Enjoy the blooms of the rare Franklinia Tree, it can be found in the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum Roadside Specimen Garden.  A native to the Altamaha River valley in Georgia, it is a rare find.

This Father's Day weekend is a great time to visit the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.  Plenty of plants are blooming or just coming into bloom, the Pollinator Garden is nearing completion and you can watch the Bluebirds caring for their young at the bluebird house.  It is going to be hot and the TRWA is the coolest, tree lined, outdoor spot in Townsend, TN along The Little River.  Take dad for a walk and don't forget your smart device to scan the QR codes on our signs to provide you with information about the plants, trees and gardens along the TRWA.  Enjoy and all you dads, have a HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Our Designated Redbud Tree is Loaded with Pea Pods. It is a Member of the Pea Family and the Pods are Edible!

Wow! What a hot and humid week.  Even by the Little River and under the trees, at the TRWA, it is hard to escape the humidity.  Since many are staying indoors during this hot spell, I thought it would be worth giving a view of what is currently going on at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.  Enjoy!

Great News! Our bluebirds have started a second nesting.  The first egg was on May 28, 2020.  The first nesting was 5 eggs and we will keep tabs on the this one.  The nest is located in the bluebird box just above the Pollinator and Memorial Garden.  Stop by and watch the bluebird couple manage the nest, they are fun to watch!

Mark Seder & Katherine Goodwin completed installation of the Pollinator & Memorial Garden Fence on May 2, 2020.

The first phase of the redo of the Pollinator & Memorial Garden is now completed with the installation of the fence.  (See slideshow below for more pics).    The garden was expanded from 12 ft x 12 ft to approx. 20 ft x 18ft. 

The next phase of the project will be to make four quadrants with a butterfly puddler in the middle.  The path will enter the garden and go around the center puddler.

Phase Three will have the quadrants specifically planted for certain pollinators.  A monarch quadrant and a hummingbird quadrant are planned with the other two quadrants planted for other pollinators. A back trellis for Passion Vine (TN State Wildflower) to climb.

The Fourth Phase will see a four post entry arbor installed and the Memorial Rocks re-set.  Also we will ask children in the community to paint pollinator and bird cutouts to be attached to the fence.

This has been a big undertaking but the result will create an interactive pollinator garden that will be accessible for everyone.

The COVID-19 outbreak has put a damper on our fund raising abilities.  If you would like to donate please visit our donations page. 

Working on the Pollinator & Memorial Garden at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum while Proper Social Distancing.
From Left to Right: Charlotte Miller(TGC,BCTMG), Theresa Schehr (TGC), Martha Frink (TGC), Ella Ellingson (BCTMG), Mark Seder (TGC, BCTMG).
(TGC - Tuckaleechee Gawrden Club, BCTMG - Blount County TN Master Gardener)

Members of The Tuckaleechee Garden Club and Blount County TN Master Gardeners showed our support and celebrated, the National Garden Clubs, National Garden Week at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum on Friday, June12, 2020.  Maintenance was done on the Roadside Specimen Garden and the Pollinator & Memorial Garden.  It was a beautiful morning and some outstanding work was performed.  It was also fun to catch up with everyone since most haven't seen each other since March.

Thanks to all who participated it was greatly appreciated!

The Path to the Center of the Pollinator & Memorial Garden is almost complete.

The Pollinator and Memorial Garden transformation is progressing, although a bit slower than I would like but should be ready for the plants to arrive and be planted the second week of June. 

The garden was more than doubled and a fence put around it.  The path will end with a viewing area of the garden.   Two specific gardens will be planted within the main garden.  One for Monarch Butterflies and the other for Hummingbirds.  The remainder of the garden will feature plants to attract other butterflies, bees and birds.

The path is being dug to a depth of 4 - 5 inches with a layer of landscaping fabric placed down and then filled with 4 inches of crushed stone.  A 1 inch layer of small brown rocks will be placed on top to finalize the path.

It has been a real joy working on the this during this time with a chance to talk to the many folks that have taken advantage of the TWRA and the years of work the Tuckaleechee Garden Club has done to make the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum a reality.  Everyone using the TRWA has been very grateful for this treasure in the heart of Townsend.

Andrea Ludwig and Ryan O' Conner, from the Little River Watershed Association, clearing invasives by the Arboretum Sycamore.

We are truly blessed to have such outstanding Community Partners in Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) and The Little River Watershed Association (LRWA).  On Saturday, May 9, 2020: Brittney Whipple and Karsen Gentry from KBB, Lydia.

Read The Daily Times of Maryville Article About the Cleanup Effort

Turpin, Andrea Ludwig and Ryan O' Conner from LRWA joined Theresa and Scott Schehr, Kay Goodwin and Mark Seder from the Tuckaleechee Garden Club to remove invasives and do some general cleanup at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.

We all social distanced as required and stilled enjoyed getting together and meet new volunteers and to catch up with old friends.

The entrance to the cave was cleared of: privet, bush honeysuckle and a Mohonia (Oregon Grape Holly) that was starting to get out of control, the hillside by the Arboretum designated Sycamore was cleared of some massive bush honeysuckle and privet as well as a few mimosa's, vines and additional bush honeysuckle were also removed from throughout the TRWA and the Pollinator garden area was spruced up.  All in all it was a good mornings work and made another important step of controlling the invasives at the TRWA.

THANKS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS!

Elderberry Bushes and American Beautyberry Bushes, that were Planted by Allison & Rodney Pearson, are Growing Fast!

A quick update from around the TRWA (See the Slideshow below for additional pictures).  

The spring flowers are still blooming but are quickly fading.  The grounds around the TRWA are now lush with green foliage.   Iris's are beautiful and growing throughout.   Our baby bluebirds are growing up fast and should be fledging in about 10 or so days.  More flowers are getting ready to bloom so take a walk along the River Walk and Arboretum when you get a chance!