Welcome to June with the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones!

June brings us longer days, warmer breezes, with the vibrant energy of summer just around the corner. The transition from spring to summer is a time of renewal and adventure, where gardens bloom in full force and the outdoors beckon with endless possibilities.

In the lull between the spring flush and high summer, what are the steps we can take to support pollinators and foster biodiversity?

Dr. Doug Tallamy, our speaker at the October 3, 2025, Distinguished Lecture Series, has lined out four (4) universal landscape goals which every landscape must perform to fully support biodiversity.

1. They must support a diverse community of pollinators throughout the growing seasons.
2. They must provide energy for the local food web.
3. They must manage the watershed in which they lie.
4. They must remove carbon from the atmosphere where it is wreaking havoc on the earth’s climate.

Native plants succeed at all four of these goals, but where can we start? The Homegrown National Park website is a great resource, along with upcoming Tennessee Valley Wild Ones programs to learn how you can make these simple, but impactful changes.

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 or 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, click here.

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:

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Share the Love for Native Plants This Spring!

Are you passionate about nature and eager to make a difference in your community? The Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help staff our Public Information table during upcoming springtime festivals!

As a volunteer, you’ll engage with festival goers, share information about our organization, and educate the public about the vital role native plants play in supporting local ecosystems. It’s a chance to connect with others, promote environmental awareness, and celebrate the beauty of spring.

✨ What You’ll Do:

• Talk to the community about the importance of native plants
• Answer questions and share materials about our organization
• Help inspire others to protect and nurture our environment

🌿 Why Volunteer?

• Make a positive impact on your local environment
• Meet like-minded individuals who share your passion
• Enjoy the vibrant energy of spring festivals!

🌟 No prior experience needed—just bring your enthusiasm! We’ll provide all the training and materials you’ll need to feel confident and prepared.

Ready to join us in spreading the word and fostering a greener future? Click the button below to view our volunteer opportunities and sign up.

Let’s make this spring unforgettable—for both nature and our community. We can’t wait to work with you!

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Wild Ones Reciprocity Workday at Crabtree Farms

On May 24, volunteers from Wild Ones rolled up their sleeves for a meaningful morning of service at Crabtree Farms. In a spirit of reciprocity, our hardworking crew harvested fresh kale and greens while preparing a summer squash garden bed—laying landscape tarp and irrigation lines to support future growth.

This collaborative effort was given in appreciation for the use of the Crabtree Farms Evelyn Center event space for the Wild Ones Annual Meeting.

A huge thank you to all who joined in! Your dedication not only nurtures sustainable agriculture but strengthens the bonds within our community. We look forward to more opportunities to give back and grow together.

Learn more about Crabtree Farms and the work that they do for the community as well as their ongoing opportunities to volunteer.

You Could Get Paid to Remove an Invasive Callery Pear Tree

From beloved to banished, cities and states are outlawing cultivars of the Callery pear, a popular, yet highly invasive, flowering tree. Read more.

Article from birdsandblooms.com

Image by: Beata Whitehead / Getty Images

The Secret Lives of Moths

The nocturnal insects with surprising pollination power? Read more.

Article from Nautilus

Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly on Butterfly Weed



Asclepias tuberosa, commonly known as butterfly weed, is a species of milkweed native to eastern and southwestern North America. A host plant for the Monarch, butterfly weed attracts many species of butterflies due to its color and production of nectar.



The Zebra Swallowtail is the state butterfly of Tennessee and closely associated with the pawpaw as this native tree is where the Zebra Swallowtail lays her eggs.

Photo by Mike O'Brien

Blue-Eyed Grass

Sisyrinchium angustifolium, commonly called blue-eyed grass, is noted for its violet-blue flowers and branched flowering stems. Though its foliage is grass-like, the blue-eyed grasses belong to the iris family not the grass family.

Photo by Mike O'Brien

White Milkweed



Asclepias variegata, commonly called white milkweed or redring milkweed, is found in the southeastern United States. Its natural habitat is forest openings and savannas and found in sandy soils. The clay-colored beetle sometimes called the persimmon beetle, is native to the central and eastern U.S. and feeds on a broad range of host trees and shrubs.

Photo by Mike O'Brien

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!

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.

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