July 2018 Newsletter

Healing the earth, one yard at a time.

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Upcoming Events

Mushroom Walk Saturday, July 7, 9:00-11:00am Wild Ones Members ONLY Amy Foster will lead a mushroom walk around her property on Signal Mountain, near the Sequatchie County line.  Mushroom Walk: INFO & REGISTER

What's Up With Reflection Riding? with Mark McKnight & John Evans Monday, July 9, 6:00pm FREE and Open to the Public green|spaces 63 E. Main St., Chattanooga TN Mark McKnight (CEO and President) and John Evans (Horticulturist) will talk about the changes that have been made at Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center. They will also share their plans for the future and answer your questions about RRA&NC. What's Up with RRA&NC - INFO

Make Your Own Nature Journal: A Bookbinding Workshop with Nora Bernhardt Saturday, July 28, 1:30-5:30pm The Open Press 1271 Market St., Suite B, Chattanooga TN In this workshop, you'll make your own casebound book that can be used for nature journaling.  The blank pages of the journal will be mixed media paper, so your journal can be used for pencil drawing, pen & ink, or watercolor. All tools and materials provided. No experience is necessary . Wild Ones Members $15; Nonmembers $25 Nature Journal - INFO & REGISTER

Native Plants in Urban Settings with Scott Drucker Monday, August 13, 6:00pm FREE and Open to the Public green|spaces 63 E. Main St., Chattanooga TN Urban Settings - INFO

Creating Living Landscapes Featuring Dr. Doug Tallamy Friday, September 7, 7:00pm UTC University Center Auditorium 642 E. 5th St., Chattanooga TN Don't miss this opportunity to see and hear this renowned author, speaker and advocate for healing the ecosystem by using native plants in our garden. Dr. Tallamy will suggest ways to make your property a showpiece, without losing its ecological function in the local ecosystem. Tallamy - INFO & REGISTER

Bringing Nature Home: A Home Garden Tour Saturday, September 8, 2018, 10am-6pm Five gardens in Chattanooga and on Signal & Lookout Mountains Visit four different established native plant home gardens (from full sun to full shade) AND the native plant gardens at the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute. Learn how to garden more sustainably and bring nature to YOUR garden. Proceeds go to Seeds for Education grants for pollinator gardens at local schools. Garden Tour - INFO & REGISTER

Save $$$ Get a Combo Ticket Doug Tallamy AND Garden Tour September 7 AND 8 Attend BOTH events for only $15! Available for Wild Ones Members ONLY

Purchase Combo Ticket

Events in the Region

 Grace in the Garden with June Mays Saturday, July 14, 2018 9:00am - 4:00pm St. Mary's Sewanee, TN Cullowhee Native Plant Conference July 18-21, 2018 Cullowhee, NC Cultivate Wild! Native Plant Conference Memphis Horticultural Society October 25-28, 2018

Habitat Hero Award

Nomination Process Now Open! The Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones  Habitat Hero Award  recognizes individuals or organizations whose exemplary use of native plants demonstrate the mission of Wild Ones: To promote environmentally sound landscaping practices which preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. The Habitat Hero Award will be presented to individuals, schools, churches, non-profits, community groups, businesses, municipalities and/or other governmental organizations for programs or projects that exhibit: Exemplary implementation of existing practice Innovation in the use of native plantings Extension of existing processes and methodology Facilitation of sustainable landscaping and habitat conservation Applications will be evaluated by a panel of varied backgrounds, including academia, botanical gardens, landscape design, horticultural writers, etc. Awardees will receive a recognition plaque and a $250 sponsored honorarium. Awards will be presented on Friday, September 7th at the Habitat Hero Awards Night featuring Dr. Doug Tallamy, speaker (see information above). Nominations are due by August 10th.  Habitat Hero presentations are available for interested groups. 

Habitat Hero Nomination Form

Seeds for Education Grants

Grants for Local Educators Is your school located in the Chattanooga metropolitan area and would you like to: Attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators to your schoolyard with wildflowers and native grasses. Add opportunities for hands-on science in biology, ecology and earth science. Expose students to healthy, outdoor physical activity. Reduce energy consumption and improve storm water management; enhance sustainability and green-school certification. CHAPP and Wild Ones offer assistance for all aspects of such projects.  Cash grants of up to $500 are available for plants and seeds, and in-kind donations from Nursery Partners can help stretch these dollars. We can help you locate experts and information in the Chattanooga area.  Go to our   SFE Criteria page   to read how we will evaluate an  application .

Wild Ones Photo Contest

Calling All Wild Ones Photographers! Share the beauty of native plants and scenery by entering the Wild Ones 2018 Photo Contest. The contest, open to Wild Ones members only, has 6 categories: flora, scenery, pollinators, natural landscapes, children, and Wild Ones mission-related projects. Children are eligible!  Do you have a child under 18 who’s a great photographer? They have their own category because they have their own, very unique perspective on the world around us. It’s easy.  You can enter photos that have been taken within the last 3 years, so this could be as simple as looking through your digital photo files and filling out an online application. Recognition.  This is your chance for bragging rights if your photos win 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place. Your photos might also grace Wild Ones’ website, publications, and other literature (credited to you, of course). What it’s all about.  By submitting photos, you will be inspiring others through the beauty of native plants and supporting the Wild Ones mission by educating the public about environmentally sound landscaping practices. You’re not a photographer but are a photo appreciator?  You can participate by voting for your favorite among entrants! Photo Contest shots will be on the Wild Ones Members-Only website after the official judging. Wild Ones members are then invited to vote for their favorite photo to determine the People’s Choice Award. For specific Contest rules and an application, see the web page . ENTRY DEADLINE:  JULY 15  

Certificate in Native Plants

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. Students will get both classroom education and hands-on application to increase knowledge and skills that can be applied at home, in the community, and at work. The course setting will provide a common ground for native plant enthusiasts to meet and connect with others who share their interests.  The CNP is designed to benefit both home gardeners and landscaping professionals alike. You do NOT need to be working toward the Certificate in order to register for classes. Most CNP classes are limited to 25 participants. They fill up quickly, so register now to ensure your place.   Class registration is now open for all 2018 classes: RESCHEDULED! Native Plant Communities Instructor: Jon Evans, PhD  NEW DATE: Saturday, July 7, 2018  9 am - 4 pm CDT  University of the South, Sewanee, TN Identifying Plants with Taxonomy: "The Keys to the Kingdom" Instructor: Richard Clements  Saturday, August 11, 2018  9 am - Noon EDT  Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center  Native Warm Season Grasses   Instructor: Walter Bland  Saturday, October 13, 2018  9 am- 12 pm (EDT)  Sixth Cavalry Museum and Chickamauga Military Park Fort Oglethorpe GA  Soils & Water  Instructor: Wyn Miller  Saturday, November 10, 2018  9 am - 4 pm EST  Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center

CNP General Info

From Our Chapter

E. Douglas Newton (1942-2018) The Tennessee Valley Chapter is deeply saddened to report the loss of one of our own. E. Douglas (Doug) Newton was a long-time Wild Ones member, a member of the chapter's Board, co-chair of the Habitat Hero Award Committee, volunteer for our annual Plant Natives Symposium, native plant gardener, and a passionate believer in our responsibility of caring for our earth. Doug was wise, generous, witty, unassuming and a treasured friend. We will miss him greatly. Read more.

"Echinacea Gone Wild" in Lookout Mountain Garden

Last weekend, Wild Ones Board member Ann Brown opened her garden for a "Pop Up" Landscape in Progress. Ann's garden has three species of Echinacea (coneflowers) that have been hybridizing with each other. (Photo by Terri Joyce)

The pollinators were very happy and quite plentiful on Ann's Liatris, Rudbeckia, Echinacea, and much more. (Photo by Ann Brown)

Ann generously showed Wild Ones members all the native plants in her Lookout Mountain garden. Thanks, Ann! (Photo by Terri Joyce)

Photos from the Field

Newly-emerged Pearl Crescent butterfly. Photo by Mike O'Brien.

Eight-Spotted Forester Moth Photo by Marion O'Brien.  

Common Buckeye on Coneflower Photo by Mike O'Brien. 

Green Lynx Spider on Sage Leaf Photo by Mike O'Brien. 

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