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Member Newsletter
March 2013
April Events Summary

April 1 
6:00 p.m.
Native Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center
Open to the public.
 
April 3
Jon Carloftis
Presented by the 
Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center

April 5-7
Reflection Riding 
Native Plant Sale
at the Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center

April 6 
9:00 a.m. departure
Wildflower Trail Walk 
at the Pocket, Pigeon Mountain GA 
with Holli Richey
Members only  

 

April 10 
8:00 a.m. departure
Azaleas, Rhododendrons & Wildflowers in
Jackson County Park, AL 
PLUS special visit to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens
with Leon & Pat Bates
Members only

April 12, 13 & 14
Trails & Trilliums
Monteagle, TN

April 13
8:00 a.m. departure
Nursery Visit to Overhill Gardens, Vonore TN  
Members only

April 20-21
Master Your Garden
"Garden Expo"
Presented by the Master Gardeners of Hamilton County.

See more details in 
this e-newsletter or 
on our website.


Quick Links






Benefits of Membership in the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones

 $10 discount for the 2014
native plant symposium 
presented by the 
Tennessee Valley Chapter 
of Wild Ones.
 


Invitations to
MEMBERS-ONLY EVENTS:
    
*"Landscapes in Progress" garden visit programs   

*Guided Native Plant & 
Wildflower Walks  
 
*Native Plant Rescues 
 
*Native Plant Nursery Visits 
 
 
 
E-mail notices about 
upcoming local native plant EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS 
and events.
 
 
Special DISCOUNT OFFERS 
from local landscapers 
and nurseries, 
including  
Sunlight Gardens and 
Overhill Gardens.  
Show your Wild Ones 
membership card to receive 
10% off at these nurseries.
 
 
BECOME INVOLVED 
with a group of
 local gardeners
 interested in 
native plant landscaping.
 
 
PLUS all the benefits of a 
national Wild Ones membership, including the 
New Member Handbook 
with practical ways 
to add native plants to 
your landscape ...
AND the quarterly 
Wild Ones Journal
 


Our Board 

President
Cathy Albright

Vice-President &
Program Committee Chair
Sally Wencel

Secretary
Nora Bernhardt

Treasurer
Freeman Powell

Public Information & Education Co-Chairs
Cheri Hubbard
Stella Twilley

Membership & Communications 
Committee Chair
Denise Potter

Members-at-Large
Leon Bates
Pat Bates
Juan Gonzalez



Project Coordinators

2014 Symposium
Juan Gonzalez

Speakers Bureau
Beverly Inman-Ebel

Plant Rescues
Cathy Albright
Trina Hayes
Sally Wencel

Butterfly Garden 
at Reflection Riding
Nora Bernhardt
Cheri Hubbard
Sally Wencel



Post photos 
from your garden 
on our Facebook page
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Greetings!

Spring is here!  And there is a full schedule of events indoors and outdoors, and many of these events are available only to members of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones.  

One of the best ways to learn about gardening with native plants is to see them in their natural settings.  You'll be able to notice which plants grow together, and you can learn which plants thrive in different environments.  If this is of interest to you, join us at the April 1 meeting, and also consider the hikes/walks on April 6 & 10.

Our partner, the Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center at Reflection Riding presents its spring native plant sale on April 5-7.  There are lots of other educational programs, hikes and events that are part of this big event.  All of the plants at the sale are propagated locally, so you're certain to get plants suited for the Tennessee Valley.  This is a "must attend" event for all native plant enthusiasts.

You should have already received an email inviting you to participate in a survey about the possibility of offering a native plant certificate program at the Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center.  If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to complete the online survey, so that we know what interests you.

Thanks to the many members who attended our second annual native plant and natural landscaping symposium.  We had record attendance, and lots of new members joined our chapter.  Welcome to new members!  Hope to see everyone soon.
Upcoming Events
Native Rhododendrons & Azaleas
April 1 at the Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center
Catawba rhododendron

6:00 p.m.

Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center at Reflection Riding

Free
Open to the public



The April 1 meeting of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones will feature a presentation by members of the American Rhododendron Society.  We'll see the native rhodies and azaleas blooming at the Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center.  This event will be a great way to learn about various types of plants suitable for your garden.


Landscape Designer Jon Carloftis
Special April 3 Program 
presented by the Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center 
 
Jon Carloftis
7:00 p.m.
Chattanooga State Humanities Building Auditorium

Cost: $15

Proceeds benefit the 
Grandmothers Garden Fund

"Putting Style into Your Garden," will outline steps to create gardens with various theme and intentions.  Hardscape materials, plant material, furniture, lighting, decorations, water features, outbuildings, garden decorations - all must complement - not overpower, to achieve a unique style that evokes the personality of the garden and the gardener.  Carloftis will suggest sustainable, earth-friendly garden products dedicated to beautiful and functional outdoor living.

  

The Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center board has selected Carloftis - a Kentucky native with strong ties to the land and the dedication to protect it - to design the first Grandmothers Garden in the Southeastern United States to be constructed at Reflection Riding. 

  

Carloftis is a regular contributor to national garden and lifestyle publications, with more than 200 feature stories to his credit.  His career includes appearances on The Style Channel; The Home and Garden (HGTV) Channel (The Secret Gardens of New York); ABC's Good Morning, America; and Martha Stewart.  He has served on HGTV's Trend Advisory Board. He has written a wide variety of garden books: First a Garden (2005); Beyond the Windowsill (2007); and Beautiful Gardens of Kentucky (2010).  

 

Register online.

 

 

Native Plant Sale - April 5-7
Reflection Riding Spring Plant Sale
at the Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center
CANC

The Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center at Reflection Riding is hosting its 26th annual Native Plant Sale and Open House April 5th, 6th and 7th, 2013.  

 

The sale will feature native plants that volunteers have propagated in the nursery on site for a variety of garden conditions.  

 

The Native Plant Sale will also feature wildflower walks, tree identification classes, animal presentations, bird watching and much more.  Bring the whole family and explore the unique landscape that is CA&NC at Reflection Riding, with over twelve miles of trails, over one-thousand different species of flora and an incredible variety of animal life. 

 

 

Wildflower Walk with Holli Richey  
April 6 on the Shirley Miller Trail on Pigeon Mountain
Wildflower trail

9:00 a.m. departure
2:00 p.m. return

Members only

Limited number of registrations available.





Holli Richey will lead a small group of Wild Ones members on a wildflower walk to the Shirley Miller Trail on Pigeon Mountain in north Georgia.  The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain in Walker County, Georgia is considered to be among the finest areas for wildflowers in Georgia.  It is a part of the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area, and is home to the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail. 
 
The Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail contains nearly a quarter of a mile of boardwalk to prevent enthusiasts from overrunning the myriad of wildflowers, and then extends for another several hundred yards beyond the end of the boardwalk up along the creek to a wonderful waterfalls. During our visit, we should be able to see crested dwarf iris, eastern red columbine, squawroot, mayapple, trilliums, and much more.
 
Holli Richey is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild and a psychotherapist practicing in Chattanooga, TN. Holli's philosophy of healing is based on our need for wholeness. From her own path of healing, Holli has developed a deep appreciation for plant medicine, mindfulness, and mind/body/spirit medicine. Holli's shares her amazing knowledge about edible and medicinal plants on her hikes and nature walks. 
 
To reserve your space on this wildflower walk, please email Nora. Group size will be limited to 8 people, so make your reservation early.
 
Azaleas, Rhododendrons & Wildflowers with Leon & Pat Bates  
April 10 in Jackson County Park (AL)
and the Huntsville Botanical Gardens

Jackson County Park
 
8:30 a.m. departure

Members only
 
Limited number of registrations available

 





If you've never visited Jackson County Park in Alabama when the azaleas and rhododendrons are blooming, this trip is a must!  Leon and Pat will lead us on a visit to this amazing natural site full of colorful azaleas, rhododendrons and many different wildflowers.

From there, we will travel to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens, where thousands of azaleas have been planted over the years. 
Two main types of azaleas are planted at the Garden: evergreen selections (mostly species and cultivars from the Far East) and deciduous species native to the southeastern United States. Both are beautiful in their own way and provide a wonderful addition to the Garden's botanical display.

Evergreen azaleas are planted throughout the Garden from the entrance all the way back to the South Loop. Over the years, the Garden has planted an extensive collection of cultivars showing the different forms of azaleas available in the nursery trade. Since the Encore azalea series was introduced by a nursery in Alabama, we try to make sure that we have all the cultivars introduced in this series. Encores are known for blooming three times a year, which is a wonderful attribute. However, the floral display on many other spring blooming azaleas is more dramatic since they only flower once.

We will be joined by Vernon Bush, who has planted thousands of the native azalea seedlings at the Jackson County Park and at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens.   This spring floral display of these beautiful native azaleas is absolutely spectacular. 
 
To reserve your space for this full day event and to receive further information about departure locations, please email Nora.  Group size will be limited.
 

 

Trails & Trilliums
April 12, 13 & 14
Trails & Trilliums Banner
Founded a decade ago as a small Sewanee event to promote the purchase of native plants and offer guided hikes on some spectacular wildflower walks, Trails & Trilliums is turning 10 this spring and celebrating in a big way. Sponsored by the Friends of South Cumberland State Park and held at the historic Monteagle Sunday School Assembly grounds, Trails & Trilliums now attracts hikers, wildflower enthusiasts, park supporters and families from four states. 
 
A highlight of the 2013 event will be a keynote address by David Haskell, author of the acclaimed book, The Forest Unseen, on Saturday night during Wine & Wildflowers. Haskell, who will also lead guided walks on Saturday and Sunday, will be honored as the recipient of the Yeatman Environmental Education Award. The Trails & Trilliums Tribute Award will be presented to those who have worked to bring the invaluable Tennessee Naturalist Program to our state.

Key events of the three-day festival include 15 varied hikes on some of the South Cumberland's most beautiful trails, a great selection of native plants, the "Brush with Nature" preview party/art sale on Friday night, the Cumberland Wild Forum, music and vendors. A focus on families continues during Trails & Trilliums. "Ramble", the State Parks' raccoon mascot will be on hand along with native critters and an introduction to rock climbing. All activities that will spark kids' interest in wildlife, woods and wonder.

Proceeds from the weekend support South Cumberland State Park, the largest state wilderness park in Tennessee.
 
Click here for more information and registration.

Overhill Gardens  
Native Plant Nursery Visit
April 13 Guided Tour for Members Only

Overhill logo


8:00 a.m. departure 

Members Only




Join other members of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones for a road trip to Overhill Gardens in Vonore, Tennessee.

Avi Askey, owner of Overhill Gardens and speaker at our first symposium, will share his extensive knowledge about native plants and will help you select plants for your garden. Members receive a 10% discount on all purchases!  Click here for a plant list.

Please register in advance for this trip by emailing Sally.

 
Master Your Garden "Garden Expo"
Presented by the Master Gardeners of Hamilton County 
MGHC Logo
 

Saturday & Sunday, April 20 & 21
10:00am-6:00pm
 
Camp Jordan Arena  
 
 
 
$5 admission good for both days.
Children under 10 years old admitted free.
Free parking.

Open to the public.

 

The "Garden Expo" will include:

  • A series of free lectures throughout the 2-day expo by local gardening experts and Master Gardeners
  • Numerous garden vendors
  • Educational vendors
  • Ongoing live demos both days on raised beds, rain barrels, and composting
  • Questions and answer table where you can receive free expert advice on plants, landscaping, pest control, composting, vegetable gardening, and various topics to help you have a successful garden and yard
  • Children's activity area
Tennessee Valley Wild Ones member Sally Wencel will give a presentation about gardening with native plants on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.  The Tennessee Valley Wild Ones will also have a booth at the Expo, with lots of information about "Wild for Monarchs" and creating gardens to attract butterflies and other pollinators.
 
For more information about the Expo, click here.

 

Sunlight Gardens 
Native Plant Nursery Visit
May 9 Guided Tour for Members Only
 
Sunlight Gardens
Tennessee Valley Wild Ones members will travel to Andersonville, TN on May 9 to visit Sunlight Gardens.

Sunlight Gardens is a small family partnership owned by husband/wife team Marty Zenni and Andrea (Andy) Sessions. Andy was a speaker at our recent symposium.  
 
Since 1983, Sunlight Gardens has been propagating and growing plants native or naturalized to the eastern United States for mail order, retail, and wholesale customers. They are dedicated to the cultivation and propagation of horticulturally useful and attractive native plants.

Visit Sunlight Gardens' website for more information about plants available.

To sign up for this trip, please email Nora.

 

Native Plant Rescues
Members Only
Mapleleaf viburnum
Mapleleaf viburnum

If you are a member of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones and are interested in adding native woodland plants to your landscape, please consider participating in our Plant Rescue events.
 
We are currently rescuing plants from a woodland tract that will be developed in the near future.  There are plenty of shade-loving shrubs including Serviceberry, Sweetshrub, Mapleleaf viburnum, Lowbush blueberry, Farkleberry, and a smattering of American holly, Mountain laurel, and Azalea (probably Sweet azalea).  We've also collected woodland groundcover like Pipsissewa and Partridgeberry.  If you're good at spotting things in the leaf litter, you might find Rattlesnake orchid, Skullcap, and Sweet goldenrod.  These plants are suitable for shady areas where the soil is acidic.

Rescues normally last for a couple hours and involve carrying your plants back to your your vehicle after digging them up.  We carpool to the rescue site, as parking is limited.

There is no charge to attend, but you MUST register in advance. Watch your emails for notices about upcoming rescue events.

We are also looking for members who are interested in LEADING these plant rescues.  If you are interested in receiving training to take groups of members to rescue native plants, please contact Sally.
  
Recent Happenings
Symposium Success!
Nearly 200 attend second annual 
native plant & natural landscaping event
 
Tim Spira
Dr. Tim Spira, keynote speaker, signed copies of his book "Wildflowers & Plant Communities"

Thanks to everyone who attended the second annual symposium presented by the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones.

Speakers included Tim Spira, Leon Bates, Andy Sessions, Lisa Wagner and Randy Westbrooks. 
 
A special thanks goes to our sponsors -- Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center, Chattanooga Association of Landscape Professionals, and the Hamilton County Master Gardeners.
 
We look forward to seeing you at our THIRD annual symposium next year!
 
If you're interested in volunteering to help plan next year's symposium, please email Juan.

Wild Ones: Native Plants. Natural Landscapes is a national non-profit organization with over 50 chapters in 12 states that promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. Please read more information about Wild Ones at www.wildones.org.

 

We offer guest speakers, field trips and other special events throughout the year, as well as an annual native plant and natural landscaping symposium in early spring.