The University of Tennessee Gardens
See also : Visitor Information : Garden News and Events
The University of Tennessee Gardens located in Knoxville and Jackson are part of the UT Institute of Agriculture. Their mission is to foster appreciation, education, and stewardship of plants through garden displays, collections, educational programs, and research trials. Some 4,000 annuals, perennials, herbs, tropicals, trees, shrubs, vegetables and ornamental grasses are evaluated each year. Both gardens are TN Certified Arboreta. The gardens are open during all seasons and free to the public. For more information visit http://utgardens.tennessee.edu/ and http://westtennessee.tennessee.edu/ornamentals/.
Noted Gardening Author and Botanical Illustrator Peter Loewer to Speak at Friends of the Gardens Annual Membership Meeting
Don't miss the Friends of the UT Gardens annual meeting on Sunday, November 8th at 2:00 p.m. at Ijams Nature Center where author and artist Peter Loewer will talk about his latest book, Loves Me, Loves Me Not .
Peter will give his companion talk to his latest book which is about the secret language of flowers, first developed by women of a Turkish harem back in the 1600s. A jealous sultan forbade the ladies to learn anything about reading or writing so they resorted to a secret language of trading flowers. Each flower held a different meaning, and cleverness won out in the end. Then in the mid-1800s, the more romantic Victorians pick up the definitions, and you can guess the rest. Peter's talk will be illustrated with 50 slides of his original artwork for the book.
Peter has written over 30 books on gardening and natural history, including the award-winning "The Wild Gardener" and "Thoreau's Garden." He is also a well-known and honored botanical illustrator.
Loewer lives in Asheville and gardens on the shores of Lake Kenilworth, working on an acre of land featuring natural trails and a formal perennial garden. Many of the rare and more unusual plants in his garden are grown from seed, usually supplied by membership in the American Rock Garden Society, the Royal Horticultural Society in London, and from trading with other gardeners.
In 2002, Timber Press re-released his classic book on night-blooming and night-fragrant plants, The Evening Garden. His latest books are Native Perennials for the Southeast, North Carolina Gardens, and Loves Me, Loves Me Not. He has a radio show on Public Radio in North Carolina called "The Wild Gardener," and he is the Contributing Editor to the magazine, Carolina Gardener.
Holiday Express 2009 is Just Around the Bend
Holiday Express at the UT Gardens is a 4,000 square-foot garden railway display nestled in the beauty of the fall and winter UT Gardens. Featuring garden-scale model trains running through a perfectly proportioned miniature landscape, complete with rivers and waterfalls and decorated for the holiday season, the Holiday Express depicts the railroad history of the East Tennessee area over the period of the 1930's to present day. Visitors of all ages will be mesmerized.
Hours and Rates
Click here for an informational brochure about the Holiday Express
UT Gardens - Job Posting
Extension Assistant I
(Educational Programming and Special Events Coordinator)
The UT Gardens is looking for someone to plan, coordinate, and implement special events and educational programs for children, youth and adults. Follow the above link to view more details about the position and candidate requirements and to apply online.
UT Garden monthly e-newsletter now available online:
You don't want to miss out on receiving our monthly eNewsletter! To subscribe and receive our newsletter click on the icon ("Receive our eNewsletter") at the right. Click here to view recent archived newsletters.
Books and Blooms has ended for 2009. It will resume in May, 2010 so stay tuned here for updates.
If you would like to be put on an email list to receive a weekly reminder about Books and Blooms when it resumes in 2010, please email Beth Willis at: ewillis2@utk.edu
Noon and Twilight Tours have ended for 2009. Watch this page for our next year's events!
American Garden Award
was a new competition that enabled you to vote for your favorite flower! The first year's winning varieties have been announced: Rudbeckia 'Tiger Eye Gold' came in first, followed by Petunia 'Baby Duck Yellow' in second place and Pentas 'Northern Lights Lavender' in third. Each of these varieties will be available to the public next year, so don't miss your opportunity to add one or more of these prize-winning plants to your own garden.
The University of Tennessee Trial Garden was one of only 17 prestigious gardens invited to participate in 2009. If you didn't get a chance to cast your vote this year don't worry - the UT Gardens will be participating in 2010 as well.
UT Gardens Volunteers
The UT Gardens Volunteer Program is continuing to work with staff each Tuesday morning from 9-12 and each Thursday afternoon from 1-4. Session will continue through November and possible into December (depending on weather.) To learn how you can join in these work sessions, contact Beth Willis at ewillis2@utk.edu; 974-2712
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Click on the image of the Holiday Express to view photos of the 2008 Holiday Express and get information about the 2009 Holiday Express.
Garden Girls Takes Break
The Garden Girls Show, which has aired for 5 years on WNOX in Knoxville, said goodbye with a final show on October 3, 2009. Garden Girls Sue Hamilton and Beth Babbit along with host Andy Pulte have given gardening tips and sage wisdom over the years. After a break, they will be seeking a new home for the show.
Corona is the official tool sponsor of 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
