The Tuckaleechee Garden Club planted a Eastern Redbud Tree for Arbor Day 2022 at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.  The tree is located along the upper trail along US 321 and is the anchor to the other 5 Redbud cultivars that were planted in 2021.   We now have quite a Redbud collection in this grouping which includes from left to right: Eastern Redbud, PomPom, Merlot, Forest Pansy, Whitebud, and Flamethrower.  A marker will be installed this year indicating this grouping and the Eastern Redbud will now become our designated Arboretum Eastern Redbud.  In years to come these Redbuds should put on quire a display of color from Spring thru Fall!   Thank you Tuckaleechee Garden Club.

Need plants? We got them and the proceeds benefit the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum

The Tuckaleechee Garden Club will be holding its annual Plant Sale
at the
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, TN
on Saturday, April 23rd from 9 AM to 4 AM.

Prices that you can't beat with a large selection of Native and Non-Native Plants & Trees, Vegetable Plants, Seeds, and Garden & Other Items.

Come early for the best selection!

Cash is always welcomed and there are several financial institutions as well as businesses with Cash Machines nearby.
Major Credit Cards and PayPal Accepted.

Can't make it to the plant sale but want to support the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum then DONATE TODAY!

Additional Information and Directions to the GSM Heritage Center

Tuckaleechee Garden Club posing on the newly constructed steps at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum(TRWA) after their monthly meeting and discussing the TRWA Master Plan.  Now we are ready for lunch!

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”
― Benjamin Franklin

The Tuckaleechee Garden Club held its Monthly Meeting at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum(TRWA) on March 15 2022.  The main purpose of meeting at the TRWA was for a tour of the TRWA from Mark Seder to discuss the Preliminary Master Plan that he has been working on but the TGC also held its regular business meeting and then ending the day with an exceptional lunch.

Mark has been working on creating a living plan for the future development of the TRWA that will provide guidance for the next 5 to 10 years and beyond.  There is the maintenance of the TRWA but also several new projects to increase the value of the TRWA for the community of Townsend and Blount County as well as the hundreds of visitors that tour the TRWA each year.

Some of the new projects that are being considered are:

1. Picnic Area with Herb Garden
2. Functional & Educational Drainage Filtration Area
3. Children's Sensory Garden
4. Bluebell Trail
5. Main Sign Indicating the TRWA from US 321.

There are also additions to current projects that are being considered such as:

1. Slowly replacing grass with wildflowers and native bush-like plants (Viburnum, Nine Bark, Oakleaf Hydrangea and others).
2. Invasive Management
3. Additional Tree Plantings and Specimen Tree Plantings.
4. Enhancements to the Cave Area
5. Bike Racks
6. Additional Paths

We are hoping to have a completed plan done by Summer of 2022 and it will then be reviewed yearly schedule, monitor completed projects and make updates/corrections as needed.  This will be a living document and will change as the needs of the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum change.

Preliminary TRWA Master Plan Map (Subject to Many Changes)

Nothing Says Community Like Invasive Management.
An Excellent Community Turnout for Our Last Large Scale Invasive Management at The Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.
Pictured are  members of: Tuckaleechee Garden Club, Blount County Master Gardeners, Keep Blount Beautiful,
 Little River Watershed Assoc., & Blount County Community Members at Large.

Charlotte Miller (left) and Martha Frink have dedicated themselves to the TRWA for almost 20 years. They are finally breathing a sigh of relief with the invasive plants finally under control.On Saturday, February 26, 2022 we had over 20 volunteers from the following organizations: Tuckaleechee Garden Club, Blount County Master Gardeners, Keep Blount Beautiful, Little River Watershed Association, Girl Scouts and at large members of the Blount County Community joined us for this final Large Scale Invasive Management Day.   Everyone put in such a great effort and then were treated to a lunch after the workday.  We can't thank everyone enough for volunteering on this chilly Saturday morning and making this day special.

Almost 20 years ago the Townsend River Walk came into existence and from the beginning invasive management has been a priority.  This area along the Little River was covered with an over abundance of bush honeysuckle, privet, mimosa and more.  It had been growing unabated since the road bed (Old 73) was re-routed in the 1940's on what is now US 321.  Many years of hard labor was put into trying to tame these invasives, especially by the Tuckaleechee Garden Club, and we have finally succeeded to minimize the invasives.   This is not to say that the invasives are gone forever but the are now more controllable with minimum of time and effort.

Over the last four years a concentrated effort by the Tuckaleechee Garden Club in conjunction with the Blount County Master Gardeners and with the help of our community partners: Keep Blount Beautiful and the Little River Watershed Assoc. we have been able to make incredible progress in stabilizing the spread of these invasive plants.  During this time we utilized better methods of getting these invasives under control.   The main methods of invasive removal consist of: pulling the invasive by the roots, by hand or root puller, and cutting an daubing.  Cutting and daubing consists of: cutting the invasive with loppers or chainsaw then preciously applying a 30% - 40% solution of glyphosate using a sponge topped dauber (similar to a bingo dauber).  This method kills the root of the invasive, makes handling the glyphosate much safer and prevents excess use of glyphosate.  The results of using these methods have been nothing short of amazing.

I personally cannot express the appreciation and gratitude for all the community members that have made this day possible.  Having worked on the TRWA these last 6 years I never thought I would be able to say that invasives at the TRWA are under control.  What a special moment.

Take time to help support the TRWA with a small DONATION. A donation of any amount goes a long way to help these volunteers maintain this vital piece of Townsend. 
We have big plans and need all the support we can get.

The Tuckaleechee Garden Club plant sale to benefit the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum was huge success generating over $2500 in sales and donations.   This years event was held at the Smoky Mountain Heritage Center in front of the newly established vegetable and herb garden that is being maintained by the Tuckaleechee Garden Club.

A big thank you to all the folks that came out to purchase some of these outstanding plants, trees, herbs, vegetables, garden items and more.  A special thanks goes to the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center for allowing us use of the space to hold this years plant sale, it was a wonderful venue. Last but not least the volunteers from the Tuckaleechee Garden Club that put all this together and donated most of the plants, it takes a special group of individuals to take on this yearly event. 

Enjoy some of the scenes from the event and hope to see you in 2023.  If you couldn't attend and would like to donate to the projects and maintenance at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum you can do so at: DONATE TO THE TRWA.

Spring Decorations in the Pollinator Garden at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.
Thanks Theresa Schehr & Allison Pearson

Spring 2022 is finally getting started after a late winter snow and freeze.   The freeze destroyed many of the Redbud and Spicebush blooms that were just getting ready to pop. In spite of that deep cold the wildflowers are coming out slowly and looks to be another fantastic blooming year at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.   Keep up with what is blooming at 2022 What's Blooming.

Rue Anemone is now blooming. We are now updating our 2022 What's Blooming Page every few days.

 You can always find something interesting and new if you look hard enough!

Before and After of the Slope on the South End of the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum!

Panorama View of the Completed South Stairs, Railing & Bench at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum

Bench Added to the TRWA Steps. Created by Rodney and Allison Pearson. A great view of the Little River.This is a project that has been on the wish list of the Tuckaleechee Garden Club since back in 2008.  It was obvious that something needed to be done and there was a fix put in back in the early 2010's with railroad ties.  That brought a bit of erosion control and made it easier to climb the hill.  A lot of work was put into it by Tuckaleechee Garden Club and Blount County Master Gardeners to make this happen and had served well until in 2020 we started noticing decay of the railroad ties and know it would be just a matter of time that the stairs would need replaced, but who was going to take on that task and at what cost?

I (Mark Seder) announced in November 2021 that I would start the planning, preparation and installation of the south end steps in the winter of 2021/2022.   With a design in mind and ready to start the demolition, I was approached by Rodney and Allison Pearson and they would assist in completing the new steps.  Little did they know the time and effort that would be involved or the satisfaction of creating an incredible stairway to the lower trail of the TRWA.  On December 16 2021, I laid out the first two stairs that would end up being the start of a 30 step stairway that spans 63 ft. Rodney and Allison were there to help on the 17th of December until the last railing was installed on March 10, 2022. 

At every step of the way (No pun intended) Allison and Rodney supported the project, we worked together incredibly well and enjoyed building this massive undertaking.  I am also grateful of the support from the Tuckaleechee Garden Club who entrusted us to complete this project and provided much of the funds. 

Stop by and give them a try and take in the view of the Little River.

If you would like to donate to support what we do at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum you can do so HERE!

Additional Articles on building the steps can be found here:

• The TRWA Is Stepping It Up To End 2021!
• Step Construction Day 3 - Between a Rock and a Hard Place
• Step Construction Day 4 - The End is Near!
• Step Construction - FINI! (No Railings)

Here is the completed picture portfolio of the work that was involved in creating these steps.

• Putting a little weight behind some minor adjustments.

  mark rodney railingpostsinstall6
  

• The railing posts were constantly checked for level. 

  mark rodney railingpostsinstall4
  

• Installation of the last railing post.

  mark rodney railingpostsinstall5
  

• Rodney and Mark got the railing installation down pat and completed all the railing installation in under 3 hours.

  mark rodney railinginstall4
  

• Lots of attention went in to securing the railing correctly with little give.

  mark rodney railinginstall5
  

• The tablesaw master at work.  Perfect rail cutting.

  mark rodney railingbuild2
  

• Securing a long rail.

  mark rodney railinginstall3
  

• Bench is made from logs dating back to the 1800's. Thank you Rodney Pearson for this special addition to the TRWA.

  benchatsteps
  

• Notching out the posts to fit the steps.

  mark rodney railingbuild1
  

• A before and after of the South entrance of the TRWA.  Mark Seder, Allison Pearson and Rodney Pearson worked on this starting the end of December 2021 and completed the railing installation on March 10, 2022.

  before after1000
  

• Steps and Railing Completed on March 10, 2022 by Mark Seder, Allison Pearson and Rodney Pearson!

  stepscompletepana2
  

• Final steps and railing completed.

  202203110steps1
  

• Railing installed and bench installed.

  20221228steps25
  

• A panorama of the all 63 feet of the steps.  Thanks to Mark Seder and Rodney & Allison Pearson for their hard work and having completed installing the steps on New Years Eve 2021.

  A panorama of the all 63 feet of the steps. Thanks to Mark Seder and Rodney & Allison Pearson for their hard work and having completed installing the steps on New Years Eve 2021.
  

• Talking over the last 3 weeks of the step installation and planning the railing for the steps to be done in the Spring.

  Talking over the last 3 weeks of the step installation and planning the railing for the steps to be done in the Spring.
  

• A Time to Celebrate!  Rodney, Allison and Mark after some of the toughest work done on the TRWA to-date.

  A Time to Celebrate! Rodney, Allison and Mark after some of the toughest work done on the TRWA to-date. 64 man/women hours, over 3 weeks, that worked to move over 3 ton of stone, install 322 board ft of lumber for the steps that now run 63 ft. horizonta
  

• Completed steps from the bottom.  The graceful curve in the steps was hand eyed by Rodney and Mark. Turned out great.

  Completed steps from the bottom. The graceful curve in the steps was hand eyed by Rodney and Mark. Turned out great.
  

• Steps from the top.  30 steps all level and ready for use.

  Steps from the top. 30 steps all level and ready for use.
  

• Favorite steps view with The Little River running parallel.  It is quite a sight in the winter.

  Favorite steps view with The Little River running parallel. It is quite a sight in the winter.
  

• Steps Completed and Allison putting the finishing layer of Tennessee crushed river rock.

  Steps Completed and Allison putting the finishing layer of Tennessee crushed river rock.
  

• Rodney hand carrying some of the 1800 lbs of Tennessee crushed river rock.

  Rodney hand carrying some of the 1800 lbs of Tennessee crushed river rock.
  

• Steps are completed and time to celebrate.

  Steps are completed and time to celebrate.
  

• All ready for the final step to be placed.

  All ready for the final step to be placed.
  

• Digging in to place the final step on 2021.12.31.

  Digging in to place the final step on 2021.12.31.
  

• Looking good, level and square, the last step that is!

  Looking good, level and square, the last step that is!
  

• Mark & Rodney installing the final step.

  Mark & Rodney installing the final step.
  

• Rodney checking out the steps and looking for any possible issues.   Allison did a great job of fixing each side of the steps. 

  Rodney checking out the steps and looking for any possible issues. Allison did a great job of fixing each side of the steps.
  

• Rodney and Allison check the 28 stairs that have been installed.   After 7 hours of step installation.  It was great to look back on our work.

  Rodney and Allison check the 28 stairs that have been installed. After 7 hours of step installation. It was great to look back on our work.
  

• From the top. 28 steps with a great view of The Little River.  2 more steps to go.

  From the top. 28 steps with a great view of The Little River. 2 more steps to go.
  

• At about stair step 25.  On this day we completed 14 additional stairs bring the total so far to 28 steps!  Two to go!

  At about stair step 25. On this day we completed 14 additional stairs bring the total so far to 28 steps! Two to go!
  

• Trying to stay as contoured to the slope as possible, Mark and Rodney are digging in deep and hoping to avoid large rocks.

  Trying to stay as contoured to the slope as possible, Mark and Rodney are digging in deep and hoping to avoid large rocks.
  

• Almost to the top.  Although the traffic noise from 321 can be annoying, it was sweet music to our ears as we finally were getting nearer the finish.

  Almost to the top. Although the traffic noise from 321 can be annoying, it was sweet music to our ears as we finally were getting nearer the finish
  

• Nothing is ever as easy as you hope consider, the "rock" in a "hard place" .

  20211221 thestone
  

• Allison was taking care of some invasive honeysuckle on the steep hillside next to the steps.  Mad a huge difference in the view of the Little River.

  20211221 allison1
  

• Day 3, 14 steps installed, whew!

  20211221 steps10
  

• Rodney and Allison Pearson making some major step progress.

  20211221 steps6
  

• Allison and Rodney Pearson after a hard days work.  These steps make a great place to sit and watch the Little River.

  20211221 steps7
  

• 14 Steps installed by the 3rd day.  More than half way up the slope.  Only 12 more to complete!

  20211221 steps8
  

• The steps hug the contour of the walk and with great views of the Little River now that Allison Pearson has starting clearing the invasives from the hillside to the river.

  20211221 steps9
  

• The solution for "between a rock and a hard place"  Using our "by the seat of the pants" engineering skills, we made these steps 15 in. deep instead of 18 in. and made the lower pad 3 ft. instead of 4.  The step rests perfectly on the rock.

  20211221steps4
  

• On the third day the first few steps were a breeze to install.  All the lumber was cut and drilled, just a little digging, leveling and bit of figuring.

  20211221steps5
  

• Our first go at working thru the rock dilemma. 

  20211221steps1
  

• Mark Seder and Rodney Pearson discuss the rock dilemma and whether or not to quit and go home.  Rodney came up with the perfect solution.

  20211221steps2
  

• Rodney Pearson and Mark Seder working on the step installation thinking that this is easy peasy.  Little did they know the rock attached to the center of the earth was waiting.

  20211221steps3
  

• Stair fabricating taking place at our secret facility in the mountains of Walland.

  20211219stepsbuild1
  

• Stairs cut and drilled and ready to be placed at the TRWA.

  20211219stepsbuild2
  

• Mark and Rodney wondering what they got themselves into.

  20211217stepsbuild2
  

• Using the most modern techniques to determine the rise of the stairs.  Mark's eagle eye determined it is a 12 - 15 ft rise.  Rodney just rolls his eyes.
  

  20211217stepsbuild4
  

• Allison Pearson inspecting the first 18 in. deep step and trying out the new stairs.

  20211217stepsbuild8
  

• The first 3 stairs complete.

  20211217stepsbuild9
  

• Rodney Pearson (left) and Mark Seder, always right.  Installing the first 18 in. deep step that will start a gradual curve.

  20211217stepsbuild1
  

• The old steps.  Kind of steep but have served their purpose well.

  20211216oldsteps1
  

• You can get a sense of the slope of the old stairs.  The new ones will provide a level place to step.

  20211216oldsteps2
  

• The new stairs have already made a difference and replaced one of the aging railroad ties.

  20211216newsteps3
  

• Mark Seder installed the first 2 steps.  4 foot wide and 4 foot deep.

  20211216newsteps2
  

/55

Putting a little weight behind some minor adjustments.

The railing posts were constantly checked for level. 

Installation of the last railing post.

Rodney and Mark got the railing installation down pat and completed all the railing installation in under 3 hours.

Lots of attention went in to securing the railing correctly with little give.

The tablesaw master at work.  Perfect rail cutting.

Securing a long rail.

Bench is made from logs dating back to the 1800's. Thank you Rodney Pearson for this special addition to the TRWA.

Notching out the posts to fit the steps.

A before and after of the South entrance of the TRWA.  Mark Seder, Allison Pearson and Rodney Pearson worked on this starting the end of December 2021 and completed the railing installation on March 10, 2022.

Steps and Railing Completed on March 10, 2022 by Mark Seder, Allison Pearson and Rodney Pearson!

Final steps and railing completed.

Railing installed and bench installed.

A panorama of the all 63 feet of the steps.  Thanks to Mark Seder and Rodney & Allison Pearson for their hard work and having completed installing the steps on New Years Eve 2021.

Talking over the last 3 weeks of the step installation and planning the railing for the steps to be done in the Spring.

A Time to Celebrate!  Rodney, Allison and Mark after some of the toughest work done on the TRWA to-date.

Completed steps from the bottom.  The graceful curve in the steps was hand eyed by Rodney and Mark. Turned out great.

Steps from the top.  30 steps all level and ready for use.

Favorite steps view with The Little River running parallel.  It is quite a sight in the winter.

Steps Completed and Allison putting the finishing layer of Tennessee crushed river rock.

Rodney hand carrying some of the 1800 lbs of Tennessee crushed river rock.

Steps are completed and time to celebrate.

All ready for the final step to be placed.

Digging in to place the final step on 2021.12.31.

Looking good, level and square, the last step that is!

Mark & Rodney installing the final step.

Rodney checking out the steps and looking for any possible issues.   Allison did a great job of fixing each side of the steps. 

Rodney and Allison check the 28 stairs that have been installed.   After 7 hours of step installation.  It was great to look back on our work.

From the top. 28 steps with a great view of The Little River.  2 more steps to go.

At about stair step 25.  On this day we completed 14 additional stairs bring the total so far to 28 steps!  Two to go!

Trying to stay as contoured to the slope as possible, Mark and Rodney are digging in deep and hoping to avoid large rocks.

Almost to the top.  Although the traffic noise from 321 can be annoying, it was sweet music to our ears as we finally were getting nearer the finish.

Nothing is ever as easy as you hope consider, the "rock" in a "hard place" .

Allison was taking care of some invasive honeysuckle on the steep hillside next to the steps.  Mad a huge difference in the view of the Little River.

Day 3, 14 steps installed, whew!

Rodney and Allison Pearson making some major step progress.

Allison and Rodney Pearson after a hard days work.  These steps make a great place to sit and watch the Little River.

14 Steps installed by the 3rd day.  More than half way up the slope.  Only 12 more to complete!

The steps hug the contour of the walk and with great views of the Little River now that Allison Pearson has starting clearing the invasives from the hillside to the river.

The solution for "between a rock and a hard place"  Using our "by the seat of the pants" engineering skills, we made these steps 15 in. deep instead of 18 in. and made the lower pad 3 ft. instead of 4.  The step rests perfectly on the rock.

On the third day the first few steps were a breeze to install.  All the lumber was cut and drilled, just a little digging, leveling and bit of figuring.

Our first go at working thru the rock dilemma. 

Mark Seder and Rodney Pearson discuss the rock dilemma and whether or not to quit and go home.  Rodney came up with the perfect solution.

Rodney Pearson and Mark Seder working on the step installation thinking that this is easy peasy.  Little did they know the rock attached to the center of the earth was waiting.

Stair fabricating taking place at our secret facility in the mountains of Walland.

Stairs cut and drilled and ready to be placed at the TRWA.

Mark and Rodney wondering what they got themselves into.

Using the most modern techniques to determine the rise of the stairs.  Mark's eagle eye determined it is a 12 - 15 ft rise.  Rodney just rolls his eyes.

Allison Pearson inspecting the first 18 in. deep step and trying out the new stairs.

The first 3 stairs complete.

Rodney Pearson (left) and Mark Seder, always right.  Installing the first 18 in. deep step that will start a gradual curve.

The old steps.  Kind of steep but have served their purpose well.

You can get a sense of the slope of the old stairs.  The new ones will provide a level place to step.

The new stairs have already made a difference and replaced one of the aging railroad ties.

Mark Seder installed the first 2 steps.  4 foot wide and 4 foot deep.

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 What do you do when a neighbor gives you a really excellent piece of dogwood trunk?  Of course you build a chapel for the Stumptown Faerie Village located along the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.  Exactly what Rodney and Allison Pearson did.  It is awesome and adds a nice finishing touch to the village.   The village has grown with more faeries being added by well, faeries from around Townsend.   As you take your next week at the TRWA talk a good look at the faerie village and all the intricate details.  If you see Rodney and Allison thank them for all their imagination and creativity that they put into this village.