E-Newsletter | May 2017

Knoxville
   

 Jackson

 Crossville

 Native Plant Symposium & Sale This Saturday

Join the UT Gardens, Knoxville and regional native plant experts as we explore how native plants can not only enhance our landscape but also increase biodiversity and improve our environment. Margie Hunter, author of Gardening With The Native Plants Of Tennessee: The Spirit of Place, will discuss ecology in the residential landscape and focus on plants that are specific to East Tennessee. Participants will also explore the relationship between natives and pollinators, native orchids and the creation of our unique Native American Interpretive Garden.  A special sale will be held after the education portion showcasing some of the regions best native plant nurseries. 

Lunch included in cost of registration. 

Location: 
UT Gardens, Knoxville. Room 156/157 Plant Biotech Building E. J. Chapman Dr.
Date: Saturday, May 20, 2017

Cost: $60 members; $80 nonmembers 
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Native Plant Sale open to symposium attendees: 3:00-3:45 p.m.

Native Plant Sale open to the public: 3:45-6:00 p.m.​

Registration closes at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 18.

Plant Sale Vendors
Beaver Creek Nursery
Overhill Gardens
Sunlight Gardens
UT Gardens - Click here for UT Garden's inventory

 Introduction to Plant Identification I: The Path to Successful Gardening

Instructor: Dr. Sue Hamilton, UT Gardens Director  

Tuesday evenings starting May 23, 5:30-7:30 PM

This eight-week class will introduce you to the fundamentals of plant identification and then teach the identification and landscape use of over 120 fundamental and important garden plants. Knowing the art and science of plant identification and plant nomenclature (names) makes all kinds of gardeners (novice all the way to hard core) more successful in their gardening endeavors. Individual plant knowledge is key to garden design and gardening success and this class will study annuals, perennials, bulbs, herbs, ornamental grasses, trees, and shrubs. Using the UT Gardens as our classroom, this fast-paced class will spend a lot of time in the Gardens studying plants and their use. This class is not a botany taxonomy, morphology, or anatomy class but a fun, hands on plant identification gardening class. No credit, ungraded review quizzes will be offered before and after each class to encourage memorization of plants studied. Whether you are just a beginner, a novice, just moved to this area, or an advanced gardener, this course is designed to help us all become better gardeners! For more information click here....

Cost: $180.00 for members, $220.00 for nonmembers.
Save $5 by joining the UT Gardens for $35.   

 Children's Festival

UT Gardens, Knoxville
June 11, 3-5:30 p.m.

Celebrate the Grand Opening of the Children's Garden at UT Gardens, Knoxville

Families come out to celebrate the grand opening of the Children's Garden and have some fun in the sun. We will have story time, music, crafts, snacks, sprinkler time and much more. 

 Plant of the Month

May: Japanese Snowbell

Submitted by Joelle Dimond, TSU Extension Agent, Tipton County

The temperatures in May sometimes suggest that summer is already here, while the calendar says it doesn’t start until June 21st! Depending on the weather, one May- and June-flowering tree will add late spring interest to your landscape by extending the spring blooming season closer to the beginning of summer. The tree? Styrax japonicus, also known as Japanese snowbell. Click here to read more.... 

 Gardening Tips

May Gardening Tips

Plant butterfly weed (Asclepias), parsley, dill, rue and pipevine to encourage butterflies in your garden. The foliage of these plants provides food for the caterpillars. Aristolochia fimbriata is a lovely ground-cover-type of pipevine that is covered each year by the pipevine swallowtail caterpillar at the UT Gardens, Jackson. It may be al little hard to find for sale, but worth seeking out. Click here for more tips….

 UT Gardens Membership -
Renew or Join now online

Membership entitles you to the member benefits offered at any of the three UT Garden sites across the state: Knoxville, Crossville and Jackson. Benefits include:

• Receiving ‘Cultivate’, the Gardens magazine, printed twice a year
• Discounts at plant sales, educational classes and workshops
• Invitations to attend event previews before the general public
• Reciprocal admissions to nearly 300 public gardens across the United States.

Join or renew using a credit card — via our secure online site. Select the level at which you wish to join and follow the prompts.

Click here to join or renew today. 

Be sure to select your UT Gardens affiliation (Knoxville, Crossville, or Jackson) to help support your favorite garden. 

 UT Gardens, Knoxville Happenings

Hardy Succulents for East Tennessee Gardens

From sempervivums to sedums and ice plants to agaves, there are a multitude of colorful, versatile and frost hardy succulents perfect for our local climate. UT Gardens horticulturist Alexandria Smith will lead this interactive workshop offering growing instructions, design ideas and a starter pack of four outstanding succulent varieties to add to your home collection.

Pre-registration is required.​​

Saturday, June 10, 2017; 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Cost: $25/Garden members, $35/non-members​

UT Gardens, Knoxville Volunteer Opportunities

The UT Gardens holds general volunteer sessions each Tuesday and Thursday morning (9-noon). Tasks vary, but most involve working outside in the gardens and can include planting, weeding, moving containers, painting, etc. You don't have to have any specific knowledge about gardening or botany in order to volunteer; in fact volunteering is a great way to learn! We would love to have you join us at any session(s) for which you are available. Contact Beth Willis at [log in to unmask] for more information about the volunteer program, weekly sessions, and other volunteer opportunities! You can also ask to be included on a volunteer email that is sent out every couple weeks.

Before joining us at a Tuesday or Thursday session, let Beth know to expect you. She will email a map showing the overall gardens and marking the location where volunteers meet. If you will be driving to the gardens, on your first visit you will be given a volunteer slip to place in the dash of your car and directed to the approved parking areas. Since the sessions are primarily outside, it is always recommended that you wear sunscreen and bring a water bottle. Bring gloves as well if you prefer to wear them while working. The Gardens can provide hand tools for whatever the day's tasks are, or you are welcome to bring your own tools (hand pruners, trowel, etc.) if you prefer to work with them.

UT Gardens, Knoxville Wish List

• New and used garden tools – shovels, rakes, pruners, etc.

• Used growing containers and flats (no inserts)

• Giant 54” diameter decorative containers made from recycled plastics. We want to put several of these lightweight yet durable containers at our Gardens front entrance since they fit the scale of the plaza and we can plant trees with herbaceous flowering plants. $800/each. Guaranteed for 20+ years.

• This metal fancy lattice gazebo is on our list to add to one of our small garden room areas where it can be used for weddings or other special events. $600

• Worm compost has been proven to have ten times the nutrients of traditional backyard compost. In addition, its compact design makes it perfect for use in any household. This kit comes bundled with one Worm Farming Moisture Meter and one Worm Farming pH Meter. Our meters each have a 9" probe that you stick into your worm bin to measure the bin's moisture/pH content. Cost: $139.95

If you are interested in donating any of these items, email us at [log in to unmask]. 

 UT Gardens, Crossville Happenings 

Butterfly Roundtable

Join master gardeners in a discussion of components need to create a 5-star butterfly bed and breakfast! Complete list of classes for 2017 is available by clicking here.   

UT Gardens, Jackson Happenings

Summer Celebration
Thursday, July 13, 2017

Admission is $5 for adults, free for children 17 and under. 

Click here for more information.

UT Gardens, Knoxville Summer Camps

The UT Gardens, Knoxville will offer a variety of exciting summer camps this year. Children can explore the Garden with nature and plant investigations, art and science activities and edible gardening fun! Each camp is lead by highly qualified staff. Our online payment system is now available. All camps require preregistration. Visit our website for more information and sign your camper up today!  Click here to read more...                                                                                        

Education  at the UT Gardens

UT Gardens, Knoxville

Online registration available

UT Gardens, Jackson

UT Gardens, Crossville

UT Gardens, Knoxville

Community Partners and Sponsors!

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Copyright © 2017 UT Gardens. All rights reserved.
Contact email: [log in to unmask]

Mailing Address:
Department of Plant Sciences
252 Ellington Plant Sciences Bldg.
2431 Joe Johnson Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-7324
Fax: (865) 974-1947 

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