Guided Tours of UT Gardens, Knoxville
UT Gardens Tours can cover a variety of topics including history of the Gardens, plant collections, and ecological gardening. Tours are generally 45 minutes to an hour, depending on group preference. Tours are $8 per participant.
Beginning in spring, 2026, we will be offering regular guided tours of the gardens that are available to the public. Check back here for more information about public tours soon!
If you would like to arrange a private tour for your group, please complete the inquiry form below. A member of our staff will reach out to you soon after.
Tabling and Guest Speakers
Please reach out if you would like to have UT Gardens attend your event! We are able to do general tabling, including hands-on activities, for a variety of topics and audiences. Our education and horticulture staff are also available to give lectures.
Lecture topics from UT Gardens might include:
- Garden planning
- Perennial and year-round gardening
- Gardening for kids, school gardens, funding and resources for youth gardens
- Integrated Pest Management
- Trees
- Gardens as Ecosystems
- Collection Talks (conifers, redbuds, irises, etc.)
The standard fee for a UT Gardens guest speaker is $90 for 1 hour. Travel costs may apply if your event is outside of Knox County.
Adult Workshops
UT Gardens, Knoxville offers a wide variety of adult workshops throughout the year. Program topics can include anything from ecological gardening and growing vegetables to garden mocktails.
Click here for for more information on our Adult Workshops page!
Youth Programs
For information about Field Trips, Summer Camp, School visits, and more, please click here to view our Youth Programs page!
Educator Workshops
The UT Gardens Education Team hosts workshops for educators. Educator Workshops aim to help teachers develop curriculum to use in outdoor spaces and to bring the nature into their classrooms. All of our programming for educators aims to meet state standards, particularly in math and science.
Upcoming educator workshop:
Streams! From the Smokies to your School
Schedule: Thursday, April 30 9:30-2:30
Presented by: Education Coordinator, Whitney Hale & Park Rangers, Jessie Snow Neeley & Nicole Nadasen
Location: Sugarlands Visitor Center, 1420 Fighting Creek Gap Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Discover techniques to learn and play with students outdoors!
- Teachers of all grades and subjects are welcome!
- Find methods to bring social emotional learning out of the classroom and into your schoolyard.
- Network with other teachers interested in environmental education.
- Find methods to bring math and science to life!
Food Catered by Whole Earth Grocery:
- Veggie Wrap Cold Hummus, spring mix, tomatoes, red onion, bell peppers, carrots, & cucumbers in a whole wheat tortilla (Vegan)
- Lentil Burger Wrap Lentil burger topped with spring mix, tomatoes, red onions, and vegan mayo rolled in a whole wheat tortilla (Vegan)
- Chicken Salad Sandwich Served on sprouted grain bread, topped with spring mix and tomatoes
- Egg Salad Served on sprouted grain bread, topped with spring mix and tomatoes (Gluten-Free Available)
- Organic Blue Corn Chips (V/GF) as a side for all meals
The Knox County Board of Education and Knox County Schools do not sponsor or endorse this advertisement or solicitation.
Click here to register for the Streams! From the Smokies to your School Educator Workshop!
Therapeutic Horticulture
The UT Gardens Therapeutic Horticulture team offers a variety of programs to suit the needs of your organization and your clients. Programs include Therapeutic Horticulture sessions at your facility, Therapeutic Horticulture sessions at UT Gardens, and Sow 2 Grow – a career-readiness summer program for teens living with disabilities.
Click here to learn more about our Therapeutic Horticulture Programs!
Parking
If you attend a program at the UT Gardens, you may be required to purchase a temporary parking pass. This helps us ensure that we have enough parking for visitors and program participants. Please let us know how many parking passes you will need at least 2 weeks before your program. After that time, there is no guarantee that you will have convenient parking available.
Note: Parking is extrememly limited at the University of Tennessee. Large groups, such as field trips, might be asked to limit participants to school buses only.
Want to know more about parking on campus? Click here to visit the parking website.
Policies
Programs are conducted rain or shine. We may cancel due to inclement weather; contact us for more information regarding your specific program.
If you plan to eat lunch at UT Gardens, your group should bring your own trash bag. Tie the bag and leave it at the Friendship Pavilion before leaving.
Are you interested in a guided tour of the gardens, having the UT Gardens attend your event, or a lecture from a Gardens staff member? If so, please complete the form below. A staff member will reach out shortly for more information. For youth programs, please fill out the form on our Youth Programs page.
If you get an error message, please try to click on the submit button a second time. You can also email whitneyhale@tennessee.edu with questions.