Provide free, educational resources and learning opportunities that are open to the public from respected experts like Wild Ones Honorary Directors Doug Tallamy, Neil Diboll, Heather Holm and Donna VanBuecken
  • Support the efforts of over 65 local Wild Ones chapters in 23 states
  • Publish a quarterly, award-winning, online journal featuring current native plant information and resources
  • Share free, professionally-designed native garden templates for multiple regions in the United States.
Join Wild Ones

Get More Involved with Us!

The Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones is 100% volunteer run!
Here are a few ways you can get more involved in the chapter
and in our Chattanooga Pollinator Partnership.
Volunteer Opportunities
Learn About the Chattanooga Area Pollinator Partnership (CHAPP)
Seeds for Education Grants
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