Healing the earth, one yard at a time.
|
|
Dear Wild Ones Members, Friends and Supporters,
Summer is now in full swing, and we're adapting to the "new normal," offering more resources online, while hoping to keep everyone safe and healthy. We will be hosting three free online chapter meetings during July and August -- please take a look at our programs below. This newsletter also provides links to lots of other educational webinars and resources online.
Keep planting native plants, and enjoy watching healthy landscapes grow up all around you!
|
|
|
|
Monday, July 13, 2020
6:00pm (Eastern DST)
Online via Zoom
FREE and Open to the Public
with Lucy Ellis,
Chattanooga Water Quality Specialist
and Pete Stewart,
City of Chattanooga Urban Forester
Pete Stewart, Chattanooga’s new City Forester, will introduce the Understory Gardens, since it started as a concept while looking for alternatives to using pesticides on trees in the City. Lucy Ellis will share a video tour of the new garden at Main Terrain Park and will lead an online discussion about successful methods for conversion of turf areas to meadow garden.
|
|
|
|
Basic Gardening Roundtable
No-Fail Natives
|
Monday, July 27, 2020
6:00pm (Eastern DST)
Online via Zoom
FREE and Open to the Public
Do you want to learn more about gardening with native plants? At our second Roundtable meeting, we will be talking about "no-fail natives" for your garden.
This informal garden roundtable with experienced native plant gardeners from the Tennessee Valley Chapter will offer pragmatic advice on plant selection, sourcing, and difficulties encountered from our combined experience. If possible, please send questions in advance to
Lisa Lemza.
|
|
|
|
Community Conservation Conversation with
the Trust for Public Land:
Saving American’s Special Places
|
Monday, August 10, 2020
6:00pm (Eastern DST)
Online via Zoom
FREE and Open to the Public
with David Johnson,
Chattanooga Area Program Director,
Trust for Public Land
Continuing this series dedicated to exploring the work of nonprofits to preserve and protect natural areas, the August meeting will feature The Trust for Public Land, a nation-wide nonprofit organization with a mission to "create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.” Over the last two decades, TPL has been a partner in the City of Chattanooga's investments in dozens of new parks and natural areas, including the final sections of the 12-mile greenway running through metropolitan Chattanooga that highlights the natural beauty of Chickamauga Creek.
|
|
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. Participants are required to complete four core classes, eight electives, and 40 hours of volunteering for approved native plant projects.
Visit
www.TNValleyWildOnes.org/CNP
for more information. Classes are open to Wild Ones members and non-members, whether or not you are pursuing the certificate.
|
|
|
|
Saturday, July 11, 2020
9:00am - 12:30pm Eastern Time
Instructor: Andrea Ludwig, PhD
Online via Zoom
A rain garden is a shallow depression in the ground that captures stormwater runoff, and infiltrates it into the soil -- benefitting water quality while also providing a unique opportunity for gardeners. The sandy, intermittently wet soils of rain gardens offer opportunities to create unique plant communities that might not thrive elsewhere on your property. In this way, rain gardens create "microhabitats," increasing the diversity of habitat you offer to wildlife. Want to increase the number of beneficial predators in your yard, such as toads, salamanders, and dragonflies? Want to create a space for kids to play that "comes alive" during a rain? Be sure not to miss this class.
This course is an elective course and provides 4 hours toward the completion of the Certificate in Native Plants program.
Members: $20
Non-Members: $30
|
|
|
|
Native Plant Garden Tour
Saturday, September 12, 2020
Save the Date!
More information coming soon.
|
|
Where to Buy Native Plants
|
|
Many regional nurseries are offering mail order and curbside plant purchases.
Please check their websites and call in advance for details.
Our
website
provides a list and contact information for
local and regional native plant nurseries.
|
|
|
|
Wild Ones Members Hike
to Chickamauga Park
Limestone Glades
|
Tennessee Valley Chapter members joined Zach Irick, a botanist with the Southeastern Grasslands Initiative, on a unique visit to the Chickamauga Battlefield last month. Zach led the small group to three distinctly different limestone glades. These grassy openings, where limestone bedrock is exposed or covered in patches of thin, poorly drained soil, are home to wildflowers and other plant species that are adapted to survive the harsh environment.
|
|
|
|
Saving Pollinators: You Can Help
|
Read this terrific article by our own Sally Wencel in the May/June 2020 issue of Tennessee Conservationist.
|
|
Online Programs of Interest
|
|
|
|
Butterfly Conservation Presentations
|
The Central Wisconsin chapter of Wild Ones has shared their recording of two presentations about butterfly conservation.
Karner blue butterfly conservation in Wisconsin by
Chelsea Weinzinger, DNR Karner Blue Butterfly Recovery Coordinator
Best practices for raising monarchs indoors
by Paul Skawinski, CW Wild Ones Chapter President
Chelsea's presentation begins at the 5:00 minute mark after chapter announcements and Paul's begins at 39:30 if you want to pick and choose.
|
|
|
|
Webinars for Landscape Practitioners
|
Wild Ones is co-sponsoring a second national webinar series in conjunction with New Directions in the American Landscape.
During July and August, a live series will be offered for landscape practitioners throughout the United States including landscape architects and designers, restoration ecologists, and horticulturists.
You do NOT need to be a professional landscaper to attend and benefit from these seminars. This is a great opportunity to learn about ecologically sound landscaping right from your own home!
Douglas Tallamy, Ph.D., Larry Weaner, FAPLD, Chad Adams, AICP, and a diverse group of expert instructors will discuss a variety of topics from the art of naturalistic design to science-based native meadow creation.
1.5 hour webinars - $48
3 hour webinars - $74
All 13 webinars - $595
|
|
|
|
Free Online NDAL Webinars
|
New Directions in the American Landscape presented a series of webinars last month, cosponsored by Wild Ones. Two of the webinars are available for free viewing. Click the titles below to view.
Learn how to create a beautiful landscape that will require less maintenance. Techniques include selecting plants native to your ecoregion; matching plants to the soil, not soil to the plant; avoiding disturbance during the planting process.
with Dr. Scott Zgraggen
This webinar includes great information about the benefits of and how to experience/connect with nature on various levels: trails, climate, night sky, birds, plants, wildlife, geology and even a scavenger hunt app! Also given are recommendations for phone apps that are suitable for older kids and adults.
|
|
|
|
Native Medicinal Garden Tour
|
Join clinical herbalist and gardener Erika Galentin, MNIMH, RH AHG, for a tour around the medicine gardens to see which native species of medicinal plants are in bloom in the May into June period. Erika discusses the botanical, ecological, and medicinal virtues of each species.
|
|
|
|
Tennessee-Kentucky Plant Atlas
|
The TN-KY Plant Atlas is a resource for anyone interested in the vascular plants of Tennessee and Kentucky. It is being developed as a comprehensive database for plant data useful to plant enthusiasts, hobbyists, professionals, conservation workers, decision makers, and students and teachers of all levels.
|
|
Good News for Pollinator Gardens
|
|
The Garden Club of Signal Mountain
under the leadership of Diane Ryder recently received a $1,000
Plant America Community Project Grant
and will be installing a pollinator garden at the Mountain Arts Community Center.
The Lookout Mountain Beautiful Garden Club
also received a
Plant America
grant and will be installing a new pollinator garden at the Commons. A second pollinator garden was planted by the club last year. The new garden will be a terraced bed next to the tennis court. The City of Lookout Mountain, TN will help prepare the area prior to planting in the fall.
And, the last bit of great news...
The City of Lookout Mountain, GA is restoring acreage formerly known as the "Victory Garden and converting it to a native plant park called the "Lookout Mountain Garden." Bee City USA guidelines are part of the development. The design will include a walking trail from the new park to the Fairyland Elementary School, which has a pollinator garden funded by Wild Ones. The Lookout Mountain Beautiful Garden Club helps the school maintain their garden and has provided books and materials about pollinators for use in the classroom.
|
|
Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar in its host Sassafras Tree
The caterpillar is in a leaf roll waiting for dusk to start feeding. It has two false eyes above its head that makes it look more like a snake that a prospective meal for a hungry bird.
The leaf roll was closed back after photo was taken.
Photo by Mike O'Brien.
|
|
Great Golden Digger Wasp (
Sphex ichneumoneus
)
on Narrow Leaf Mountain Mint
(Pycnanthemum tenufolium)
Mountain mint typically grows in the wild in dry, open, rocky woods, dry prairies and fields, along roadsides, along streams and in open wet thickets. An erect, many-branched, herbaceous perennial that grows 2-3' tall and features extremely narrow, almost needle-like leaves and profuse terminal clusters of small, white flowers which bloom in mid to late summer. All parts of the plant emit a strong, mint-like aroma when crushed. Photo by Mike O'Brien.
|
|
Beautyberry
(Callicarpa americana)
flowers
This loose open shrub is valued for its spectacular fruits. The relatively insignificant flowers develop into prolific bright violet to magenta berry-like drupes which encircle the stem. These fruits remain attractive for a long time although they are generally gone before severe winter weather. This native plant prefers the soil of its natural forest floor habitat - a moist clay or sand enriched with organic matter. It will fruit most abundantly in full sun but may be grown in light shade. The plant needs minimal care once its roots are established. Photo by Mike O'Brien.
|
|
Delta Scarab Flower Beetle (
Rigonopeltastes delta
) on fertile Hydrangea flowers
Note the inverted "delta" triangle on top of thorax. These insects feed on the flowers of many plants; the larvae develop in rotting wood. They are quite wary and quick to fly away, so this is an unusual find.
Photo by Mike O'Brien.
|
|
|
|
Joining or Renewing
Your Wild Ones Membership?
|
Join a community of native plant enthusiasts – novices to experts – making a difference by establishing and preserving communities of native plants in home landscapes, schools, businesses, and communities.
AND receive benefits, including discounted admission for our annual Symposium and Certificate in Native Plants classes. As a member, you'll also be invited to members-only hikes, garden visits and social events.
|
|
Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones
Upcoming Event Calendar
|
|
Saturday, July 11, 2020, 9:00am - 12:30pm EST
Certificate in Native Plants Class online via Zoom
Monday, July 13, 2020, 6:00pm EST
Free Public Program online via Zoom
Monday, July 27, 2020, 6:00pm EST
Free Public Program online via Zoom
Monday, August 10, 2020, 6:00pm EST
Free Public Program online via Zoom
Saturday, September 12, 2020
Bringing Nature Home Garden Tour
Details TBA
Under the Programs & Events tab, click on
Calendar
.
|
|
|
|
We are now on Instagram!
Follow us at
|
|
|
|
Join our Meetup group to stay current about upcoming programs, classes and events.
|
|
"Like" our public Facebook page, and stay up to date on our events and interesting information about native plants and natural landscaping.
|
|
Join our Facebook GROUP, where you can ask questions about native plants, join discussions and learn more about native plants and natural landscaping.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
