Now Showing
By James Newburn, UT Gardens director of horticulture
Beautyberry (Callicarpa japonica, or C. americana)-Nothing can be brighter in 
the. crisp fall weather than the white or purple berries of the Beautyberry. Clustered in bunches around the stem, they are a great attraction for wildlife. 'Leucocarpa' is a new cultivar of a white variety that is along the greenway bike path fence. The native American species is purple and is located in the middle of the lowest "arboretum" bed next to Neyland Drive and past the lowest annual bed.
Many of the conifers are beginning to put on their winter color. Some turn bronze, others copper, still others glow with golden foliage now that the heat of summer and long days are past. Check out Golden Pillar Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa 'Golden Pillar') by the bike path. It can ultimately reach more than 40 feet tall with a beautiful gold color.
A fast growing gold conifer is Goldrush Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostrobodies 'Gold Rush' or M.g. 'Ogon'). We planted this tree just a few years ago when it was conifer of the year. Starting out at about 5 feet, it is now about 15 feet tall and will ultimately reach 50 feet. It is a deciduous conifer that drops its needles in the winter, but is now a beautiful gold color with a great pyramidal form.
We have the Cypress paired with a native Tea Viburnum (Viburnum setigenum). 
The pairing really shows off the berries of the underused Tea Viburnum, which has showy spring blooms, good fall color and outstanding fall fruit. Many mistake it for a Winterberry holly because it is deciduous. However, this great plant can grow to 8 feet to 12 feet tall and 5 feet to 8 feet wide.
Probably the showiest plant in the UT Gardens right now is the Chinese Snowball 
Viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum 'Tom Clark'). Valued for its outstanding softball-sized, hydrangea-like blooms, this white-blooming semi-evergreen shrub blooms in spring and often (as is our case) puts on quite a show in fall. We have two located along the greenway fence that you can't help but notice from Neyland Drive. Maturing to 12 feet or above, this is one plant that needs plenty of room in a sunny to part-sun location. A must see!
Throughout winter, the Winterberry hollies (Ilex verticillata) add interest to the
garden thanks to their bare branches that accentuate their showy fruit. You can get your first glimpse of these marvels now throughout the gardens before the birds find them all. Though it still has its leaves, 'Winter Gold' is already brightening up the Ground Cover Garden and will continue to do so even as it sheds its leaves. Because of its golden-orange color, the fruit suits the fall garden well and makes for fascinating combinations with other plants.
Our favorite fall ornamental grass is filling the gardens with its pink, fluffy, fine- textured flower heads right now. Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) never fails to catch your attention. Early birds (especially those who like to photograph) should come see this marvelous display before the dew dries and enjoy the jewel-like shimmering effect. We have it planted in mass, as a specimen plant, or in combinations throughout the gardens. It is truly an outstanding perennial grass for any sunny location.
Another ornamental grass that has great appeal in October is Gold Bar Dwarf 
Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Gold Bar'). The contrast between the gold and green horizontal striping seems to deepen in the cooler fall months. This slow-growing plant will take more than five years to grow taller than 5 feet. It is very upright and compact with a spiky texture. All these attributes make it ideal for smaller gardens where other ornamental grasses can quickly take over. Two specimens of note can be seen in the gardens - one by the large Bloodgood Japanese maple at the back of the Friendship Plaza and the other in the Ground Cover Garden on the outside ring.
Now is your last chance to see our outstanding collection of tropical plants, which has had the whole growing season to reach its peak form. You cannot help but marvel at the beautiful pink bananas and flowers of Musa velutina (which is actually hardy for us). How about the largest plant in the gardens -Ensete superbum (Latin for humongous, superb banana)? It is something to behold with its 10-foot leaves with a yellowish mid-rib. Anyone will feel dwarfed next to it.
A hardy ginger is blooming in the herb garden right now and has the sweetest
fragrance. It blooms pure white, is about 4.5 feet tall-perfect for bending over slightly and breathing in its heavenly scent. Other non-hardy tropicals of note are the bright scarlet red Siam Ruby Banana at the entrance to the gardens and the Abyssinian banana (Ensete ventricosum) with its large-leafed foliage with red mid-rib.
Finally, the roses throughout the gardens are spectacular at this time of year. Whether they are in the Beall Family Rose 
Garden, the garden rooms, or in a mixed planting, there is a rose that suits everyone's taste. I found 'Easy Does It' along the bike trail, a variety which I was unfamiliar with. They flourish with the cool night temperatures and brisk autumn days. Fall really is the perfect season to take the time to smell the roses at the UT Gardens.
The American Public Gardens Association Honors First Lady Michelle Obama for Her Support of Gardens
In recognition of first lady Michelle Obama's leadership in fostering a renewed interest in gardening and community environmentalism, the 500 public gardens that form the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) presented Mrs. Obama with a commendation for her support of gardens on September 24th.
Prior to her and President Obama's official welcoming of the G-20 leaders to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Richard V. Piacentini, executive director of Phipps, presented the commendation to Mrs. Obama.
"In this age of global challenges, building a garden is always a symbol of hope because it requires faith in the unseen and the belief that something sustaining can emerge from a small seed," said Dan Stark, executive director of the APGA. "Mrs. Obama's demonstrated belief in the value and importance of gardens as being vital to educating present and future generations on the importance of environmental stewardship is inspiring to us all. We could not think of a more deserving recipient for this commendation than the first lady."
Mrs. Obama, who earlier this spring planted the first garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt planted her victory garden during World War II, has continued her steadfast belief in the value of community gardens as a teaching tool for educating present and future generations on the merits of ecological sustainability and the importance of eating healthy.
"It is important to recognize that in addition to being a beautiful place and a great source of inspiration, the UT Gardens-along with all of the nation's public gardens-play an important role in the advancement of environmental education and plant and water conservation within the community," said Dr. Sue Hamilton, UT Gardens director.
Founded in 1940, the Pennsylvania-based American Public Gardens Association is an organization devoted to strengthening public gardens throughout North America. APGA has built a membership of more than 500 public gardens located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and seven other countries. Its members include public gardens as well as arboreta and zoos. The APGA is committed to increasing public awareness for public gardens and supplying resources to the industry. For more information visit,
www.publicgardens.org.
Fall 2009 Books and Blooms Continues through October
Don't miss your chance to participate in Books and Blooms this October! The program will begin at 10:30 a.m. each Thursday this month and last about one hour. Themes this month are trees, bees, therapy animals, autumn leaves and Halloween/fall harvest. Some of our speakers include Brenda Adair, a former elementary school teacher; Allison Roberts from Pendergrass Library; Karen Armsey and Nash, a Human-Animal Bond in Tennessee (HABIT) therapy dog; and Carol Avery, a future special education teacher.
Books and Blooms focuses on environmental education for preschool aged children through stories and craft activities, but is open to children of all ages. One of the goals of Books and Blooms is to get children outside and exposed to the wonders of nature. We accomplish this goal by meeting in the UT Garden's Shade Garden and providing activities that allow children an opportunity to interact with nature.
Our last session will be Thursday, October 29. If you would like to be added to the e-mail list or want to learn more about Books and Blooms, contact Beth Willis at ewillis2@utk.edu.
The Garden Girls Show Takes a Break
The Garden Girls Show, which has aired for five years at 2 p.m. on WNOX in Knoxville, said goodbye with a final show on Saturday, October 3. Garden Girls Sue Hamilton and Beth Babbet and 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 Garden Girls.
Study Confirms Healing Powers of Gardens
For years, visitors to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida, commented on the positive impact of the public gardens, even how they helped visitors overcome grief and loss. To measure its beneficial health effects, Morikami officials partnered with Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University. The Morikami won a $110, 283 National Leadership Grant for Museums to finance the study.
The first part of the project examined the effectiveness of three interventions aimed at alleviating depression symptoms among seniors. It was determined that there was no significant difference between walking in a garden with a trained therapist who provided "guided imagery," walking in a garden on one's own, or receiving art therapy outside of a garden environment. However, the guided imagery group had a greater increase in positive emotion word-use in comparison to the walk-alone group.
Based on the study results, a booklet called "Stroll for Well-Being: Garden Walks at The Morikami," and program were developed. The Morikami offers a Stroll for Well-Being program twice a year. For more information, check out the Morikami Web site at
http://morikami.org/. (Greenhouse Management & Production, by David Kuack, September 4, 2009).
Announcing the First American Garden Award Winners
Americans voted for their favorite flower using their cell phones this past growing season. Six competing flowers were grown in the UT Gardens and 16 other prestigious gardens across America. Signage at these gardens guided people through the voting process. Garden visitors picked their favorites by text messaging or by dialing a toll-free number to cast their votes. The American Garden Award headquarters and the UT Gardens will heavily market the winning selections. 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 award-winning plants to your own garden. And don't despair if you didn't get a chance to cast your vote this year - the UT Gardens will be participating in the American Garden Award competition next year as well.
#1. Most Popular Flower Award - Rudbeckia 'TigerEye Gold' - 
'TigerEye Gold' grabbed the attention of voters with its incredibly prolific display of brilliant 3-inch golden blooms. Voters also appreciated the compact habit of the 16-to 24-inch-tall plants. The long-lasting, golden dark-eyed blooms made a strong statement while showing their hybrid tolerance to heat, humidity and powdery mildew. This most popular winner guarantees fantastic season-long color in gardens, mixed containers and landscapes.
#2. Petunia 'Baby Duck Yellow' - This petunia won because voters
loved the way it brightened and blanketed the garden with its multitudes of soft yellow trumpet-shaped blooms. Voters saw that the 1.5-inch blooms didn't wilt in summer's heat, humidity or rain. Blooms completely covered the 18- to 24-inch plants that didn't need deadheading or cutting back. Fast growing 'Baby Duck Yellow' spreads 30 inches to 36 inches and will rapidly fill in gardens and containers.
#3. Pentas 'Northern Lights Lavender' - Voters liked the
hummingbirds and butterflies attracted to the large, lacy masses of lavender flower clusters. These large 4-inch to 6-inch clusters of star-shaped florets covered the tropical-looking 18-inch to 24-inch plants. This breeding breakthrough pentas performed throughout the country, showing off its tolerance to northern temperatures as low as 50 degrees, as well as its love for rigorous southern heat. View online at www.americangardenaward.org.
The Knoxville Garden Club is a great advocate and supporter of the UT Gardens, and you are invited to join the club's open meeting at 10 a.m., Wednesday, November 4, at the Knoxville Museum of Art. The guest speaker is Margot Shaw, editor of Flower Magazine. Shaw will present, "A Home for the Holidays...Simple, Stylish Floral Designs." Admission is free and the editor will give away 200 issues of Flower Magazine. Refreshments will be served after the meeting, and the club will have its first bulb sale. The sale will feature unique varieties of high quality bulbs at competitive prices. For more information, contact Ellyn Cauble at edbmc@Comcast.net.
New Hydrangea Aids Breast Cancer Research
The first ever pink 'Annabelle' hydrangea-'Invincibelle Spirit' by Proven Winners Color Choice-will help raise money for breast cancer research. Proven Winners is working to raise at least $1 million for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 
with $1 for each plant sold to be donated to the organization.
According to Tim Wood, product development and marketing manager at Spring Meadow Nursery--the company behind the Proven Winners Color Choice brand--the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) was a natural partnership choice for "Invincibelle Spirit."
"We partnered with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation because it is the most highly rated breast cancer organization in the United States," Wood said. "Over 90 percent of the money raised by BCRF goes directly to research. It's a far-reaching cause that's meaningful to many of our customers." (Garden Center Magazine, September 16, 2009).
The weather and attendance could not have been any better for the dedication of the first endowed garden in the UT Gardens. More than 100 guests attended the
event to honor Sam and Mary Anne Beall and their family's generosity. The Bealls established the Rose Garden in honor of their loving wife and mother, Mary Anne. The beautiful garden features a 22-foot, single-tiered gazebo with an open framed cupola, 60 tons of Tennessee sandstone forming two cascading waterfalls which flow into Japanese koi ponds, and more than 100 varieties of roses including hybrid-teas, miniatures 
and disease-resistant shrub types. The Bealls are known throughout the area for their kindness and generosity. Not only is the garden beautiful, it will provide additional opportunities for education, student training and horticulture research.