Panel Discussion to provide ideas about how lawns and native plants can coexist.

Core Class for the Certificate in Native Plants

The goals of the class are to explain qualities that plants share with other living things, as well as characteristics that set them apart, and to become acquainted with the range of different organisms that make up the plant kingdom.
Description: Specific topics that we will touch on include: living vs. non-living things, matter, energy, chemistry, cells and their functions, photosynthesis, respiration, natural and artificial selection, and the diversity of the plant world.
Preparing for class: Write down three questions about plants - things that you don’t know and are curious about - and bring them to class.
What to bring with you: It would be good to purchase a used general botany text online, at McKay’s Used Books, or your favorite bookstore. A copy of the TN Native Plant Society’s Wildflowers of Tennessee by Horn and Cathcart would also be helpful, as would What if Trees Could Walk?: A Sewanee Tree Book by Mary Priestley. If you have a 10X magnifier, that would be helpful.
Session objectives: By the end of the class, you will be able to 
1. Compare and contrast living and non-living things and between plants and other living things.
2. Discuss some basic functions of plants.
3. Recognize the variety of organisms that make up the plant kingdom.
Agenda:
9 am - 12:15 pm
What a plant is, how plants fit into the environment, and a basic biology primer.
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm - Lunch Break
12:45 pm - 4:00 pm
Survey of the Plant Kingdom: bryophytes, ferns and fern allies, gymnosperms, and angiosperms
(major families), touching on fungi, algae, and lichens. Weather permitting, we will take a short
walk to look at some of these organisms in the field.
Conclusion and assignments: Jack and the Beanstalk and My Adopted Plant

Instructors:
Richard Clements, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Chattanooga
State Community College. He has served on the board of the Tennessee Exotic Pest Council and
has conducted many programs on invasive species, local flora, environmental issues and
astronomy. Email: [email protected]
Mary Priestley is an associate of the Sewanee Herbarium. editor of the herbarium's newsletter The Plant Press, and coordinator of the Herbarium-sponsored nature journaling group. She is the author of William’s Wildflowers children’s guide to wildflowers, What if Trees Could Walk?

Explore how native gardening can address climate challenges in our next Wild Ones national webinar, “Cultivating Change” with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Johnson has been researching and writing about environmental issues for three decades. Learn about the pivotal role of gardening as an act of stewardship in the face of climate and ecological challenges. Discover the profound connections between individual gardens and the broader world and learn how these green spaces can serve as catalysts for positive ecological and social change.  Join Wild Ones for a practical and insightful discussion on gardening's positive impact on the environment and our future. 

Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch the talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

FREE and Open to the Public

Since 1984, Chattanooga has seen a 43% reduction in its urban forest and a 134% increase in developed land. While forest and urban tree canopy cover still comprise approximately 49% of the total land area of Chattanooga, the distribution and density of forest and urban tree canopy is very uneven - the tree canopy in downtown is 14% and in Highland Park is 21%.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded Chattanooga a grant of $6 million to develop and maintain urban forests, green space and waterways in underserved communities. Pete Stewart, City Forester, along with Anna Mathis, Natural Resources Manager in Parks & Outdoors and the lead applicant on the grant, will discuss what this means for Chattanooga.

They will provide an update on the outlines of potential grant-funded work under the UCF-IRA grant and will discuss how the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones can help with these efforts.

Then the audience gets to ask questions!

The meeting is free and open to the public - and at a new location with plenty of free parking.

Part two of the CORE Botany I and II classes

“Close Encounters with ‘Lower Plants’: Reproduction in non- seed-bearing plants” even comes with a take-home terrarium! All thanks to instructor Charlotte Freeman, MS.
You could think of this half-day, elective class as ‘Sex lives (or not) of plants.”
Some plants reproduce by seeds, but others do not include seeds in their life cycle.  The latter used to be called “Lower Plants” and included liverworts, hornworts, mosses, ferns and other less common allies such as lycopodium, spike moss, whisk ferns and horsetails.

In this course you’ll examine the life cycles of these non-seed-bearing plants.

Species estimates for Bryophytes are in excess of 25,000! That makes it important that we include them in our repertoire of native plants. 

Objective: To learn some elementary biology of the non-
seed producing plants. This will include a brief
introduction to plant classification and basic terminology
and focus on the life cycles of plants that reproduce
without seeds. As time permits, we will introduce some
resources if you want to begin a moss/fern
garden/terrarium of your own. Free samples of some
mosses and liverworts will be available if they stay alive in
my kitchen! You should be able to find any plant life cycle
and be able to understand the steps when we are done.
We will examine some of the sporangia and sori under
microscopes or via the technology as time permits. Living
examples will be displayed as available. Each person will
receive a terrarium in process of getting established.

TVWO is collaborating with Waterways to train volunteers to evaluate yards for the RainSmart program.

Apartment dwellers and those working in small areas take heart! This program will teach how to use native plants in containers.  Catherine Shaw Truelove, former owner of Bees on a Bicycle, and Ann Brown (TVWO) will instruct us on design and plant selection of natives for containers. 

Registration for this event is now closed, and registrants have been emailed about attending. Please contact [email protected] if you have any issues getting in.

This will be a paid event for both in-person and remote viewing. Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch Dr. Kimmerer's talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Ecological restoration can be understood as an act of reciprocity, in return for the gifts of the earth. This talk explores the ecological and ethical imperatives of healing the damage we have inflicted on our land and waters. We trace the evolution of restoration philosophy and practice and consider how integration of indigenous knowledge can expand our understanding of restoration from the biophysical to the biocultural. Reciprocal restoration includes not only healing the land but our relationship to land. In healing the land, we are healing ourselves.

Wild Ones is excited to cohost this event with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's Earth Week 2024 and the Wild Ones Fox Valley Chapter. 

This course will explore the rich spring flora of Shakerag Hollow, an old-growth cove forest located on the campus of the University of the South in Sewanee, TN.
Participants will be taught how to identify over 30 species of wildflowers and learn about the ecology of this highly diverse forest community. Wildflower display in Shakerag
Hollow rivals that found in the Great Smoky Mountains and this course will occur during peak flowering time. Participants will be required to make a ½ mile leisurely trek along a moderately steep trail into the cove and then back out again.
Preparing for class:
Review this website featuring flora of Shakerag Hollow:
http://jonevanslab.wixsite.com/home/mesic-upper-lower-slope
What to Bring with You: Bring a copy of the TN 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.

Arabia Mtn, Lithonia, Georgia and 1 or 2 native nursery visits nearby along return.  Stephan Eselgroth hike guide.  Check back for registration information.

This class covered vegetative propagation of native plants.

This program could not be more timely as plans are underway for Chattanooga to develop our urban canopy with funding from a $6 million grant from the Dept. of Agriculture.  Hannah Lewis, the author of "Mini-Forest Revolution: Using the Miyawaki Method to Rapidly Rewild the World" will be our speaker. This is unique approach to reforestation was devised by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. Lewis will explain how tiny forests can grow quickly and offer rich biodiversity and environmental benefits, more so than forests planted by conventional methods.  

Members will tour yards of volunteers to learn about different types of native plant gardens.

We plan to cruise along the bluffs for about 2 hours viewing the wildflowers from the boat, eat lunch in a cove, and then travel to Floating Mill to see a rookery of Cormorants and Great Blue Herons.

An overview of many of the principles of native plant gardening. It is a survey course designed to provide the latest science for the context of what we are trying to apply in individual yard and landscapes. 

Zach Irick will be our hike guide to Keel Mtn Preserve (Lost sink falls trail), near Gurly, Alabama and view Stephen's Gap Callahan Cave along return.  

Local butterflier Jeffrey Schaarschmidt will discuss the current state of the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly in Tennessee, and specifically at McDonald Farm in Hamilton County.  Jeffrey Schaarschmidt is an attorney who enjoys birding and butterflying in and around Tennessee.  He has spent the last 4 years collecting butterfly population data in Tennessee with the goal of creating a online state-wide atlas for ever butterfly species documented in the state.  

Background
By definition, rain gardens contain shallow bowl-shaped depressions placed where they may catch rainwater runoff from rooftops and pavements. They are managed to maintain a variety of deep-rooted, native plants and healthy soils to allow for infiltration. They also create an opportunity to provide food and cover for a variety of desirable wildlife, like songbirds and beneficial insects. All plants contained in this list are native to Tennessee and can tolerate temporary inundation as expected during and following rainfall.

Two TVWO members will open their yards to members to view their landscaping.

For many "plan" is a 4-letter word. However, taking stock of your landscape and other inputs is an important first step and can save you time and money in the short and long run. In this session, we will go over basic steps on how to begin converting (more of) your landscape into a "Homegrown National Park". 

In her presentation, Nurturing Nature:  A Prairie Mom's Guide, Deborah will share what she has learned about transforming fescue pastures into prairies as well as identifying and restoring grassland ecosystems that have been hiding in forests.

Deborah Rosenthal is a retired Appellate Court Attorney from Los Angeles.  She and her husband moved to White Bluff, Tennessee in 2017 and quickly embraced the privilege of being land stewards.  They started with 30 acres of mostly forest, and now manage 73 acres of forest, woodland, savanna and prairie. 

At this Summer Tree ID class, we'll be learning about leaf morphology & other easily identifiable features (EIFs) to identify the most ubiquitous native tree species in the field as well as the use of a dichotomous key for trickier tree species. In Chattanooga, we have the privilege of an extremely diverse and ecologically convergent location which makes identification engaging and fun. By the end, you should confidently be able to ID common trees within their Family and use advanced techniques to get down to Genus and Species.

Native plants come in all shapes and sizes, from bare root seedlings and small plugs to pots ranging from 1" cups to 10+ gallons. We will discuss how to evaluate the plants before you buy them and also how to plant them. Planting will include site preparation, processing the plant, digging the hole, properly putting the plant in the ground and filling up that hole, plus after-planting care. Your planting method makes a difference.  The Sterchi Farm Pavilion is  located alongside South Chickamauga Creek, near the Waterhaven subdivision.  

Several of our members will share photos and growing tips on their favorite natives. 

Not all valley properties are the same, but they all reside in lowland areas that differentiate them from nearby mountain properties. In this class you will learn about the unique conditions of valley locations and how to select native plants that are suitable for them. You will also learn how to best use those plants in the native landscape. Native plant selection tools and plant lists will be provided. 

Explore how native plants can enhance biodiversity and support ecosystems in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants” featuring Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society.

Native plants are essential for maintaining biodiversity as they provide food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife, including pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. By incorporating native plants into your landscape, you can create a thriving ecosystem that supports local fauna and flora. These plants are well-adapted to local environmental conditions, making them more resilient to climate change and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Attendees will learn how native plants can improve soil health, enhance water retention, and contribute to a more sustainable and vibrant ecosystem.

Sara and Coralie are part of the Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS) Landscaping team, and they have collaborated on diverse projects across Indiana, including native planting schemes for schools, community gardens, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Humane Society. Their new design for Indianapolis reflects typical sub-divisions in Indiana and considers future climate challenges, such as increased flooding and hotter, drier summers. The design features resilient, native Indiana plants that thrive in local soil conditions and contribute to the ecosystem.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from leading experts in native plants! Participants will gain practical insights into native garden designs and learn how tailored landscaping can support wildlife, promote ecological balance, and help restore natural habitats. 

Join Zack Irick will be our guide at Town creek scour and nearby High Falls Park just downstream.  Grove Oak, Alabama.  Sand Mtn creek scours. 

Middle Ocoee River Trip with Adventures Unlimited to view Ruth's golden aster and many other native plants.

 Click here for more information and to register. Golden Aster Paddle - Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones (tnvalleywildones.org)

TBA

Save the Date!  More details coming soon.

Instructor: Henning von Schmeling
ELECTIVE Class

Selection and layering of native plants is important for a thriving ecosystem in mountain gardens. Strategies for creating and managing those gardens in both sunny and woodland conditions will be discussed. Plant lists will be provided. 

Explore the ecological and aesthetic advantages of hedges and hedgerows in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows” with Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project.

Native hedgerows are diverse plantings of woody plants from shrubs to small trees along with herbaceous groundcovers at their base.  Learn how these low-maintenance and sustainable plantings of shrubs, trees, and groundcovers can enhance biodiversity, provide critical habitats for wildlife, and contribute to climate resilience. Discover practical tips for designing and implementing hedgerows in various landscapes, from farms to urban settings, and understand their role in supporting pollinators, birds, and soil health. 

 You will also learn about Heather McCargo and the Wild Seed Project's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Portland, ME. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading expert in native plant restoration and take your landscaping skills to the next level. 

TVWO members will visit the yards of 2 members to view their landscapes in progress.

 Join Zach Irick for a hike to Catoosa WMA Savanna project. 

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For this class, meet in the Parking area between the recycling center and the Community Fitness Center. Caring for your garden as it grows and changes over time is the best part! We will discuss basics of sustainable landscape care such as optimizing maintenance activities for wildlife support, and reducing air and water pollution. There are key differences between managing a native plant garden and a conventional landscape, so let's get into it!

Save the Date!  More details coming soon.

Instructor: Cheryl Murphy
ELECTIVE Class

TBA

Members will give a tour of their yards describing their native plant landscapes.

Learn how to use high-density plantings that replicate natural ecosystems in aesthetically pleasing designs, enhancing ecological functions while reducing maintenance efforts in our upcoming Wild One’s national webinar, “Matrix Landscape Design” with author, landscape designer, activist, and educator Benjamin Vogt.

Matrix planting is a landscape design approach that mimics natural ecosystems by closely planting and layering compatible perennials and grasses to cover the soil, provide more ecosystem services, and eliminate the need for wood mulch or aggressive weeding.  Join Wild Ones for a webinar to learn how author, educator, and landscape designer Benjamin Vogt applies this approach to create stunning native gardens. Learn the principles behind this method, its ecological benefits, and practical steps to implement matrix planting in your own garden. 

You will also learn about Benjamin’s latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Lincoln, NE. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading voice in natural garden design and take your gardening skills to the next level. Register now to secure your spot! 

 Join Stephan Eselgroth for a hike at Och's gateway trail.  

TBA