The University of Tennessee Gardens
See also : Visitor Information : Garden News and Events
UT Farmers Market (Knoxville) - Starts May 15th
Come picnic in the gardens, buy your groceries, listen to local music and mingle!
The UT Farmers Market will be held Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m. at the UT Gardens on Neyland Drive from May 15, 2013 to October 23, 2013. Fresh produce, local food (including UT Culinary Institute creations), entertainment, children's events, educational information and more!
If you are interested in participating as a vendor, please click here.
Books and Blooms is back! Every Thursday at 10:30 A.M in the Knoxville Garden.
This popular event returns again for 2013 and features stories, songs, and crafts for the younger set. The event is free and open to the public. If you would like to be put on an email list to receive a weekly reminder about Books and Blooms, please email Derrick Stowell at: dstowell@utk.edu
School Programming - UT Gardens Knoxville
Through our school programs we hope to inspire the next generation of gardeners and provide students with valuable life skills so that they can garden at their own homes. Each program can be custom-tailored to meet the needs of your classroom. The programs are designed to meet State of Tennessee and Common Core State Standards. We currently offer two main programs for schools - Garden Trips and Go Garden.
Garden Trips are designed to enhance the school curriculum by reinforcing each teacher's educational objectives. Using the natural environment of the UT Gardens, they provide opportunities to incorporate science, math, language arts, and other educational subjects into one trip. Each program lasts two to three hours depending on your specific needs. Cost: $5 per student.
Go Garden is our traveling program which brings the garden to you. This program is designed to enhance the school curriculum. Using the natural environment around your school yard, it provides opportunities to incorporate science, math, language arts, and other educational subjects into one trip. The UT Gardens can even offer your school ideas on how to design, create, and maintain your own school garden. These sessions can be set up to accommodate a specific class or several classes at once. Cost: $5 per student.
Click here for more information on our School Programming.
Home Grown Program - UT Gardens Knoxville
The UT Gardens provides an excellent opportunity to enhance your home school program with a fun and educational hands-on session each month October thru April! Sessions are designed with Common Core Standards in minds. Because many home school families have children of all ages, these sessions are designed to meet the educational needs of children grades K-5. Each session will have a garden theme and will include activities that touch on science, math, and reading. Pre-registration is required. Cost: $5 per student (per session).
Click here for information about each month's session.
Classes and Workshops - UT Gardens Knoxville
April:
Spring Plant Sale - Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Get down to the Gardens and pick out a few cutting-edge plants for your yard. Members of the UT Gardens receive a 10% discount on purchases, so sign up for your membership before you go shopping!
Grandkids Growing: Spring into the Gardens- Saturday, April 6, 2:30-4:30 p.m. This class is for a grandparent/grandchild duo. Don't jump, spring into the Gardens. This class will teach your grandchild all about spring and why this is such an exciting time of year. Take a walk through the gardens and make a fun craft to take home and enjoy.Cost per family: $10/member, $14/nonmember.
Garden Sprouts: April Showers Bring May Flowers - Friday, April 19, 10-11:30 a.m. This class is for children ages 3-5. You've heard this saying since you were a child - bring your child to the UT Gardens and learn why it is still so accurate. See what has started blooming in the Gardens and make a flower craft to display at home until more of your favorite flowers start blooming outside. Cost: $8/member, $12/nonmember.
Garden Buds: Gardening is for the Birds - Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. -12 p.m. This class is for children ages 6-9. Yes, birds love gardens, too - but not for the beauty or for the thrill of growing their own flowers and vegetables. Birds and other animals depend on flowers, plants, and bugs for survival. This class will teach you why having a home garden can be so helpful for native birds. Learn bird calls that you can hear in your garden and find out about some great birding resources that you can take part in. Cost: $10/member, $14/nonmember.
Adult Workshop: Bug Off! - Saturday, April 20, 1-3 p.m. Got bugs? Don't get out that pesticide just yet. This class will teach you some tricks to help control your garden pests. See why pesticides may not be your first response - they may even make some pest problems worse. Participants will take some lady bugs home to release in their own gardens. Cost: $10/member, $14/nonmember.
Click here for a pdf of children and adult classes scheduled Nov-April. Pre-registration is required for all classes. All classes will be held at the UT Gardens in Knoxville.Contact Derrick Stowell at865-974-7151 or dstowell@utk.edu to pre-register or for more information.
Professional Photography Policy
The UT Gardens in Knoxville are proud to provide an attractive venue and colorful setting that has become a popular location for all types of photography in the East Tennessee region. Considerable materials and labor are required to maintain the Gardens to the high standard that has attracted so many professional photographers to use the Gardens in their work.
As a result, starting March 1, 2011, the UT Gardens will implement the following Professional Photography policy. ‘Professional Photographer’ being defined as one who charges a fee for their services.
Professional photographers who wish to take advantage of the UT Gardens’ as part of their commercial work are asked to become Friends of the UT Gardens at the $100 level or above. These funds will directly support the maintenance and upkeep of the UT Gardens. Membership information is available at http://utgardens.tennessee.edu/membership.html.
Photographers who do not wish to become Friends of the UT Gardens at this level may schedule photo shoots on the grounds for a fee of $35 per hour. Non-member (commercial) photographers who bring clients to the UT Gardens without scheduling in advance, or without paying the sitting fee, may be asked to leave the grounds.
The full policy may be viewed here.
UT Gardens T-Shirts and Note Cards - Now Available
Visit the eMarketplace of the UT Institute of Agriculture to order your UT Gardens logo t-shirt, spring or fall notecard set, or garden poster. Proceeds from all sales benefit the UT Gardens.
UT Gardens Knoxville Volunteers
The UT Gardens Volunteer Program has ended for the 2012 season. Our regular weekly sessions, your chance to work with garden staff each Tuesday or Thursday morning from 9-12, will resume in February 2013. To learn how you can join in these work sessions, contact Beth Willis at ewillis2@utk.edu; 974-2712
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Thanks due to Spring Meadow Nursery and Netherland Bulb Co.
Spring Meadow Nursery and Netherland Bulb Co. recently made large donations of plant materials to the UT Gardens. Their generous support is greatly appreciated!
Dogwood Arts Festival Presents Bazillion Blooms
Bazillion Blooms is a Dogwood Tree planting program to beautify our East Tennessee communities, improve the health of our environment and foster community support and pride in our beloved native dogwood. For more information, click here
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Corona is the official tool sponsor of the UT Gardens.
Dramm provides a portion of the watering tools used in the UT Gardens.
Contact The UT Gardens
UT Gardens
Department of Plant Sciences
252 Ellington Plant Sciences Bldg
2431 Joe Johnson Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-8265
Fax: (865) 974-1947
Email: utgardens@utk.edu
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