Events Archive: 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Upcoming Events
September 2024
"The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows" with Heather McCargo
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
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.
Sassafras Moon Herbal Festival
Erwin TN
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
The Sassafras Moon Herb Fest is on Sept. 14 in Erwin, TN. The free herbal festival is presented by HERBalachia and includes free classes and herbal vendors. For more info, go to HERBalachia.com/sassyfest.
Tour of Emory and Henry Native Meadow
Public Welcome Free Event Group Tour Free Public Parking
Join Wild Ones Appalachian Chapter at the Emory & Henry Cemetery in Emory, Virginia, as we walk the grounds of this historic cemetery and see the newly developed native plant meadow at the edge of the burial grounds. The E&H Cemetery Board and the University have partnered with the US Fish and Wildlife Partners program to create a field of native plants and flowers that stretches more than 2 acres. We'll meet some of the volunteers and hear about the process.
The tour is free and open to the public.
Directions from Exit 26 off I -81: College Dr north (toward E & H and joins Hillman Hwy) for 0.8 miles, then left turn on Elm Street, and then right on Cambridge Ave.
Emory and Henry Cemetery
30419 County Rd 838, Meadowview, VA
Map can be found on E & H website (cemetery is to the north of campus) - see link to campus map.
August 2024
August Board of Directors Meeting Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting
All Wild Ones members are invited to bi-monthly national Wild Ones board meetings! During meetings, the board strives to uphold Wild Ones’ mission, hone our vision, implement strategies and provide organizational oversight; you are welcome to attend!
"Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants" with Sarah Gray & Coralie Palmer
Hosted by Wild Ones Greater Indianapolis Chapter and Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Program/Speaker Presentation
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.
WOAH Members Only Tour of Josh Banks's Garden Members Only
Members Only Free Event Home Garden Tour
Josh and his wife moved to Johnson City from Montgomery, AL in late 2021. Since the spring of 2022, he has been slowly removing the turf from their sloping 1/3-acre plot, and replacing it with mostly native perennials, shrubs, and trees. He works as an architect, and regional design is something he thinks is very important, both in architecture and landscape design. He likes to grow native plants because they give a "sense of place" to a landscape - and he thinks Appalachian Highlands residents are with some amazing plants to choose from! He also recently started a small backyard nursery and landscaping design business called Paragraph Designs. His main frustration was the lack of access to affordable plug/small potted plants available to the home gardener, since he believes that is the most cost effective and environmentally-friendly way to get more plants into the landscape. His hope is to make more plug plants available while growing as many as possible from local seed.
June 2024
June Board of Directors Meeting Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting
All Wild Ones members are invited to bi-monthly national Wild Ones board meetings! During meetings, the board strives to uphold Wild Ones’ mission, hone our vision, implement strategies and provide organizational oversight; you are welcome to attend!
Ghosts in the Forest: Prehistory & Ecology in the Southern Appalachians With Jeremy Stout
Nature Center, Steele Creek Park, Bristol, TN
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom
Ghosts in the Forest: Prehistory & Ecology in the Southern Appalachians With Jeremy Stout
When: June 13th,2024 at 7 to 8p.m.
Location: Steele Creek Nature Center
4 Little Ln, Bristol, TN, 37620
You will be charged $2 at the gate for parking.
This event is free and open to the public.
All of life occurs in a geological context. This talk will explore the connections between modern distributions of plants and animals across the 4th dimension: Deep Time.
Learn about geological forces and extinct organisms and how they affect the
modern assemblages we find in the region today.
May 2024
WOAH Members Only Tour of Snow Ferreniea's Garden Members Only
Members Only Free Event Home Garden Tour
Snow Ferreniea is English, learning initially about plants and gardening from her parents, both of whom were avid gardeners. She also received her formal education in horticulture in England. Coming to America in the 70’s, she continued to pursue her passion for plants, especially native ones, as a professional horticulturist.
Snow was director of horticulture at Garden in the Woods. She has also worked at the New Your Botanical Garden, Holden Arboretum and Wayside Gardens.
On retiring in 2013, she began the creation of her own garden where she blended many of the plants she loves. The garden has a special emphasis on the wildflowers that are so abundant in southwest Virginia.
Over the years she has shared her experiences in the fascinating world of plants, teaching classes and workshops wherever she has worked.
April 2024
April Board of Directors Meeting Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting
All Wild Ones members are invited to bi-monthly national Wild Ones board meetings! During meetings, the board strives to uphold Wild Ones’ mission, hone our vision, implement strategies and provide organizational oversight; you are welcome to attend!
Sustain Abingdon Earth Day Celebration
Public Welcome Free Event Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
The Appalachian Highlands chapter of Wild Ones will be one of many organizations sharing informational displays at the Town of Abingdon's Earth Day celebration. Sustain Abingdon will provide "kid’s activities, food, fun and informational booths!" at this annual event.
Garden Faire
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
Public Welcome Family Friendly Paid Event Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
https://www.facebook.com/events/377316138244488/377316148244487/
Garden Faire is an event hosted by Washington County, Virginia Master Gardeners. It involves a number of activities and opportunities, including workshops, educational talks, vendors selling plants and other garden related items, tabling by related organizations (like WOAH), and tool sharpening, among others.
WOAH Members Only Seed and Plant Swap (Potluck to Follow) Members Only
Members Only Seed/Plant Swap Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom
Benefits of being an official Wild Ones member! This is an opportunity
to thin out your flower beds of native plants and bring your labeled
plants or seeds to swap and share. Please start to gather your extra
plants or seeds and identify them for the swap. If you don’t have any
extras, just come and take some home!
The Swap will be followed by a Potluck and social hour. Please feel free
to bring your own beverage and a dish to share. This will be a great
opportunity to learn about natives, get plants, and meet members!
You will be charged $2 at the gate for parking.
When: April 13, 2024, at 3:30 - 6:00 pm
Location: Steele Creek Park • 4 Little Ln, Bristol, TN, 37620 • Civitan
Shelter
March 2024
Wild Ones Annual Member Meeting Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Members Only Will be Recorded Free Event
Calling all Wild Ones members! You are invited to attend the Annual Membership Meeting webinar on Thursday, March 28th, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm CT!
Meet the Wild Ones National Board of Directors and staff and learn how Wild Ones is growing. This is a great opportunity to learn about the organization. We encourage you to participate!
"Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants" with Robin Wall Kimmerer
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline and in person at Reeve Union, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, 748 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI, 54901 Map
Live Stream Available
Public Welcome Limited Access Recording Paid Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains Assistive Hearing
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.
Wild Ones Native Plant Propagation - Part 2
Virginia Highlands Community College, Greenhouse, 100 VHCC Dr, Abingdon, VA, 24210 Map
Live Stream Available
Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Ben Casteel, Horticulture Instructor and Program Coordinator at the Virginia
Highlands Community College invites us to the campus greenhouse in Abingdon
to learn about propagation of native Appalachian plants.
Ben will cover Asexual Propagation (division / separation, cuttings, layering, and grafting) of native plant species.
This will be part two of the series on March 14th at 7 pm.
Part 1, Sexual Propagation, is available on video at https://www.youtube.com/@appalachianhighlandswildones
Due to limited space, there is a registration required to attend in person. Please,
send request to attend (include number in party) to: [email protected]
You will receive a response that you have been accepted or that the presentation is full.
A zoom link is posted below for those who would like to attend virtually.
https://vccs.zoom.us/j/4710139607
Meeting ID: 471 013 9607
February 2024
February Board of Directors Meeting Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting
All Wild Ones members are invited to bi-monthly national Wild Ones board meetings! During meetings, the board strives to uphold Wild Ones’ mission, hone our vision, implement strategies and provide organizational oversight; you are welcome to attend!
Invasive Species Management with Rod Walker of Blue Ridge PRISM
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Blue Ridge PRISM Inc began as a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to reducing the negative impact of invasive plants in the northern Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Effective invasive plant control is a community and neighborhood issue because these aggressive plants know no boundaries.
Rod serves on the Blue Ridge PRISM Board. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, the Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee for the State of Virginia, which recommends changes to the state’s Noxious Weeds law and regulations, and the Advisory Board for the VA Forestry Association’s Board of Directors. Both Rod and Maggie, his wife, are Virginia Master Naturalists. https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/86985016622?pwd=bkp3WHlHMEJuWlllNEJVM1RlZGZZdz09#success
January 2024
Randy Smith Seed Swap
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Seed/Plant Swap Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Local seed swap for the area with speaker Ben Casteel of VHCC speaking about seed saving. Appalachian Highlands Chapter will be giving away seed at our information table along with other local groups doing the same.
"Cultivating Change" with Lorraine Johnson
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
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.
Wild Ones Native Plant Propagation - Part 1
Virginia Highlands Community College, Greenhouse, 100 VHCC Dr, Abingdon, VA, 24210 Map
Live Stream Available
Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Ben Casteel, Horticulture Instructor and Program Coordinator at the Virginia Highlands Community College invites us to the campus greenhouse in Abingdon to learn about propagation of native Appalachian plants. Ben will cover both Sexual (seed prep - including processing, stratification, and scarification) and Asexual Propagation (division / separation, cuttings, layering, and grafting) of native plant species.
This will be a two-part series with the first class on January 11th at 7 pm, and the second class on March 14th at 7 pm.
A zoom link is posted below for those who would like to attend virtually.
Zoom Link: https://vccs.zoom.us/j/4710139607
December 2023
December Board of Directors Meeting Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting
All Wild Ones members are invited to bi-monthly national Wild Ones board meetings! During meetings, the board strives to uphold Wild Ones’ mission, hone our vision, implement strategies and provide organizational oversight; you are welcome to attend!
Snakes in Your Garden with Connie Deegan
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Program/Speaker Presentation
Good native landscaping attracts All animals. Snakes are an amazingly important part of the ecosystem, and many people happily coexist with snakes on their property. Connie Deegan’s program will include a discussion on the physiology of snakes, the rarity of actual snake bites and what to do in the event of a rare mishap. Connie Deegan is a naturalist, with the city of Johnson City, TN Parks and Recreation Department, specializing in herpetology. Connie received the Tennessee Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Award in 2021 for Conservation Educator of the Year. Her motto: Any day working outside is a good day!
Connie will have an article on this subject in the September issue of the WildOnes quarterly digital journal available for WOAH members by accessing their Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes web account.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/86554043647?pwd=MU1GNU1tQXYzZkRDNEE5eVdpWHhYQT09
November 2023
"The Gardener's Guide to Prairie Plants" with Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Join us for an enlightening webinar featuring authors, Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox, as they present their latest book, "The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants." This comprehensive compendium is a treasure trove of knowledge for gardeners looking to incorporate native prairie plants into their landscapes. Neil and Hilary will delve into the making and application of this essential guide, sharing rich historical and ecological insights about prairie ecosystems, all while showcasing stunning images of prairie flora.
Going Forward- November Member's Only Gathering Members Only
Members Only Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
On November 2nd we will celebrate our second year as the Appalachian Highlands Chapter with a social hour and business meeting. The social hour will include a slide show reviewing our activities over the year. This will be followed by a short business meeting with election of 2024 officers. Finally, the 3-yr strategic plan for the Chapter will be presented. The plan is based primarily on the Chapter Strategic Directions survey which had 44% of the members providing input. Water and coffee will be provided. Please bring your favorite light refreshment and your nametag.
The Summit building is set back from Volunteer Parkway with an access road between Eastman Credit Union and Bank of Tennessee. There is a cut-through the Parkway divide for a left turn if you are coming from downtown Bristol area.
October 2023
Art & Nature: A Studio Visit with Suzanne Stryk
Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Artist Suzanne Stryk invites us to her William King Museum of Art studio to explore her newest project featuring natural landscapes in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. She'll also read from her book, The Middle of Somewhere, which describes her three-year creative journey across Virginia to create an art project titled "Notes on the State of Virginia"-- a spin on Thomas Jefferson's book of that title. Suzanne's assemblages will open your eyes to minute details and the vast natural world we all share. Be sure to mark your calendar for October 26!
There will be limited seating with Wild Ones members given the first opportunity to register. Registration will be announced closer to the event.
October Board of Directors Meeting Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting
All Wild Ones members are invited to bi-monthly national Wild Ones board meetings! During meetings, the board strives to uphold Wild Ones’ mission, hone our vision, implement strategies and provide organizational oversight; you are welcome to attend!
Chapter Seed Swap Members Only
Members Only Seed/Plant Swap Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom
Members only! Steele Creek Park, Civitan Shelter, Bristol
Benefits of being an official Wild Ones member! This is an opportunity to thin out your flower beds (especially native plants) and bring your labeled plants (or seeds) to swap/share. Most of us will take home more than we bring! You will be charged $2 at the gate for parking.
Wildlife Weekend at Steele Creek Park
Steele Creek Park, Bristol, TN
Public Welcome Family Friendly Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom
The Chapter provided a speaker and information table for the Park's annual family-oriented Wildlife Weekend. Gail Olson spoke on Native Plant Gardening to an audience of 20. The information table included an activity to distinguish between native and non-native plants given a collection of fresh flowers from 12 plants and a sheet to put stickers next to native plant names.
New names and emails were recorded for 10 potential new members. At least 30-40 participated in plant quiz and over 50 stopped at info table.
"Creating and Managing Landscapes for Native Bees" with Heather Holm
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Join Wild Ones Honorary Director Heather Holm as she explores the nesting habitats, life cycles, pollen collection, brood rearing, and general characteristics of some of the most common native bees in eastern North America, while highlighting the pollination of native plants and the mutualism between native plants and native bees.
When creating and managing thriving habitats for native bees, many factors such as seasonal phenology, nesting strategies, and flower preferences must be considered—and with approximately 3,600 species in North America (north of Mexico), there are many unique aspects to keep in mind when managing successful landscapes for bees.
September 2023
Native Plant Gardening - Which Plants Work Where? - Chris Ludwig
Virginia Highlands Community College, Keyser-Aday Theatre , 100 VHCC Dr, Abingdon, VA, 24210 Map
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
We are pleased to have Chris Ludwig draw on his passion and knowledge of Virginia’s flora to describe native plants that can be utilized in our gardens to create natural wildlife habitat.
Chris worked for the Virginia Natural Heritage Program within the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. There he served as Staff Botanist from 1988 to 1996 and Chief Biologist from 1997 until his retirement in 2019. For 31 years, Chris explored the wilds of Virginia, documenting more than 1,000 rare species populations resulting in a new, richer understanding of Virginia’s biodiversity. In 2001, he founded and served as executive director of the Flora of Virginia Project (https://floraofvirginia.org/) an organization supporting the 2012 publication of The Flora of Virginia, a comprehensive manual to the vascular plants of the Commonwealth. Chris was a coauthor of the manual which describes nearly 3,200 plant species native to or naturalized in Virginia.
Join Wild Ones Appalachian Highlands Chapter on Thursday, September 14 at 7 p.m. for Chris’s presentation. It will be at the Virginia Highlands Community College located at 100 VHCC Drive, Abingdon, VA. Take Exit 14/I-81. drive toward Abingdon and turn right at the first traffic light onto VHCC Drive. Take the first left on to Opportunity Ln. when you enter campus (do not drive down to the Higher Education Center). We will be meeting in the Keyser-Aday Theatre on campus. The campus map highlights parking and the Theatre. The theatre is straight ahead from the roundabout, but you can find parking from any of the turns.
August 2023
August Board of Directors Meeting Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting
All current Wild Ones members are invited to this bi-monthly national Wild Ones board meeting! During these meetings, the board strives to uphold Wild Ones’ mission, hone our vision, implement strategies, and provide organizational oversight; you are welcome to attend!
Limit Deer Damage in Your Landscape with Michele Armon
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Damage from deer pressure can be very frustrating and costly! Michele Armon from Ninety % Native deals with this issue daily on her wooded lot in Northern Virginia. She will talk about the methods she uses to reduce deer damage and the plants she finds to be particularly unattractive for deer browsing. While different herds are known to eat different things and nothing is really deer resistant, Michele hopes you can apply some of her lessons learned in a way that will help you limit deer damage in your landscape.
Zoom Link: https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/87250277607?pwd=VTRiRU5hRmtQcDh4VWVrOFBocXJydz09
July 2023
Member's Expanding Meadow Garden Tour Members Only
Members Only Family Friendly Free Event Chapter Social Home Garden Tour
Garden meadows have color, interest, and wildlife value every month, but July can be one of the more spectacular displays of native wildflowers. Gail Olson has been converting a hayfield to a meadow for 10 years. She will describe the process and lessons learned to establish over 40 species of wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs covering ¼ acre. The Olson’s Garden was featured in a recent issue of the Wild Ones digital journal, see Read More.
The tour will be followed by a social hour. You are invited to bring light refreshments to share and a beverage of your choice. Water will be provided.
Directions will be sent to members in the Chapter Newsletter.
June 2023
June Board of Directors Meeting Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting
All Wild Ones members are invited to bi-monthly national Wild Ones board meetings! During meetings, the board strives to uphold Wild Ones’ mission, hone our vision, implement strategies and provide organizational oversight; you are welcome to attend!
May 2023
Pink Lady Slipper Wildflower Walk
WOAH Pollinator Garden at Damascus Trail Center and Nature walk along Laurel Creek Trail, Cherokee National Forest, 209 W Laurel Ave, Damascus, VA, 24236 Map
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Group Tour Nature Walk/Hike Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity Drinking Fountains
Parking is limited at the Laurel Creek trailhead in the Cherokee National Forest. Therefore, we plan to meet in Damascus and, after touring the Gardens, carpool to view the Pink Lady Slippers about 5 miles south. There is adequate parking in Damascus at Laurel Creek Park (127 West Imboden Street) 2 blocks from the Damascus Trail Center. If you plan to come to this Family Friendly event, please send an email to [email protected] before May 5.
First Stop: 1:30 pm, Damascus Trail Center, 209 West Laurel Ave., Damascus, VA. Past president Gail Olson will describe native plant landscaping that she designed in her Master Gardener role. This is the second growing season for this collection of 40 native species. A native plant wetland is currently being installed there. Arrive early to tour the DTC, which has restrooms available.
Second Stop: 3:00 pm, Laurel Creek Trail, Cherokee National Forest, Johnson County, TN, Highway 91,
approximately 5 miles south from Damascus, Va. and 9 miles north from Mountain City, TN. Member Ken More, retired Asst. Dir. of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, will lead the walk to see a thriving natural population of pink lady slippers along a short, accessible, hard packed gravel trail. Seeing Pink Lady Slippers in the wild is very special, because these orchids do not survive relocation away from their natural home. We may also see Showy Orchids and Louseworts, among other early May wildflowers. Participants wishing to extend their afternoon of wildflower observations, are welcome to stay longer to explore a nearby more difficult creek-side trail. Picnic tables and a handicap-accessible Porto-toilet are near the parking lot.
April 2023
Laurel Run Park, Wild flowers and more, City Nature Challenge Walk
Laurel Run Park
Public Welcome Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Laurel Run Park's floral and fauna diversity is amazing! Join us as we inventory all the naturally occurring life the park has to offer as part of the world's largest all species bioblitz- the City Nature Challenge. Parts of the trail will be muddy, wear sturdy shoes. This walk is to the creek but we will not be crossing it. Last year we recorded rare butterflies, rare plants and rare migrating birds!
April Board of Directors Meeting Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting
All Wild Ones members are invited to bi-monthly national Wild Ones board meetings! During meetings, the board strives to uphold Wild Ones’ mission, hone our vision, implement strategies and provide organizational oversight; you are welcome to attend!
Master Gardener Garden Fair Information Table
Washington County Master Gardener Garden Fair
Public Welcome Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
The Appalachian Highlands Chapter had an informational table with displays and handouts for the Chapter. We estimated over 100 stopped at our table each day and over 60 asked to be added to our email list for future event information.
Chapter Seed Swap Members Only
Members Only Seed/Plant Swap Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom
Members only! Steele Creek Park, Civitan Shelter, Bristol
Benefits of being an official Wild Ones member! This is an opportunity to thin out your flower beds (especially native plants) and bring your labeled plants (or seeds) to swap/share. Most of us will take home more than we bring! You will be charged $2 at the gate for parking.
Wild Plant Chat Zoom Discussion
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation
Topic:
The Chat started with a presentation of Garden Evolution from Almost Scratch: Lessons learned by Macey Brown describing her own experiences in creating her native plant garden.
Wild Plant Chat Zoom Discussion: Please email your garden photos to share to: [email protected]
Join the Zoom Meeting:
https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/87250277607?pwd=VTRiRU5hRmtQcDh4VWVrOFBocXJydz09
March 2023
Bluebells Wildflower Walk
Winged Deer Park
Public Welcome Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking
Winged Deer Park Disc Golf- open to both members and non-members.
Join us as we walk with JCP&R naturalist, Connie Deegan to explore one of the largest patches of naturalized bluebells in East TN. This area also has a large enough population of Spring Beauties to support the specialist Spring Beauty bee.
Wild Ones Annual Member Meeting Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Members Only Will be Recorded Free Event
Calling all Wild Ones members! You are invited to attend the Annual Membership Meeting webinar on Saturday, March 23rd, 6 pm - 7 pm CDT!
Meet the Wild Ones National Board of Directors and staff and learn how Wild Ones is growing. This is a great opportunity to learn about the organization. We encourage you to participate!
Ecological Interactions in Your Landscaping
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation
Are you interested in learning about ecological interactions in your landscaping that includes native plants? Mark Burnham, a WOAH member and professor at Emory & Henry College, is starting a research project studying the sustainability and environmental impacts of home gardens and local small farms. He is looking for folks to volunteer their gardens to help with his research. He will briefly describe his project and ways we may volunteer to help!
Wild Plant Chat Zoom Discussion: Please email your garden photos to share to: [email protected]
Join the Zoom Meeting:
https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/87250277607?pwd=VTRiRU5hRmtQcDh4VWVrOFBocXJydz09
February 2023
February Board of Directors Meeting Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting
All Wild Ones members are invited to bi-monthly national Wild Ones board meetings! During meetings, the board strives to uphold Wild Ones’ mission, hone our vision, implement strategies and provide organizational oversight; you are welcome to attend!
Johnson City Parks and Rec, Nature's Garden, Seed Swap/Share and more
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Be sure to stop by the Appalachian Highlands Chapter booth to take home some free native plant seeds including stratified common milkweed.
Wild Plant Chat Zoom Discussion
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting
Wild Plant Chat Zoom Discussion: We will continue our monthly Zoom sharing of garden photos and how-to tips, plus answering questions about establishing native habitats.
Gail Olson will start the Chat by describing starting meadows from seeds. Please send photos to share to [email protected]
Join Zoom Meeting: https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/87250277607?pwd=VTRiRU5hRmtQcDh4VWVrOFBocXJydz09
January 2023
Chapter Wild Plant Chat - Seed Stratification
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting
Chapter Zoom Discussions: We will continue our monthly Zoom sharing of garden photos and how to tips plus answering questions about establishing native habitats.
Starting with description of stratifying native seed by Mel Kelley. Please send photos to share to WOAH Chapter email.
Natural Area Preservation System in SW Virginia
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
In this zoom presentation, Claiborne Woodall, a regional supervisor for the Virginia DC&R Natural Area Preserves System will speak on natural areas stewardship in Southwest Virginia. He will describe the Channels and Pinnacle areas which have public access. Some of the rare plants and natural communities at these and other sites will be highlighted. He will also describe efforts to restore and enhance habitat conditions suitable for rare species and to sustain the inherent biodiversity and beauty of natural communities.
December 2022
Year in Review - December Member's Only Gathering Members Only
Members Only Free Event Chapter Meeting Chapter Social Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
A time to celebrate our first year as the Appalachian Highlands Chapter. A slide show will run of our “Year in Review” along with a few words by our President on our accomplishments we have achieved together. More to follow on refreshments but plan to bring your favorite hors d'oeuvre. Also, if you have any photos of your garden or native plants, please send them to the Chapter email [email protected] to be included.
The Summit building is set back from Volunteer Parkway with an access road between Eastman Credit Union and Bank of Tennessee. There is a cut-through the Parkway divide for a left turn if you are coming from the downtown Bristol area. There is adequate parking in the front of the building.
November 2022
Natives in the American Landscape
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Join us for a presentation by local landscape architect Trevor Curtis of Bricks & Ivy Landscape Design (bricksandivy.online) as he discusses the American landscape. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Trevor believes in working with nature instead of fighting against it. Why should you use Natives? What are some of the common mistakes homeowners make? Native trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials will be recommended for your garden along with where to purchase them. He will offer sustainable environmentally friendly solutions to your landscaping questions!!
October 2022
Members Only Fall Seed/Plant Swap and Share Members Only
Members Only Family Friendly Free Event Group Tour Seed/Plant Swap Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Lots of Physical Activity
The Chapter Fall Seed and Plant Swap is a benefit of being an Appalachian Highlands Chapter member! We encourage you to come Saturday, October 22, even if you don’t have seeds to share or you have never been to a swap. Gardeners love to share their excess and to describe what they have. If you have extra, please bring your labeled native plant seeds and plants. Most of us will take home more than we bring!
Robin Feierabend, Chapter member and member of Friends of Steele Creek Park, will lead a tour of the Nature Center and pollinator garden starting at 3:00 at the Nature Center.
The Swap will start at 4:00 at the Civitan Shelter, rain or shine. The Shelter is covered with restrooms nearby. You will be charged $2 at the gate for parking.
Monthly Chapter General Zoom Meeting Members Only
Online/Virtual
Members Only Chapter Meeting
Monthly Chapter General Zoom Meeting (Zoom sign-in info coming soon)
We will start our Zoom meeting with a discussion by Mel Kelly describing how to store seed collected this fall for planting next spring. This will be followed by general discussion. We encourage members to share photos of their gardens or ask questions for more experienced members. Please send a photo or two from your garden with plant names to me ([email protected]) so we can consolidate them for the meeting.
September 2022
Chapter General Zoom Meeting featuring speaker Katherine Kilbourne
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Join us via Zoom for a discussion with Katherine Kilbourne, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, State Plant Pathologist, about invasive plants in our area including questions and answers to your concerns. She defines invasive plants (difference between aggressive and invasive), our top plants of concern, different methods of invasive plant removal, TN regulated plants and how plants get on the regulated plant list and how grass root efforts really help!
Jacob's Nature Park Tour of Habitats and Gardens
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Group Tour Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking
Join Wild Ones Appalachian Highlands Chapter for a tour of this wonderful nature park. Walk will be lead by WOAH member, JC Parks and Rec Naturalist, Connie Deegan. Expect to see migrating monarchs, dragonflies, migrating birds and many native plantings! This event, sponsored by WOAH is free and family friendly.
Take a look at the many species that visit or call Jacob’s Nature Park home.
Directions: Park and meet by the Outdoors Classroom at 1919 Ocala Drive in Johnson City. Additional parking at Rich Acres Baptist Church at 1245 King Springs Rd.
(NOTE: This event begins at the park’s back entrance at 1919 Ocala Drive. Navigation apps may lead you to the park’s nearby King Springs Rd front entrance by default.)
August 2022
Tour of Rain Gardens and Wetlands at Blue Ridge Discovery Center
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Group Tour Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Join the Appalachian Highlands Chapter at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 13th for a tour of a rain garden at the Blue Ridge Discovery Center (BRDC). In addition, see restored and newly constructed wetlands. Bring a lunch at noon and discuss the plants used in establishing these wildlife friendly native gardens.
BRDC sponsors a variety of naturalist classes for all ages and the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally. The BRDC is located at the site of a restored girl’s school built in 1925. The website is www.blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Directions: The Blue Ridge Discovery Center Address: 66402 Whitetop Rd, Troutdale, VA 24378. From I-81, take Exit 35 (Chilhowie), go south on RT 762, passing Hardee’s. Follow this for 3.6 miles to the flashing light at intersection. Keeping straight (the road becomes RT 600), crossing Iron Mountain and in 7.6 miles to the parking at the BRDC Schoolhouse.
Monthly Chapter General Zoom Meeting Members Only
Online/Virtual
Members Only Chapter Meeting
I announced monthly meetings for members to share photos of their gardens or ask questions for more experienced members. I had hoped to start this series on July 20 but a week with grandsons took priority! We also have changed to second Thursdays. Please send a photo or two with plant names to me so we can gather them for Zoom. We will email specifics on connecting to Zoom. Join us with your questions!
July 2022
Nature and the Arts at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton, Tennessee
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Group Tour Public Restroom Drinking Fountains
Free admission and open to the public!
Plants and their Pollinators with ETSU’s Arceo-Gomez Plant Lab - 10:00 Nature and conservation-based art show and sale - 10:00 to 4:00 Nature crafts for kids - 11:00 to 1:00 Monarch Conservation and Monarch Waystations - 2:00 Up Close and Personal with Nature - 3:00
Walk with us and learn more about the importance of native pollinators and native plants.
Learn more about our Wild Ones Chapter all day.
June 2022
Tour of Discovery Gardens at the Gray Fossil Site Museum!
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Group Tour Free Public Parking
The tour is open to the public. Please, invite friends to join us! Guests are also invited to attend the meeting following the tour. It will be a great chance to learn about our chapter. Our tour will be led by Christy Shivell of Shy Valley Farm. Shy Valley Farm is a local nursery that focuses on wildlife friendly, low maintenance, and useful native plants, herbs, and heirloom tomatoes. Christy is a very knowledgeable native plant person who designed the garden.
Please note: The museum will be closed when we are there so will be no access to restrooms. Plan accordingly!
April 2022
City Nature Challenge 2022
Public Welcome Family Friendly Nature Walk/Hike
Citizen Science using iNaturalist.
Sycamore Shoals State Park Spring Open House
Public Welcome Wheelchair Accessible
Table event at Spring Open House
Spring Wildflowers and more, wildflower walk
Public Welcome Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking
Winged Deer Park Disc Golf- open to both members and non-members.
Join us as we walk with JCP&R naturalist, Connie Deegan to explore one of the largest patches of naturalized bluebells in East TN. This area also has a large enough population of Spring Beauties to support the specialist Spring Beauty bee
Chapter Seed and Plant Swap Members Only
Members Only Free Event Seed/Plant Swap Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom
Members only! Steele Creek Park, Civitan Shelter, Bristol
Benefits of being an official Wild Ones member! This is an opportunity to thin out your flower beds (especially native plants) and bring your labeled plants (or seeds) to swap/share. Most of us will take home more than we bring! You will be charged $2 at the gate for parking.