From: ewillis2
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2020 1:04 PM
To: McCall, Wanda F <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: UT Gardens March Enewsletter

Wanda, will you forward to Master Gardener listserv, please?

Beth

[External Email]

e-Newsletter | March 2020

Knoxville

Crossville

Jackson

We are aware of the current challenges related to coronavirus (COVID-19). UT is closely monitoring the situation and the Gardens will follow UT policies and changes regarding travel, classes and events. We will post updates via social media and websites in the event of any schedule changes or adaptations. For updated information, please visit https://utia.tennessee.edu/state-botanical-garden/ where you can connect to any of our three statewide sites. At this time the Gardens remain open, and we welcome all visitors.

March Gardening Tip

Now is a great time to remove weeds from your garden beds. Doing so now will make the plant beds look better and prevent the weeds from going to seed, therefore making fewer weeds next year.

Click here to read all gardening tips....

Plant of the Month

March: Whale's Tongue Agave

Submitted by Jason Reeves, research horticulturist, UT Gardens, Jackson

Up until about 15 years ago, only a handful of agaves were available that were hardy to zero degrees. On top of that, they were miniscule at only 3 to 10 inches tall and were not overly showy.They were nothing to get excited about.

Whale's tongue agave (Agave ovatifolia) was found in the mid 1980s growing in the Sierra de Lampazos Mountains in Mexico at elevations from 3,700 to 7,000 feet. It had not previously been described in any literature. In 2001 it was given the species name ovatifolia.

What's in Bloom in Your State Botanical Garden of Tennessee?

Crossville - Spring bulbs are just popping up here on the Plateau. These beautiful violet crocus certainly don't disappoint!

Jackson - Spring is just around the corner, and we're busy at the Gardens greenhouse planting seed. With nearly 100 seed entries in the trials this year, there's sure to be something exciting for everyone!

Knoxville - Our many daffodils have provided some bright spots of color throughout the garden, especially welcome since we've had so many cloudy, rainy days this season!

UT Gardens, Knoxville

Chicago Trip

July 23rd - 27th, 2020

Registration Deadline is Friday, May 1st

Strictly limited to 52 participants

Don't miss this opportunity to see the "Windy City" like you've never seen it before... through the eyes of horticulture! Chicago has many renowned public gardens that we'll visit, but we have found some private garden jewels that you'll only get to see on this trip. Join UT Gardens horticulturists Dr. Sue Hamilton and Holly Jones, along with fellow gardeners Faye Beck and Michelle Reimert, as we visit the Chicago area for 4 days and nights to see a wonderful selection of private and public gardens to remember.

We'll have four fabulous, non-stop days visiting four choice private gardens, seven public gardens (which include Morton Arboretum, Chicago Botanic Garden, Cantigny Gardens, Lurie Gardens and Millenium Park, Garfield Conservatory, Olbrich Gardens in Madison, WI and Rotary Gardens in Janesville, WI), two distinct garden centers, and a special twilight riverboat architecture tour of downtown Chicago.

Trip fee is $765 per person for UT Gardens members. Trip fee includes motor coach transportation, bus driver tip, 4-night hotel stay (double occupancy), all admission fees, 4 breakfasts and 3 lunches. Payment in full is required at the time of registration, with a registration deadline of Friday, May 1st OR when the number of registrants reaches 52. A single-room supplement is available for those who prefer it for an additional $320. Registrants who are not current members of the UT Gardens should add $35 to their registration fee. This additional fee will be applied to an individual membership for the participant.

More information on the trip and a link to register can be found on our website. At this time, we encourage those interested in going on the trip to register to reserve your spot(s), but we are asking that you do not send in any payment until we determine whether the trip will be able to go forward. We will stay in contact with registered participants as decisions are made.

UT Gardens, Knoxville

Spring Spectacular Plant Sale

UT and the UT Institute of Agriculture have been closely monitoring the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak and have put in place precautions to safeguard our students, faculty, staff, and the public. In compliance with those guidelines and policies the UT Gardens, Knoxville will postpone our Spring Spectacular Plant Sale previously scheduled for April 3-4. It is now scheduled for Friday, May 1, 4-7 pm (UT staff and Gardens' members preview sale) and Saturday, May 2, 9 am - 2 pm (open to the public). Additionally, enjoy an extra day of shopping Sunday, May 3, 11 am - 3 pm at our annual Plantapalooza Sale in conjunction with the East Tennessee Hosta Society Plant Sale. There will still be plenty of time to purchase selections only available at UT Gardens, Knoxville and enjoy gardening this spring.

Date: Saturday, May 2

Time: 9 am - 2 pm

Kick off the 2020 gardening season with beautiful additions for your landscape. The sale inventory has been expertly selected to include exciting new varieties as well as outstanding classics to maximize your gardening success. Professional horticulture staff and Tennessee Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions and provide design advice.

The sale will include an array of herbs, edibles, perennial and annual flowers, native plants, trees and shrubs. The featured plant tent will highlight four special selections valued for their show stopping beauty and ease of growth. Information on the featured plants, along with a partial inventory list for the sale, can be found on our website.

A preview sale will be held on Friday, May 1, from 4 - 7 pm for all Gardens' members, Gardens' volunteers, and UT employees. Garden members receive a 10% discount on all purchases. Memberships can be purchased at the sale to take advantage of the discount or to attend the Friday preview.

UT Gardens, Crossville

Spring Plant Sale

UT Gardens, Jackson

Spring Plant Sale

UT Gardens, Crossville

Sugar Maples Tapped for Syrup

Remember last month's article on the tapped Maple trees? Well, the first batch of syrup is ready and available for purchase. Help support the Garden and pick yours up at Plateau AgResearch and Education Center (320 Experiment Station Road, Crossville, TN). It is $15 for a 12oz bottle.

UT Gardens, Crossville

Cornelian Cherry

This pretty little guy caught my eye! What was this yellow bloom? It didn't look like forsythia, and our native witchhazel already bloomed in the fall. I drove out to have a closer look. It was Cornus mas, commonly called cornelian cherry. Several were planted beyond the garden for a research project: Cornus mas as a Potential Specialty Food/Medical Crop for Tennesseeans. The research is ongoing, so it will be interesting to learn the outcome. In the meantime, you can admire them just beyond the Garden, by the daylily plot.

UT Gardens, Knoxville

Wild Bird Eggstravaganza

Based upon the latest information available to us from the University of Tennessee, the UT Institute of Agriculture, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the novel Coronavirus COVID-19, we have decided to cancel Wild Bird Eggstravaganza. Although the University of Tennessee, Knoxville has not yet had a confirmed case of COVID-19 on campus, we believe that this is the most responsible course of action. Refunds will be processed for all who have registered for this event. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all work through these precautionary measures to stem the spread of the virus. Please check our website and social media pages for updates regarding other events. We are closely monitoring the situation and will make necessary adjustments to future programming based on direction of the University and public health officials. We hope to see you all at our First Annual Children's Festival in the Gardens on May 2nd. For questions or concerns regarding refunds or other events, please contact Derrick Stowell at [log in to unmask] or 865-974-7151.

We would like to acknowledge and thank our 2020 sponsors for Wild Bird Eggstravaganza: Allergy and Asthma Affiliates; Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center; and UT Federal Credit Union (2020 UT Gardens Education Program Sponsor).

You're Invited to the

Eighth Annual UT Gardens Gala!

Join honorary hosts Crissy and Bill Haslam for the 2020 UT Gardens Gala, which will be held on Friday, April 24, in Knoxville. This year's spectacular event will recognize Susan Hamilton, director of the UT Gardens, who is retiring after more than thirty-five years of service to the people and plants of Tennessee. With the theme of "Grow Big Orange," the evening is sure to be a fun one, complete with music, drinks, hors d'oeuvres, a seated dinner, and live and silent auctions to benefit the beautiful State Botanical Garden of Tennessee in Knoxville. Tickets are now available here.

Upcoming Classes - Knoxville

Home Garden Boot Camp

Date: varies, held bi-weekly (January - May)

Time: 6 - 8 pm

Cost per session: $35 member/$40 nonmember

Create the garden you've always dreamed of! This ten part series will give you an in-depth understanding of the most important aspects of gardening so you can create your very own back (or front) yard oasis. We will teach you the basics of gardening and some unique things, too. All of the classes will be taught at the UT Gardens and many will lead you through them. Each series-long participant will receive a manual to fill up with information from each session. During some of the classes we will utilize the greenhouse and will send you home with a plant or two! You may register for the series as a whole or for individual classes.

March sessions:

Mar 17 - Pruning by Drew Bogert
Mar 31 - Rain Gardens by Dr. Andrea Ludwig

A full list of sessions and their descriptions can be found here.

Upcoming Classes - Crossville

Summer Vegetable Gardens and Raised Beds

Date: Saturday, March 14

Time: 9 - 11 am (Central Time)

Cost: FREE

Class limited to 60

Join Master Gardeners Fred Mullen and Sid Morgan to get advice on how to plant, grow, and harvest those summer vegetables. An overview of raised bed gardening will also be provided to help those folks dealing with shallow soils.

Strawberries, Blueberries, Caneberries, and Grapes

Date: Saturday, March 21

Time: 9 - 11 am (Central Time)

Cost: FREE

Class limited to 60

This class is offered as part of our Tennessee Fruit Series. Learn everything you need to know about growing berries and grapes and which varieties grow best on the Cumberland Plateau.

Family Rock Painting

Date: Saturday, April 4

Time: 10 am - 12 pm (Central Time)

Cost: $5 per child

Class limited to 25

Bring the kids and learn how to paint nature-inspired art on a rock. They make a great gift or decoration for your own garden. All materials are provided. Remember to wear your art clothes, as we will be using acrylic paint.

Screen Plantings

Date: Monday, April 6

Time: 9 - 11 am (Central Time)

Cost: FREE

Class limited to 60

Ornamental Horticulture Specialist Carol Reese will visit to share her expertise on arranging plants to create an attractive screen. Learn how to go beyond the barrier of the standard row of evergreen trees.

Tomatoes

Date: Saturday, April 11

Time: 9 - 11 am (Central Time)

Cost: FREE

Class limited to 60

Heirloom versus hybrid, seeds versus seedlings, planting and fertilizing, watering and mulching, pinching suckers, common problems and solutions.... everything you need to know about growing tomatoes!

Classes held at Plateau Research and Education Center

320 Experiment Station Rd, Crossville, TN

Contact Jennifer to sign up! Phone: 931-484-0034

Email: [log in to unmask]

UT Gardens - Knoxville

Registration for Summer Camp Now Open

We are excited for another great year of summer camp here at the UT Gardens, Knoxville. Join us as we explore the garden, look for pollinators, and participate in our very own summer Olympics! You won't want to miss out on the fun! To see our full list of camps and to register, visit us at tiny.utk.edu/gogardencamp.

UT Gardens - Knoxville

Home Grown Homeschool Program

The Nature Connection by Clare Walker Leslie is an excellent workbook that encourages kids to learn outdoors. We will use this book to facilitate outdoor learning experiences in the garden throughout the year. Each month we will do a different set of activities from the corresponding month is the book with the exceptions of June and July when summer camp will be going on. Each participant should purchase their own copy of the book and bring it with them to each session.

Cost per session: Garden member $12/ nonmember $15

Cost for a semester (5 classes Jan-May or Aug-Dec): Garden member $60/ nonmember $75

For more information, including monthly session dates, and to register please click here.

Support UT Gardens, Knoxville

with your Kroger Rewards Card

Supporting the UT Gardens, Knoxville has never been easier! Just shop at Kroger and scan your plus card. Here's how to enroll:

Visit www.kroger.com/communityrewards
Scroll down to find your location and click "Enroll Now"
Sign in to your online account, or create an account
Find and select "University of Tennessee Foundation - UT Gardens" and click save.

You'll start earning rewards for our organization right away on qualifying purchases made using your Kroger Plus Card! Learn more at www.kroger.com/communityrewards and thank you for your support!

UT Gardens, Knoxville

Additions to the Rose Garden

Our horticulture crew spent a recent morning digging and transplanting prize roses from the home of Peggy and Richard Tippens. Both are avid rosarians and plant collectors with a recognized collection. They donated the roses to go into the Beall Family Rose Garden in honor of Sam Beall's 100th birthday celebrated in 2019.