Events Calendar

Join us to hear Barbara Johnson, member of the Chattanooga Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, Vice President for Programs speak on the connection of plants and the timing of bird migration. 

How can we lay the best botanical table for the birds coming, going, and raising families here in Eastern Tennessee? Migrating and nesting birds have always relied on abundant fuel high in fat and protein to navigate the challenges of weather, geography, and competition. They must also find species-specific shelter and nesting sites. Add to those challenges diminishing habitat, invasive plants, climate change and human-built dangers. How can we help? As citizens and landowners, we can choose which plant communities to protect and implement, to best support these beautiful, necessary inhabitants of the web of life. Bring on the bugs, berries and branches! 

Barbara Johnson grew up in Kansas and lived in Maryland before retiring to Chattanooga in 2019. She studied Biology at the University of Kansas and worked as an elephant keeper, an ecological guide, an educational consultant, and a breathwork practitioner. She and her husband built a house in 2007 on the outskirts of Annapolis and landscaped two acres with native plants (with the exception of a few Korean viburnum!)  She began birding as a college student in the Flint Hills of Kansas. She served as president of the Maryland Ornithological Society, and now serves as the program chair for Chattanooga’s chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society.

This course explores how native plants can transform your home landscape into a thriving habitat for birds. Participants will learn the essential elements birds need—food, water, shelter, and nesting sites—and how to provide these using regionally appropriate native plants. The class will cover plant selection, seasonal considerations, and design strategies that attract a variety of bird species while supporting local ecosystems. Perfect for homeowners, gardeners, and nature enthusiasts who want to create sustainable, bird-friendly spaces.
 

Registration Policy:  As with all CNP classes, class size is limited. To give everyone the best opportunity to participate, there is a non-refundable cancellation fee of $10, with the balance refunded if you cancel at least 7 calendar days before the class will be held. If the class is cancelled by the instructor or the CNP program, registrants will get a full refund.

If the class fills up, you may email [email protected] and request to be put on the wait list. This does not guarantee a spot will open up. 

Please remember that we are all volunteers and deserve grace and patience.

Join Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones for our 7-class series in Ecological Gardening, taught by local experts who are passionate personal and professional ecological gardeners. You can attend classes as a series, or as standalone classes. 

The second class in the series will focus on plants' sociability. At the heart of Ecological Landscaping and Gardening is considering and matching the needs of the land as well as the needs of the plants. We will never be successful in bending nature to our will, but we can be better stewards by taking into consideration the natural tendencies of the plants when deciding how and where to use them in the landscape. 

In this talk you will learn regional plant communities and behaviors and how that applies to your yard. You will also become familiar with the pioneers of ecological landscaping and gardening in the United States, and resources that can further cultivate your knowledge base when it comes to ecological gardening. 

Presenter: Lena Hall, Chair of Certificate of Native Plants, Volunteering and Public Programs - Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones

Join Joey Santore, creator of Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t, for a candid Wild Ones National Webinar examining how inherited garden aesthetics shape native plant landscapes. Drawing on field experience and real ecology, Joey challenges tidy design norms and explores why dense, irregular plant communities are often the most resilient and ecologically sound.

Join us for a guided hike along the trails and bluffs at Old Stone Fort to see peak blooms of bluebells (Mertensia virginica), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), troutlily (Erythronium americanum), numerous Violet species (Viola sp.), toothwort (Cadamine sp.) as well as  spicebush (Lindera benzoin), plus several other early wildflowers.  

It is an easy trail, with moderate difficulty in some spots due to elevation changes and uneven ground.

Registration open.  Sign up soon!

2026 Spring Plant Sale!

Join us for this free event.  A variety of local and regional native plant nurseries will be selling a large selection of plants.

Some vendors may take pre-orders as well – contact them individually for more info.

Possible vendors (list confirmed closer to time):

Carolina Wild  

Chattanooga Bluebird Society

Euchee Meadows Nursery  

Native Plant Rescue Squad   

Overhill Gardens  

Pennyrile Botanics  

Reflection Riding Native Plant Nursery  

Solstice Handmade  

Sustainabillies LLC  

Tennessee Naturescapes  

Thomas Nursery  

The Azalea Farm  

Volunteer at the Wild Ones booth during our Spring Plant Sale, one of the highlights of our chapter's year!

What is Public Information Tabling? It’s engaging with visitors in a friendly, accessible way; sharing our mission; offering resources on native plants & habitat restoration; and helping people learn how to support biodiversity in their own spaces.

You don’t need to be a native plant expert! Just bring a friendly attitude, be a good listener, and use our cheat sheets to help guide conversations. It’s a fun way to make new connections while supporting Wild Ones' mission. 

Please bring a folding chair and dress comfortably for the weather. You're welcome to bring a favorite native plant or themed book to brighten up the display. More details will be emailed to you before the event. 

Join Jay Clark, who conducted extensive research for his book “Wildflowers of Pigeon Mountain.” for  a deep dive into the the biotic and abiotic factors that make the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail such a special place. 
The cove forests of the Southern Appalachians holds remnant ecosystems as well as habitat that are more common in more northern states.

A permit is required, details in the Read More link.

Join Wild Ones at the Master Gardeners of Hamilton County's Master Your Garden Expo! Focused on gardening and the outdoors, this event offers a wide range of exhibits, demonstrations, educational activities, and vendors for both experienced gardeners and the general public. This year's theme, “Victory Gardens Revisited," complements the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

Expo Hours:

Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 12, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

What is Public Information Tabling? It’s engaging with visitors in a friendly, accessible way; sharing our mission; offering resources on native plants & habitat restoration; and helping people learn how to support biodiversity in their own spaces.

You don’t need to be a native plant expert! Just bring a friendly attitude, be a good listener, and use our cheat sheets to help guide conversations. It’s a fun way to make new connections while supporting Wild Ones' mission. 

Please bring a folding chair. We will be inside. You're welcome to bring a favorite native plant or themed book to brighten up the display. More details will be emailed to you before the event. 

Gear up for adventure with Wild Ones at the Chattanooga Outdoor Festival! We'll be celebrating the diverse outdoor recreational opportunities Chattanooga has to offer.

What is Public Information Tabling? It’s engaging with visitors in a friendly, accessible way; sharing our mission; offering resources on native plants & habitat restoration; and helping people learn how to support biodiversity in their own spaces.

You don’t need to be a native plant expert! Just bring a friendly attitude, be a good listener, and use our cheat sheets to help guide conversations. It’s a fun way to make new connections while supporting Wild Ones' mission. 

Please bring a folding chair and dress comfortably for the weather. You're welcome to bring a favorite native plant or themed book to brighten up the display. More details will be emailed to you before the event. 

Join Tennessee Wild Ones member Lena Hall and others as we learn how ecological gardening is a mindfulness practice that cultivates a relationship of reciprocity with nature, a sense of place,  and supports our own wellbeing. 

Hike to view the native plants of the glades.  So many, that it's hard to name just a few.   Join members on a guided tour around a great local limestone prairie and glade habitat.  Prime endemic examples include Nashville breadroot (Pediomelum subacaule), hoary puccoon (Lithospermum  canescens), glade violet (Viola egglestonii), fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) and Gattinger's prairie clover (Dalea gattingeri).

Numerous well maintained  trails with easy rating.  Some rocky uneven ground at times though mostly flat.

Registration opens 1 month prior to event.  Check back soon!

Board members meet to discuss our chapter's progress and make decisions when necessary.

What do wasps, cardboard and hot sauce have in common? They can all be part of Integrated Pest Management! 

Reduce your reliance on expensive products and start a smart strategy that can improve resilience in your landscape.

An introduction to a broad concept, this class will focus on easy methods that a homeowner or commercial landscaper can use to reduce common nuisance species and encourage helpful ones. A lesson in using Seek to help identify what is around will provide outdoor time and also practice one of the most crucial pieces to IPM, correct identification!

A hand lens is helpful, Seek uploaded to your smartphone will greatly enhance your experience

Join Lucy Ellis, Natural Resources Project Manager for the city of Chattanooga for this Certificate in Native Plants Class. Learn about the small, yet mighty organisms who call the understory home, and what YOU can do and plant to support them.
 

This program is a panel of participants describing their experiences in installing school native plant gardens using the grant provided by Seeds for Education.

Seeds for Education is a grant eligible to schools and community organizations in the Chattanooga area.

If your school or community center would 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, and reduce energy consumption and improve storm water management then consider applying!

Each grant is up to $750. See our Seeds for Education pages for more information

Join fellow members on our guided hike to Keel Mtn Preserve (Lost sink falls trail), near Gurly, Alabama to view rare and unique endemics of the limestone karst topography.  View blooms of the Morefield’s leather flower (Clematis morefieldii), smooth woodmint (Blephilia  subnuda), smoke tree (Cotinus obovatus), a magnificent waterfall, and so much more.   

A well maintained  trail with moderate difficulty due to rocky uneven ground at times and slope.

Registration opens 1 month prior to event.  Check back soon!

Join Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones for our 7-class series in Ecological Gardening, taught by local experts who are passionate personal and professional ecological gardeners. You can attend classes as a series, or as standalone classes. 

This third class in the Ecological Gardening Series will meet at Crabtree Farms where we will learn the methods for planting native plants and shrubs to best ensure their survival. 

More details to come!

Workshop presenter: Bill Moll, Active Ecological Gardener, long-time member of Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones

Join Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones to hear Dr. Tommy McElrath present on nature's timing in the relationship of plants and insects. 

Have you ever wondered how plants are able to travel across a landscape? Most of us are familiar with the seeds that are able to be blown by the wind (think milkweed, dandelions, trees that produce ‘helicopter seeds’ like elm and maple. 
What about non ‘flighty’ seeds? What is their strategy for dispersal? Who have they partnered with over millennia to ‘carry’ out this job for them? 
Were you able to take the class with Jay Clark at the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail? How did the bluebells and other spring ephemerals move around the cove?

Workshop Overview
This hands-on course introduces participants to the fascinating world of ants and their
ecological roles in native plant gardens. Through field-based observation and interactive
activities, learners will identify common ant species found in gardens and nearby habitats, investigate how ants disperse seeds, form mutualistic partnerships, and exploit
resources—ultimately influencing the composition and health of native plant communities.

This class will be taught by Dr. DeAnna Beasley, UTC professor and researcher.

Registration opens mid March

Join Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones for our 7-class series in Ecological Gardening, taught by local experts who are passionate personal and professional ecological gardeners. You can attend classes as a series, or as standalone classes. 

This fourth class in the Ecological Gardening Series will cover the basics of site preparation for converting an area into a native planting.

Successful ecological gardens begin long before the first plant goes into the ground. This class will focus on reading and understanding your site through an ecological lens—soil type and health, moisture patterns, sunlight, existing vegetation, and surrounding ecosystems. We’ll discuss how these factors influence plant success and long-term resilience, and how working with the land rather than against it leads to healthier, lower-maintenance gardens. Participants will learn practical strategies for site preparation that support native plant establishment while improving habitat value and ecological function.

Presenters: Jared Odell, Ecologist, CEO/Founder of Tierra Environmental Consulting and Rosy Harpe, Sustainable Landscape Ecologist and Conservation Manager with WaterWays

Join us for a book discussion of Margaret Renkl's The Comfort of Crows: a Backyard Year

Renkl write 52 stories for each week of the year, and we will be discussing the first half on June 22nd and the second on October 26!

In The Comfort of Crows, Margaret Renkl presents a literary devotional: fifty-two chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year. As we move through the seasons--from a crow spied on New Year's Day, its resourcefulness and sense of community setting a theme for the year, to the lingering bluebirds of December, revisiting the nest box they used in spring--what develops is a portrait of joy and grief: joy in the ongoing pleasures of the natural world, and grief over winters that end too soon and songbirds that grow fewer and fewer.

Along the way, we also glimpse the changing rhythms of a human life. Grown children, unexpectedly home during the pandemic, prepare to depart once more. Birdsong and night-blooming flowers evoke generations past. The city and the country where Renkl raised her family transform a little more with each passing day. And the natural world, now in visible flux, requires every ounce of hope and commitment from the author--and from us. For, as Renkl writes, "radiant things are bursting forth in the darkest places, in the smallest nooks and deepest cracks of the hidden world."

With fifty-two original color artworks by the author's brother, Billy Renkl, The Comfort of Crows is a lovely and deeply moving book from a cherished observer of the natural world.

Long before medicine as we know it existed, the indigenous peoples of the world utilized plants to heal their sick and mend wounds. The Cherokee people, local to our area before the Trail of Tears, viewed plants as helpers; for every illness inflicted upon humanity by the animals they hunted, the plants provided a cure.

Join Ranger Taylor Young from Red Clay State Historic Park to learn about the Cherokees’ relationship with plants, traditional uses, and their cultural significance.

Board members meet to discuss our chapter's progress and make decisions when necessary.

Join us to learn about gardening for reptiles and amphibians, from the big picture to the small details. Topics will include herps, their importance in the ecosystem, their habitat requirements, and their phenology, as well as garden and water feature design, implementation, and maintenance.

Katie Curtis works on the Natural Resources team for the City of Chattanooga, a position she has had since November, 2023. On this team she manages the city’s stormwater using native plants, maintains green infrastructure, removes invasive species, and assists with ecological restoration.

Katie graduated from Warren Wilson College with a BS in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Conservation Biology. During her time at college, she was on the landscaping crew where she learned about sustainable landscaping. Her undergraduate research focused on a translocated population of gopher tortoises in south Alabama. During her college years she volunteered with the WNC Nature Center, providing animal husbandry care for the reptiles and amphibians on display, as well as the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, radiotracking bog turtles. After college, she held a position as a biological field technician, radiotracking copperheads in north-western Alabama, and spent some time volunteering as a docent at the TN Aquarium.

Katie is a giant herp nerd who grew up climbing the fence and behind her yard and exploring the woods beyond, and will not shut up about why snakes deserve love, too. Ask about her frog calls.

Join Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones for our 7-class series in Ecological Gardening, taught by local experts who are passionate personal and professional ecological gardeners. You can attend classes as a series, or as standalone classes. 

This fifth class in the Ecological Gardening Series is all about selecting the right plants for the right place, and how to create a garden with continuous blooms.

A thriving garden can provide beauty and ecological benefits throughout the growing season when plants are chosen thoughtfully. This class will explore how to select native plants that are well-suited to specific site conditions while also creating continuous blooms from early spring through fall. We’ll discuss bloom timing, plant form, and ecological roles—such as supporting pollinators and other wildlife—so your garden is both visually dynamic and ecologically productive. Emphasis will be placed on matching plants to place, reducing inputs, and building plant communities that evolve gracefully over time.

Presenters: Jared Odell, Ecologist, CEO/Founder of Tierra Environmental Consulting and Rosy Harpe, Sustainable Landscape Ecologist and Conservation Manager with WaterWays

Join us on Zoom to hear the wonderful Mary Anne Borge present on the seasonal timing of asters, just as we are beginning to enjoy the beauty of fall asters. 

Details coming soon! 

Join Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones for our 7-class series in Ecological Gardening, taught by local experts who are passionate personal and professional ecological gardeners. You can attend classes as a series, or as standalone classes. 

This sixth class in the Ecological Gardening Series will cover garden maintenance from an ecological perspective. This will be outdoors at Lynbrook Park. 

More details to come!

Workshop presenter: Lyn Rutherford, Natural Resource Supervisor, City of Chattanooga, Department of Parks & Outdoors

Volunteer at the Wild Ones booth during our Fall Plant Sale, one of the highlights of our chapter's year!

What is Public Information Tabling? It’s engaging with visitors in a friendly, accessible way; sharing our mission; offering resources on native plants & habitat restoration; and helping people learn how to support biodiversity in their own spaces.

You don’t need to be a native plant expert! Just bring a friendly attitude, be a good listener, and use our cheat sheets to help guide conversations. It’s a fun way to make new connections while supporting Wild Ones' mission. 

Please bring a folding chair and dress comfortably for the weather. You're welcome to bring a favorite native plant or themed book to brighten up the display. More details will be emailed to you before the event. 

Volunteer sign up link coming soon. 

Help us welcome our new - and new-ish - members! The New Member Social coincides with the Fall Plant Sale, so come early and stay late to get your shopping in!

We need volunteers to help with setting up the pavilion; greeting our new members as they sign in; contributing food, drinks, and ice; and cleaning up the venue after the event.

Please sign up below. Additional details will be emailed to you before the event. 

Whether you're brand new or just feeling new-ish, we’d love to welcome you to our growing community of native plant enthusiasts!

Meet fellow members, learn more about our chapter’s mission, and discover ways to get involved. This casual gathering is a great chance to connect, ask questions, and share your passion for native plants in a relaxed setting. Come early and stay late to shop the Fall Plant Sale!

Light refreshments will be provided.

RSVP link coming soon. 

After listening to our Distinguished Lecturer present on October 2nd, we will follow up with a time to gather in small groups to discuss ideas, questions and comments that might have come up from the speakers' presentation. These groups often produce rich connections and inspire new directions for us to take in our personal gardens and as a chapter of Wild Ones. 

Board members meet to discuss our chapter's progress and make decisions when necessary.

Details coming soon! 

Join us for a discussion of the second half of Margaret Renkl's The Comfort of Crows: a Backyard Year

Renkl wrote 52 stories for each week of the year, and we will be discussing the second half of the book on October 26!

In The Comfort of Crows, Margaret Renkl presents a literary devotional: fifty-two chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year. As we move through the seasons--from a crow spied on New Year's Day, its resourcefulness and sense of community setting a theme for the year, to the lingering bluebirds of December, revisiting the nest box they used in spring--what develops is a portrait of joy and grief: joy in the ongoing pleasures of the natural world, and grief over winters that end too soon and songbirds that grow fewer and fewer.

Along the way, we also glimpse the changing rhythms of a human life. Grown children, unexpectedly home during the pandemic, prepare to depart once more. Birdsong and night-blooming flowers evoke generations past. The city and the country where Renkl raised her family transform a little more with each passing day. And the natural world, now in visible flux, requires every ounce of hope and commitment from the author--and from us. For, as Renkl writes, "radiant things are bursting forth in the darkest places, in the smallest nooks and deepest cracks of the hidden world."

With fifty-two original color artworks by the author's brother, Billy Renkl, The Comfort of Crows is a lovely and deeply moving book from a cherished observer of the natural world.

Help make our chapter's Annual Meeting a success!

We're looking for volunteers to help set up and decorate, organize the potluck and plant/seed/gear swap, greet attendees, and assist with clean up. 

Please sign up below. Additional details will be emailed to volunteers before the event. 

All Tennessee Valley Wild Ones members and their guests are welcome to attend. We will have a potluck lunch, election of officers, highlights of 2026, and a seed/plant/gear swap. 

Potluck: Please bring a dish to share. We’ll provide beverages and tableware. 

Seed/Plant/Gear Swap: Please label your items with scientific name, common name, where & when collected, and any interesting/fun details. We will have extra containers, empty seed packets, sharpies, and labels. If you have spare gardening gear to pass along, bring it as well. Please only donate items you'd be happy to receive yourself - no broken, dirty, or otherwise unusable items.  

Board Elections: Information coming soon. 

Details coming soon! 

Help make our chapter's Holiday Gathering merry and bright!

We're looking for volunteers to help set up and decorate, organize the potluck and food drive, greet attendees, and assist with clean up. 

Please sign up below. Additional details will be emailed to volunteers before the event. 

Join your native plant friends in celebrating another successful year for the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones at the Chapter Holiday Gathering! 

Members are welcome to bring a guest.

Potluck: Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Main dish and beverages will be provided. Registration link coming soon. 

Food Drive: We’ll also collect canned goods, cash, or checks for donation to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Most-needed items include unopened and unexpired peanut butter, soup, jams and preserves, boxed dinners, canned fruit and vegetables, cereals, oatmeal, and canned proteins.

Join Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones for our 7-class series in Ecological Gardening, taught by local experts who are passionate personal and professional ecological gardeners. You can attend classes as a series, or as standalone classes. 

This seventh and final class in the Ecological Gardening Series will cover the basics of collecting your own seeds, as well as different propagation methods.

More details to come! 

Presenter: Jonathan Nicholson, Board Member of Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones