McCoy Farm & Gardens Newsletter

Volume Nine: Issue Three xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx March 2024

McCoy Egg Roll to be March 24

Carolina Fore and Mary Corinne Fore assisting with cookie decorating at the first annual Egg Roll in 2023.

The Second Annual Egg Roll at McCoy Farm & Gardens is set for Sunday, March 24, from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. The day will be packed with activities and treats for all.

We are excited to announce that our eggs this year have been made by Wells Wood Turning, the same craftsmen who create the eggs used in the Easter festivities at the White House. The eggs feature a painted design that will make them a great keepsake. Eggs can be purchased for $10 which allows for entry into the egg roll contest, an egg-in-spoon obstacle course, and other games with a chance to win prizes.

There will also be booths for lemonade, cotton candy, kettle corn, face painting, and cookie decorating with supplies provided by our favorite Cookie Lady.

This year, the event will finish with The McCoy Mutts Parade of dogs in their finest outfits at 3:45! If you would like to enter your well-behaved, show-stopping dogs, bring them on leash and dressed in their most stunning costumes for the parade which starts at the Carriage House.

All of these wonderful activities have been organized by Special Events Co-Chairs, Mary Catherine O’Kelley and Annette Wildman, and board member Anne Leonard. They even convinced the Easter Bunny to make an appearance!

At McCoy Farm & Gardens

Volunteer students Britton Williams, Olivia Plascencia, Katie Laney, and Shannon Hodgen with their cart for hauling away invasive ivy during Weed Wrangle 2023

Saturday, March 2, 9am - noon

Our Weed-Wrangle invasive plant removal is tomorrow, March 2. Join other volunteers in the eradication of English ivy, Chinese privet, and other unwanted vegetation in the new Woodland Garden area. Learn why these invasive plants are harmful and how to remove them to make way for native plants. Please bring water, gloves, hand pruners or loppers, and wear sturdy clothing and closed-toe shoes. Meet at 9 AM in the parking lot.



Contact Riki-Lynne Willmon for more information at rikilynne@gmail.com.

Bluebird Trail Upgrades

It is once again the season for bluebird eggs to begin appearing in the nest boxes along the Bluebird Trail. Linda Collins and Sallie Ford recently met with Diane Shelly, the president of the Chattanooga Bluebird Society. They discussed and implemented several updated amenities.

All of the boxes now have unique names and a new QR code to track the inhabitants of each. The code helps trained members of the Chattanooga Bluebird Society connect to an app called Nestwatch, a product of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and used by bluebird societies across the country to collect data. The data recorded includes a map of nests, sightings, eggs and babies and keeps track of all the numbers. This information helps with the conservation of these precious birds. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Chattanooga Bluebird Society to assist with this important work, email chattanoogabluebirds@gmail.com or call 941-720-2631.

You can also follow along the journey of bluebird sightings at McCoy Farm & Gardens through the Nestwatch app. If you are not a trained member, please be careful not to disturb the boxes or nests inside and instead sit quietly and observe. Bluebird nests are protected by both state and federal laws as part of the conservation effort.

Mark your calendars for May 8th, when bluebird season will be in full swing and we will have a bird walk to watch the nesting habits of the bluebirds who call McCoy Farm & Gardens home. You may even catch the first flight of young bluebirds!

In Memorium

McCoy has recently lost two valued friends, Bettie Chester and Joe Gaston. Both were influential in creating McCoy Farm & Gardens and continued to donate their time and resources over the past 20 years.

Bettie Chester passed away on January 29th at the age of 95. She was passionate about her community, enjoyed outdoor activities, and was an expert in local flora and fauna. She was a member of the Walden’s Ridge Historical Society where she helped with the restoration of the Connor Toll House. In 2004, while working as a real estate agent, she helped arrange the Town of Walden’s acquisition of Martha McCoy’s house upon Martha's death so that the McCoy property could become the community space Martha envisioned.

Joe Gaston, husband to local historian Kay Baker Gaston, passed away on February 9th shortly before his 85th birthday. He practiced law in Chattanooga for many years and used his legal expertise to aid civic groups. Joe helped organize the Town of Walden 1975 and served as the first Town attorney. Over the years, he and Kay acquired 18 pieces of beautiful Emma Bell Miles artwork which they donated to McCoy Farm & Gardens. Several of the works are on display in the McCoy House.

Garden Committee Updates

Children's Fairy Garden

Spring is almost here and the Garden Committee is back to work! 

Do you love fairies?

The fairy garden section of the Children’s Garden is being refreshed. We would love donations of new fairy garden items such as houses, gnomes, fairies, hobbits, or dragons. They need to be made of durable materials that can survive rough play. Please contact gardens@mccoywalden.org to donate items or funds.

New Woodland Garden

You may have noticed some clearing work in the wooded area between the House and Anderson Pike. We are cleaning out the invasive plants to make room for a new Woodland Garden! This garden will showcase plants that thrive in site conditions common to Signal Mountain - part-shade to shade with wet clay soil. Our native woodland understory is rich with spring ephemerals, ferns, blooming shrubs, and understory trees. Please join us at the Weed Wrangle on March 2nd as we begin this project. If you’d like to participate in the Woodland Garden and be informed about future workdays, please contact gardens@mccoywalden.org.

March Workdays

Saturday, March 2, 9am - Weed Wrangle!

Friday March 8, 1pm 

Saturday, March 16, 1pm 

Tuesday March 26, 1pm 

The new Woodland Garden will be under the big trees

on the far side of the Serpentine Wall Garden shown above

Important Dates Coming Up

• Weed Wrangle, Saturday, March 2, 9 am-noon (more info above).

• March Open Houses, Sunday, March 10, 2-4 pm, and March 24 during the Egg Roll.

• Egg Roll, Sunday, March 24, 2-4 pm, including the inaugural McCoy Mutts Easter Parade at 3:45 pm.



• Emma Bell Miles Open House and Walking Tour, Sunday, April 14, 2-4pm. More information to come in the April newsletter.

• Spring Migration Bird Walk, Saturday, May 4, 8:00 am. More details will be in the April newsletter.

Contact McCoy Farm & Gardens

at rob@mccoywalden.org

to learn more about renting space at McCoy for your next event.

Or mail your check to McCoy Farm & Gardens, P.O. Box 443, Signal Mountain, TN 37377

McCoy Farm & Gardens covers 38 acres and features the Bachman-McCoy home, gardens, and several outbuildings including the Pavilion, Carriage House, Barn, and Blacksmith Workshop. The perimeter walking trail is 1.1 miles.