Gardens

ANDERSON COUNTY

University of Tennessee Arboretum, 901 S. Illinois Ave. (Hwy 62), Oak Ridge TN 37830 Ph: (865) 483-3571 http://www.discoveret.org/utarboretum

The Arboretum is a project of the University of Tennessee Forest Resources Research and Education Center. Hosting more than 30,000 visitors annually, this 250 acre research and education facility has over 2,500 native and exotic woody plant specimens that represent 800 species, varieties, and cultivars. The UT Arboretum is truly a place for all seasons. Even on a winter day a brisk walk along any one of the four self-guided walking tours can be a rewarding experience.

BLOUNT COUNTY

Cades Cove (Great Smoky Mountains National Park) http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm
The most visited part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove (located near Townsend) features native species and great bird-watching opportunities. Abundant wildlife and recreational opportunities offer visitors a sample of everything the Park has to offer the Smokies visitor. Interesting Tennessee cabins, cabin rentals, and other pioneer structures dot this cove and tell the history of its early inhabitants. More than a dozen hiking, cycling and horseback riding trails originate in Cades Cove. The Smoky Mountains, which tower above picturesque Cades Cove, serve as guardians to the Cove's serene beauty; and the splendor of color when Mother Nature empties her paint buckets on the Cove's hardwoods in the Fall is unmatched!

KNOX COUNTY

Ijams Nature Center, Island Home Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37940 (865) 577-4717 www.ijams.org

Located just three miles south of downtown Knoxville in the historic Island Home community on the banks of the Tennessee River, Ijams Nature Center incorporates seven miles of nature trails, a boardwalk on the Tennessee River, the reclaimed Mead's Quarry site and more than 160 acres of woodlands and meadows which showcase native plants, wildflowers and bird habitats. This 80-acre park features over 40 species and overlooks the Fort Loudoun Lake. Visitor Center and Gift Shop.

University of Tennessee Gardens, 252 Ellington Plant Sciences Building, 2431 Joe Johnson Dr., Knoxville 37996 (865) 974-7324 http://utgardens.tennessee.edu/

The Gardens are free and open to the public, featuring more than 800 woody plants under long-term observation and 2,000 varieties of herbaceous plants evaluated annually. Open daylight hours year-round, the Gardens now host over 50,000 visitors annually. Established in 1983 by the Department of Plant Sciences, the UT Gardens are recognized as one of 34 official All American Selections (AAS) test sites in the United States. Perhaps one of the most important values of this nationally recognized garden is the fact that it is located in the mid-south where gardening and landscaping can be quite challenging. Because of the extreme summer heat and humidity common to Tennessee as well as the variable winters where plants experience frequent freezing and thawing, the test gardens are important proving grounds for the leading commercial seed and plant companies located around the world, who ultimately determine what plants reach the commercial market. In this manner, visitors are not only able to see what plants thrive and flourish in the Tennessee climate but get ideas on garden design and how to use plants in their own landscapes and gardens as well.

SEVIER COUNTY

Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage - Great Smoky Mountains Association, 115 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 http://www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org/ wildflower/PDFs/2008%20SWP%20Brochure.pdf

The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is an annual five-day event in Great Smoky Mountains National Park consisting of a variety of wildflower, fauna, and natural history walks, motorcades, photographic tours, art classes, and indoor seminars. Most programs are outdoors in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, while indoor offerings are held in various venues throughout Gatlinburg, TN. Join the next Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage: April 23-27, 2008.

Burchfiel Grove and Arboretum, Hardin Lane, Sevierville

Sevierville Parks and Recreation Department: (865) 453-5441

The arboretum is a part of a greenway system running along the Little Pigeon River and contains over 30 labeled tree species and numerous types of shrubs.

Rosewood Gardens, 3250 Sims Road, Sevierville, TN 37876 (865) 453 1310 http://www.rosewoodgardens.com/index.html

Set in 17 acres of rural countryside, the Gardens overlook the English Mountain Range and Mount Guyot, one of highest mountains in the Smokies. It is a privately owned English Style botanical garden nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. In this busy tourist area, Rosewood Gardens provides a welcome escape from the crowds, as visitors can explore the many aspects of this organic garden while savoring its peaceful atmosphere. Its English style is quite unique, not only here in East Tennessee, but in most of the South Eastern United States, and various elements have been used to create the lushness and distinctive look of an English garden. Ed and Kay Chapman open the gardens mid-April through October by appointment only.

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