e-Newsletter | April 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.

April Gardening Tip

You can direct seed easy-to-grow flowering annuals and vegetables. Some easy flowers to grow from seed include marigold, zinnia, sunflowers and cosmos. Beans, peas, corn and okra are some easy direct-sow vegetables, while dill basil and cilantro are some easy direct-sow herbs.

Click here to read all gardening tips....

Plant of the Month

April: Osmanthus

Submitted by Andy Pulte, University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences

Gardeners in locales more Southern than Tennessee have used different members of the Osmanthus tribe for years. Southern coastal areas even have an Osmanthus species as part

of their native flora (Osmanthus americanus, syn. Cartrema americana). Perhaps the recent string of mild winters has enticed us to try new plants, or maybe it's the influence of social media and an abundance of online information that is expanding our plant palette. but Osmanthus, sometimes called the teaolive, is now finding favor in our state. I count myself among the gardeners happy to see this.

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

Jackson - At over eighteen feet tall, the Chinese snowball (Viburnum macrocephalum) are spectacular in the gardens!

Knoxville - Far be it from us to call April cruel, despite what we all are currently facing! The Gardens is enjoying so many things in bloom right now, we couldn't pick just one.

Crossville - The redbuds are now showing color on the Cumberland Plateau. Pictured here are three of several varieties we have left from one of Dr. Mark Windham's research trials. The foreground shows Cercis canadensis 'Tennessee Pink' and 'Alba'. One of my favorites is 'Floating Clouds', which is in the background. The real show for this one presents itself once it bears the beautiful, variegated leaves.

UT Gardens, Knoxville

Online Spring Spectacular Plant Sale

April 13 - 27 order online

Zero-contact pickup at the UT Gardens, Knoxville - Friday, May 1st

Although we have had to cancel our regular onsite spring plant sale, we are excited to offer limited quantities of some choice plants through an online shopping experience!

So indulge your spring fever while social distancing by browsing our sale catalog page and then place your order on our eMarketplace site. You'll be able to pick up your order on Friday, May 1st; our staff will gather your plants and have them set out for you - a contactless pickup!

The UT Gardens, Knoxville Spring Spectacular Plant Sale is one of our largest fundraisers. We are proud to offer these choice plants selected especially for your home garden and appreciate your continued support.

UT Gardens, Crossville

Spring Plant Sale Cancelled

In an effort to protect the health and safety of our staff, friends, visitors, and community, as well as following the Governor's mandate to stay home, the UT Gardens, Crossville plant sale has been discontinued.

Pre-orders made by Gardens members will be fulfilled to the best of our ability. All other orders will be cancelled.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding. We wish you good health and look forward to seeing you in the Garden soon!

UT Gardens, Jackson

Spring Plant Sale Cancelled

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 concerns, there will be no onsite Spring Plant Sale at the UT Gardens, Jackson this year. We are saddened to make this announcement, but your health and the health of our employees is our top priority.

We want to thank you for the tremendous support you've shown to the UT Gardens, Jackson through the years. We miss our friends!

Upcoming Classes - Knoxville

Home Garden Boot Camp (sessions held online)

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.

April sessions (held online via Zoom):

Apr 14 - Top Performing Woody Plants by Dr. Sue Hamilton
Apr 28 - Herbaceous Perennials by Dr. Sue Hamilton

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

Free Edible Garden Series

As a contribution to the health and well-being of our community, UT Gardens, Knoxville is offering a series of free online classes on edible gardening. These sessions will be held via live Zoom meetings. Participants will receive a meeting link upon registration. The classes will also be recorded and stored on our website for future access. May your home gardens be filled with peace, plants, and happiness!

Sweet Success with Perennial Berries

Friday, April 17 from 1-2:30 pm

Learn the basics to successfully grow blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and other less common small fruits in your own backyard. UT Gardens Kitchen Garden Manager Holly Jones will share her experiences over the past 6 years growing these delicious and perennial fruits.

Organic Pest Control

Friday, April 24 from 1-2:30 pm

While 95% of insects are either neutral or beneficial to humans, that other 5% can be a real nuisance! Join us to learn chemical free methods to deal with the pests that are ailing your garden. We will discuss companion planting, mechanical control, variety selection, attracting predatory insects, natural insecticides and more.

Growing and Preserving Culinary Herbs

Friday, May 1 from 1-2:30 pm

Herbs are some of the easiest and most rewarding edible plants to grow. UT Gardens Kitchen Garden Manager Holly Jones will walk you through the basics of successful herb gardening and preservation. Learn which varieties grow best in our climate, what environment they need to thrive, and a few methods for preservation.

Composting 101

Friday, May 8 from 1-2:30 pm

Learn to recycle your yard and kitchen waste to make a useful garden amendment. UT Gardens Education and Horticultural Therapy Program Administrator Derrick Stowell will lead this fun and informative session.

UT Gardens, Jackson

Art and Garden Lecture Series

We have changed the method of delivery to enable us to continue on with our Art&Garden Lecture and Demonstration Series hosted by University of Memphis at Lambuth Art Department in partnership with UT Gardens, Jackson and UT Extension. We invite all to join us each Thursday in April and May at Noon (Central Time) for a Lunch & Learn Zoom session on a variety of horticulture topics. The complete schedule is available here and here.

Follow this link to join all meetings:

https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/829482156

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.

Classes will be held online thru May

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. Session

Prestigious Award for

UT Gardens' Own Dr. Sue

Congratulations to Dr. Susan Hamilton, former UT Gardens Director, for being awarded the American Public Gardens Association Award of Merit in recognition of her exemplary contributions to the field of public horticulture. The UT Gardens thanks you for your leadership and service, Dr. Sue!

UT Gardens, Crossville

Storm Damage at PREC

Storm damage at Plateau AgResearch and Education Center with an estimated loss of 100 pine trees. Staff have been quite busy maintaining research projects and cleaning up the mess. There have certainly been new challenges lately, but we are thankful no one was hurt, little to no damage to structures or to the Garden, and all are well.

UT Gardens, Knoxville

Horticulture Therapy Garden Kits

The UT Gardens Horticultural Therapy Programs regularly works with 16 organizations in the East Tennessee area. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic those organizations have understandably made the decision to not allow outside organizations to provide programming to residents. Our staff was inspired to be creative and find a way to offer gardening programs to the facilities despite this barrier, especially given feedback they've received. Maddie Conrad, Avenir Senior Living Activity Director, indicated "we have been working in the garden on nice days, and it is really helping our residents de-stress and cope during this odd time." Derrick Stowell and PJ Snodgrass developed the idea of building HT Garden Kits for the facilities, made up of plants, soil, tools, and instructions necessary to complete a gardening activity. So far, UT Gardens staff have delivered 88 kits to six assisted living facilities. We hope to continue to be able to offer these kits to other facilities in the Knoxville area until we are able to go back into facilities to provide our programs in person. Benefits of gardening include reduced stress, increased physical activity, and lowered levels of anxiety, and gardening can also provide vegetables to be harvested and used by culinary staff at the facilities for making meals or healthy snacks.

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!