Chapters in Tennessee

The course will explore in depth the ecology, spring wildflowers, and temperate deciduous forest of the North Chickamauga Creek State Natural Area. Topics will include local geology, the forest system, plant interactions, wildflower life histories, and wildflower identification. The class will take place along a½-mile 1`trail from the parking lot to the crossing of North Chickamauga Creek, with two short side trips.

PLEASE NOTE: Participants will be required to make a ½ mile leisurely trek along a moderately steep trail into the cove and then back out again. People with mobility and balance issues have found this hike challenging. 

Note also that there are no facilities at this venue, so you need to take care of any needs at the Circle K convenience store at the corner on Old Dayton Pike and Montlake Road.

What to bring with you:

Bring a copy of the Tennessee Native Plant Society’s Wildflowers of Tennessee by Horn and Cathcart, if you have it. If you have a 10x magnifier, that would also be helpful. We will provide you with a list of plant species you are likely to see along with a picture sheet to use in the field. Hiking shoes and rain gear will be needed along with any snacks or water needed.

Join us for a presentation by Nathaniel Bankhead for a presentation about permaculture and invasive species management.

This talk is an invitation to a more thoughtful and energy-conscious approach to invasive plant remediation and native plant restoration, because harvesting is more skillful than killing.  Nathaniel will utilize examples of Wild Violet and others' work in removing invasive plants via grazing, medicine making, composting and more while reintroducing native edible and medicinal species. 

Born and raised in Tennessee, Nathaniel has spent time as a farmer, teacher and learner in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Kansas and Kentucky.  Attracted to permaculture out of a desire to draw on the best of both agroecology and community development, he is owner and operator of Wild Violet Permaculture.  He specializes in land restoration with a focus on reforestation, grazing, and medicinal herbs.  His clientele include nonprofit organizations, the City of Chattanooga, and private landowners across southern Appalachia.  Check out the website for educational opportunities, including a locals only permaculture design course. 
 

We will continue to meet via Zoom for our chat meetings.  

These are informal and mostly unstructured meetings where anyone can ask questions related to native plants and related topics. Have a question about using native plants in your yard? Have some comments or pictures you want to share? This is the place to be.  Everyone is welcome.

The Zoom Link will open at 6:45 PM.

Join TN Valley Wild Ones members and hike leader, Stephan Eselgroth, MD, for a unique spring wildflower hike at the Arabia National Heritage Area, in Stonecrest, Georgia. Dr. Eselgroth has over 20 years of natural and sustainable native habitat gardening experience, RainSmart Yard and NWF certifications at his home, and is an active volunteer and hikes manager for our Wild Ones chapter. 

Along the southeast margins of Atlanta lie several massive granite outcrops. Called monadnocks, the largest of them include Stone, Panola and Arabia mountains. Geologically, they are residual plumes of magma called plutons, and have resisted erosion relative to their surroundings. We will visit the oldest, Arabia, that formed 400 million years ago. It offers us viewing of unique habitats, with several endemic native plants. In 1972, the Davidson family donated 500+ acres of Arabia Mountain and surrounding lands to DeKalb County for a nature preserve. Through further acquisitions, this now includes 2,550 acres, with a trail system along several granite outcrops and two lakes. There are two endangered plant species and many endemic species found only on rock outcrops. A prime opportunity at Arabia is the spring bloom of extensive colonies of the beautiful diamorpha (elf orpine), which thrives in the shallow solution pits or edges of pools characteristic of weathered granite. The Arabia monadnock underwent significant quarrying activities and remained mostly open and free from regrowth of shrub and canopy vegetation. This favors the diamorpha, wooly ragwort, hairy stem spiderwort, pool sprite, Georgia oak and other disturbance dependent species. 

The trail winds around the lake, and up the massive granite formation. Mostly easy with short moderate sections, to see savanna, lakeside, smooth rock slopes and 360 degree views. Includes unique solution pits, seeps, pools and rock formations. We plan to also check out even higher densities of diamorpha at the main quarry and more plants, dragonflies, salamanders and frogs at the pond behind the nature center. Potential stop about 45 minutes out of the way at the Nearly Native Nursery on the return trip.

Rating: Easy with a few moderate sections for a short elevation gain/loss or uneven terrain.

Distance: 3 miles at Arabia mtn top loop, and 1 mile at quarry. Approximately 4 hours at the trails.

Links: Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, iNaturalist Arabia Mtn species, Trail Maps

Registration now open

Nashville Earth Day celebration will be open from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM at Centennial Park. Our chapter will have a booth at the event that needs staffing. Volunteer at the registration link.