Phenology in Focus: Intentions for a Wild New Year

As the Winter Solstice draws us into the quiet turning of the year, we’re invited to pause, breathe, and listen to the land in its season of rest. This moment of deepest night has always carried a promise: that light returns, that life stirs beneath the surface, and that renewal is already on its way. For the Tennessee Valley Wild Ones, this is our time to set intentions rooted in care, curiosity, and stewardship—intentions that will guide us as we work to foster biodiversity and nurture abundant life in the ecosystems we call home.

This year, our guiding theme is phenology—the study of nature’s rhythms and seasonal cycles. By paying close attention to the timing of blooms, migrations, leaf-out, and dormancy, we deepen our relationship with the living world and sharpen our ability to protect it. Phenology reminds us that every species has its own calendar, and that our actions—whether planting natives, restoring habitat, or simply observing—are most powerful when aligned with these natural cues.

Throughout 2026, we’ll explore phenology together through our public programs: guided walks that highlight seasonal shifts, workshops that connect planting practices to natural timing cues, and community observations that help us track the pulse of our local ecosystems. Each gathering will offer a chance to witness how the land changes month by month—and how our actions can align more closely with these ancient patterns.

As we step into a new year, may we move with intention, attunement, and a renewed commitment to the wild communities around us. What are you planning to do this year in your habitat and with your abilities to further the mission of Wild Ones and support biodiversity where you are? As Mary Oliver asked in her poem, “The Summer Day, “What are you going to do with your one wild life?”

Phenology: Paying Attention to Nature's Timing

with Lucy Ellis

Monday, January 12, 2026

6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (EST)

FREE and Open to the Public

Joseph Glasscock Community Center, 3653 Tom Weathers Dr, Chattanooga, TN, 37415

More Info

Conservation Advocacy Work: Paying Attention to What You Have Before It's Gone

with Margaret Rasmussen

Monday, February 9, 2026

6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (EST)

FREE and Open to the Public

Joseph Glasscock Community Center, 3653 Tom Weathers Dr, Chattanooga, TN, 37415

More Info

Book Discussion:

The Garden Awakening

Designs To Nurture Our Land & Ourselves

by Mary Reynolds

Monday, February 23, 2026

6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (EST)

FREE and Open to the Public

Oddstory Brewing

1604 Central Avenue

Chattanooga, TN, 37408

More Info

Phenology of Bird Migration and the Native Plants that Support Them

with Barbara Johnson

Monday, March 9, 2026

6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (EST)

FREE and Open to the Public

Joseph Glasscock Community Center, 3653 Tom Weathers Dr, Chattanooga, TN, 37415

More Info

Save the Date!

Wild Ones Spring Native Plant Sale & Expo

Saturday, March 28, 2026

9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (EST)

Mark your calendars! Our annual Spring Native Plant Sale & Expo will be held on Saturday, March 28 at the First Horizon Pavilion in Chattanooga. This is one of our biggest events of the year—your chance to shop a wide selection of native plants, connect with local and regional growers and vendors and get expert guidance for your spring planting plans.

Nursery and vendor details coming soon!

More Info

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. Discounted class fees are available for members of Wild Ones, the Tennessee Native Plant Society and Reflection Riding. Classes are open to all, including interested individuals who may not be working toward the Certificate.

Those working toward the Certificate are asked to volunteer in various capacities to support approved native plant projects in our region. Volunteer requirements have changed slightly. More information and a downloadable volunteer form are available on our website.

For more info about the Certificate in Native Plants program and to view upcoming courses in 2026, click here.

Botany I (CORE) **FULL**

Instructor: Dr. Richard Clements and Mary Priestley

Saturday, January 17, 2026

9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (EST)

Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center

400 Garden Rd.

Chattanooga, TN 37419

Certificate in Native Plants

CORE class.

More Info

Botany II (CORE) **FULL**

Instructor: Dr. Richard Clements and Mary Priestley

Saturday, February 21, 2026

9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (EST)

Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center

400 Garden Rd.

Chattanooga, TN 37419

Certificate in Native Plants

CORE class.

More Info

Design and Maintenance Considerations for Building a Bird Habitat with Native Plants

Instructor: Preston Montague

Saturday, March 14, 2026

9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (EST)

Virtual Location: URL will be provided upon registration.

More Info

2026 Q1 Board Meeting

Monday, January 19, 2026

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. (EST)

Joseph Glasscock Community Center, 3653 Tom Weathers Dr, Chattanooga, TN, 37415

More Info

To access information and registration links for all upcoming programs, classes, hikes and members-only events presented by the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones and Wild Ones national, click below:

EVENTS CALENDAR

MEMBERS-ONLY EVENTS

Do you want to receive a reminder email

in advance of our free public programs?

If so, join our Meetup group.

Start the New Year by Growing Something Wild - Volunteer with Us!

As we step into a new year, we’re reminded that every season brings fresh possibilities. 2026 offers countless opportunities to deepen our roots, expand our reach, and share the Wild Ones mission throughout the Tennessee Valley. Whether you’re passionate about native plants, eager to support biodiversity, or simply looking for a meaningful way to give back, this is the perfect moment to get involved.

Our chapter is thriving—and we need your energy, creativity, and hands-on help to keep that momentum going. From community outreach and event support to advocacy, education, and collaborative projects with like‑minded organizations, there’s a place for every skill set and every schedule.

Volunteer with Us!

Whether you have a few hours a month or want to dive into a leadership role, there's a place for you. Join a committee, help organize events, assist with outreach, or lend your skills behind the scenes. Every contribution helps us spread the word and deepen our roots in the community.

Why Get Involved?

Shape the direction of our chapter in 2026 and beyond
Connect with like-minded nature advocates
Gain experience in conservation, education, and nonprofit leadership
Be part of a movement that restores and protects our local ecosystems

Ready to grow with us?

Let’s make 2026 a landmark year for native plant advocacy in the Tennessee Valley!

2026 Wild Ones Public Program - Greeters Needed

Second Monday's

January 12 - December 14, 2026

5:30 - 7:10 p.m. (EST)

Joseph Glasscock Community Center, 3653 Tom Weathers Dr, Chattanooga, TN, 37415

What is Public Program Greeting?

Greeters are the first point of contact at public meetings. The role is to create a welcoming, informative, inclusive experience that reflects Wild Ones’ mission: connecting people & native plants for a healthy planet.

Your Main Goals as a Greeter

Welcome every attendee warmly and inclusively.
Orient them to the meeting and the organization.
Encourage sign-ins and participation.
Connect new visitors with next steps and membership info.

Lookout Wild Film Festival - Public Information Tabling Volunteers Needed

Sunday, January 18, 2026

12:00 - 4:00 p.m. (EST)

Roland W. Hayes Hall

UTC Fine Arts Center

752 Vine St.

Chattanooga, TN 37403

What is Public Information Tabling?

Public information tabling for Wild Ones means engaging with visitors of the event in a friendly, accessible way—sharing our mission, offering resources on native plants and habitat restoration, and helping people learn how to support biodiversity in their own spaces. It’s simply being a welcoming presence and connecting the community to our work.

Wild Ones Spring Native Plant Sale - Multiple Volunteer Opportunities Available

Saturday, March 28, 2026

9:00 - 2:00 PM EST

First Horizon Pavilion

1826 Reggie White Blvd

Chattanooga, TN

Volunteer Opportunities Include:

Vendor Setup
Public Information Tabling
Plant Sale / Vendor Support
Vendor Load Out

Distinguished Lecture Series Awarded Three-Year Grant

We are thrilled to announce that the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones has been awarded a three‑year grant from the Lyndhurst Foundation to support our Distinguished Lecture Series. This generous funding ensures that we can continue offering a free, high‑quality annual lecture to the Tennessee Valley community—bringing leading voices in ecology, conservation, and native plant advocacy to our region. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and excited for the learning and inspiration it will make possible in the years ahead.

We look forward to sharing more information soon about the 2026 Distinguished Lecture as plans take shape. Stay tuned!

Janisse Ray

Deepen Your Sense of Place Through Journaling

A seven-week winter mini-course in writing, drawing, and nature observation with Janisse Ray and trail-blazing guest teachers including Clare Walker Leslie, Madeleine Jubilee Saito, and Lyn Baldwin.

Sunday's, January 11 - February 22

5:00 - 6:00 p.m. EST

Live via Zoom

More Info & Register

Monarch Magic Takes Flight at Kilbride Nature Sanctuary

Something exciting is taking root at Kilbride Nature Sanctuary in Dayton, Tennessee. In partnership with the Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI) and the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA), a 3.1-acre Monarch Waystation is being established at Kilbride Nature Sanctuary as part of a larger native habitat restoration effort on this beautiful 92-acre property.

This fall, SGI conducted prescribed burns across multiple units at Kilbride, including the future Monarch Waystation area. These burns cleared years of accumulated growth and set the stage for restoring diverse native grassland and pollinator habitat. More than 2,000 native plants, grown from local genotype material by Euchee Meadows Nursery, will be installed this winter, along with carefully selected native seed mixes sourced through Roundstone Native Seed.

Volunteer workdays are planned for mid-January and will focus on site preparation, installing native transplants, and broadcasting native seed mixes. This restoration work directly supports monarchs, pollinators, and grassland biodiversity and reflects the values of the Wild Ones.

Prep days will take place Jan. 12 through Jan. 14, followed by planting and seeding on Jan. 15 and Jan. 16. Volunteers are welcome to participate for as little or as long as their schedule allows, and all experience levels are welcome. The Southeastern Grasslands Institute will supervise the work.

If you enjoy getting your hands in the soil, supporting native plants, and helping create meaningful habitats, this is a wonderful opportunity to be part of something special.

For more information or to get involved, contact:

Kym Martin

423-432-7334

kymmartin@gmail.com

To learn more about the organizations involved, visit:

Kilbride Nature Sanctuary

Southeastern Grasslands Institute

TN Valley Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association

TNPS Botanical Tools & Techniques - Introduction to iNaturalist

Tennessee Native Plant Society Workshop

Wednesday, January 15, 2026

6:00 p.m. (EST)

Zoom

More Info & Register

Intergenerational Care for Land and Community: A Conversation with Robin Wall Kimmerer and Esther Bonney

Wild Ones National Webinar

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

7:00 p.m. (EST)

Webinar

(Link Provided Upon Registration)

More Info & Register

Homegrown National Park

Have you joined the movement?

Homegrown National Park® (HNP) raises awareness and urgently inspires everyone to address the biodiversity crisis by adding native plants and removing invasive ones where we live, work, learn, pray, and play.

“Our National Parks, no matter how grand in scale, are too small and separated from one another to preserve (native) species to the levels needed. Thus, the concept for Homegrown National Park, a bottom-up call-to-action to restore habitat where we live and work, and to a lesser extent where we farm and graze, extending national parks to our yards and communities." - Doug Tallamy, Co-Founder

Learn More and Get on the Map!

HNP Info

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

New Rules for the New Year?

Perhaps the best way to confront the swiftly changing landscape is to swallow hard, and then move forward with a fresh approach. Read more.

Article: New York Times by Margaret Roach

Image: Creasy Mahan Nature Preserve Website

New Database Connects North American Lepidoptera to the Host Plants they Depend On

Dr. Doug Tallamy and researcher Kimberley J. Shropshire have released a database connecting North American moths and butterflies to their host plants and range. Read more.

Article: Dr. Douglas W. Tallamy and Kimberley J. Shropshire

Image: Mike O'Brien

Broom Moss

Dicranum scoparium, also known as Broom Moss, is a versatile moss species commonly found in temperate regions, known for its distinctive tufted appearance and ecological importance. This moss grows in clumps or mats, often found on soil, rocks and tree trunks in shaded forest areas. Broom moss plays a crucial role in its ecosystem by helping regulate moisture, preventing soil erosion and providing habitat for various microfauna. Its dense mats protect the forest floor and retain water, benefiting surrounding plant life.

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.
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!
10% off plants at Overhill Garden's Native Plant Nursery
15% off plants at Reflection Riding's Native Plant Nursery

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.