Free Public Programs

https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/84767000313?pwd=QdoopU5VfoAD4bjdaAS0PA8tslDkNj.1

Throughout 2026, Tennessee Valley Wild Ones has explored phenology, the study of seasonal timing in the natural world, through a year-long journey of observation, curiosity, and connection. Together, we have followed nature's calendar, from the first unfurling leaves of spring to summer's pollinator activity, from ripening seeds and migrating birds to the quiet transitions of autumn and winter.

Along the way, we have done more than observe ecological events. We have practiced something increasingly rare: slowing down. We have learned to pay attention to the subtle signals all around us, the first bloom, the arrival of a familiar bird, the hum of emerging insects, the changing colors of a woodland edge. Nature has taught us that every season carries its own wonders and that the living world reveals itself more fully when we pause long enough to notice.

As the grand culmination of our year-long theme, we are honored to welcome Dr. Theresa Crimmins, one of the nation's foremost experts in phenology. Drawing on decades of research and public engagement, Dr. Crimmins will help us weave together the observations and insights we've gathered throughout the year, illuminating how seasonal patterns connect species, ecosystems, climate, and people. She will explore what phenology can teach us about ecological change, conservation, and the profound value of paying attention.

Join us for this inspiring capstone program as we celebrate a year spent looking more closely, listening more carefully, and rediscovering our place within nature's rhythms. Through the simple act of noticing, we have deepened our understanding of the world around us, and this special presentation will show us why those observations matter now more than ever.