We have just completed a trail map for the Arboretum.  The map contains location identifiers for: Arboretum Trees; Plants of Interest; and Gardens.  The map will be updated periodically as we add to these locations.

A responsive web-based map is in the makings and should be ready by months end.

Download or print the map:

New Signs Installed as well as Mulch during our May 17 & 18, 2019 Workdays.  Thanks Volunteers!
Thanks to Theresa & Scott Schehr for the Bench Restoration & Beautification.

We had very productive workdays on May 17 & 18 as well as a little finishing work done on the 19th.   We would like to thank the volunteers from the Blount County Master Gardeners and the Tuckaleechee Garden Club for making the upgrades to the River Walk a reality.

Tree pruning and trimming, weeding, mulching, sign and sign post installation as well as a couple of new trees and beautyberry kept the volunteers very busy.  5 yards of mulch were spread around the garden areas as well as each of the arboretum marked trees and a layer of new pine mulch was spread on the Roadside Specimen Garden.

Mark Seder & Katherine Goodwin donated a mature witch hazel & red maple tree.   Debbie Dickie donated an American Beautyberry to replace the one for the Sue Tyler memorial.

All the new signs have been installed.  We have the following new and found trees that need signs created: Hemlock, Yellow Buckeye, Witch Hazel, Red Maple and Beech. 

Take some time and enjoy a visit to the River Walk.  The views of the river have never been better thanks to the invasive removal.  Tell your friends and neighbors.  The quick trip is well worth it.

It turned out to be a beautiful Saturday for the Inaugural Invasive Plant Removal Workday with our partners: Keep Blount Beautiful and the Little River Watershed Association.   We can't thank enough the 15 volunteers that showed up and removed almost a ton of invasive pants along the River Walk & Arboretum.  Privet, honeysuckle and mimosa were just some of the culprits.  The views of the river were greatly enhanced as from not only the trail thru lower trail but also the upper trail where a small forest of mimosa were cleared.  We plan to partner again for a fall invasive removal with details at a later date.

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• 8 of the 15 Volunteers for the May 4, 2019 Invasive cleanup.  Partnering with Keep Blount Beautiful and the Little River Watershed Association.

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  8 of the 15 Volunteers for the May 4, 2019 Invasive cleanup.  Partnering with Keep Blount Beautiful and the Little River Watershed Association.

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This is the 15th year since the inception of the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum, with the Tuckaleechee Garden Club overseeing the maintenance throughout those years. Most funds to preserve and enhance this project comes from the yearly plant sale sponsored by the Tuckaleechee Garden Club. The cost of preserving, protecting and enhancing the River Walk & Arboretum has continued to grow over the years but this year we are doing some major enhancements that need funding.

1. Replacing the tree and garden signs with metal posts and anodized aluminum signs as well as adding tags to the trees to make it easier for everyone to associate the sign and tree. (May 2019)
2. The Pollinator and Memorial Garden will be getting some upgrades. (May 2019)
3. The Roadside Specimen Garden will cleaned with new landscaping fabric and pine straw added. (May 2019)
4. The trial off of the main River Walk will be cleaned up and mulched. (May 2019)
5. Forest floor, river edge and hillside plants will be purchased and planted to help control erosion to the river walk area. (October 2019)

There have been many thousands of hours donated to the maintenance of the river walk over the last 15 years and that will continue but there is more to maintaining the River Walk and Arboretum and that requires your generosity.

All funds donated are 100% used for the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum (except for the credit card processing fees thru Paypal).

If you have enjoyed this wonderful, free to the public, natural resource we encourage you to make a small donation so that one of the jewels Blount County and Townsend will continue to shine for years to come.

Our Goal for 2019 is $3000 and have reached about 25% of that goal. 

We have made it easy to donate thru Paypal (You DO NOT Need a Paypal Account).

Donate by Credit Card or Paypal Account by just clicking the donate button at the bottom of the thermometer and follow the instructions. 

Your kindness and generosity are appreciated!

$ 3000

$ 800

27%

Updated
4/5/2019

Thank You East Tennessee Wood Products for the Mulch!

It takes all kinds of donations from community members to make the Townsend River Walk and Arboretum such a special place. 

A big Thank You goes out to East Tennessee Wood Products Co,. Inc! They donated over 5 yards of hardwood mulch, that we used to make paths to trees, spruced up the area around the Pollinator & Memorial Garden Bench and spread it around newly planted trees.

Many of you may have passed their business off of 411 on the way to Seymour many times.  Giant stacks of hardwood mulch can be seen from the road, this is byproduct of  their cooperage business.  They have been in the cooperage component business for over 60 years and in the same location.   The mulch can be ordered as either newer mulch or mulch that has been aging.  As of this writing the prices are $10.00/ yard you pick up or just under $300 for 25 yards delivered (subject to delivery area).  Prices you cannot beat for some fantastic mulch.  They also have a barn full of used barrels that are for sale and can be used for your decorating whims.

Support this outstanding business and tell them you heard about them from The Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.

Contact East Tennessee Wood Products: 865.977.7069 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Mulch Around the Pollinator & Memorial Garden

We have made a tremendous amount of progress this past week with upgrades to the Townsend River Walk and Arboretum.

The bench by the Pollinator & Memorial Garden underwent a minor operation to install new slats to the seat.   It is a bench that you can actually sit on and enjoy the butterflies and the beauty of the garden.

Holes were dug and the new aluminum posts were cemented in place for the 40+ new anodized aluminum signs that will be installed this upcoming week. 

The old wooden posts were removed and will be reused along walkways on the river walk.

Cleanup continued along the main walkway and gardens.

Sill lots of work to do but the results are well worth it.  Stop by and check the progress out!

Thanks to all those that helped in March with the clearing of a large section of the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum, we are seeing incredible results with an abundance of wildflowers!  The Mayapples, Trillium, Golden Ragwort, Solomon's Seal,  False Solomon Seal, Virginia Blue Bells, Bloodroot and so much more has turned this former invasive plant haven into a beautiful garden.  Stop by and have a look, you won't be disappointed.  If you would like to add your support for this project a small donation would be appreciated.

• Newly cleared area full of woildflowers!

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  Newly cleared area full of woildflowers!

• Carolina Silverbells in the Roadside Speciman Garden.

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  Carolina Silverbells in the Roadside Speciman Garden.

• Huge Trillium near the Little River along the River Walk.

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  Huge Trillium near the Little River along the River Walk.

• False Solomon's Seal.

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  False Solomon's Seal.

• Crested Dwarf Iris

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  Crested Dwarf Iris

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• White Bluebell

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  White Bluebell

• Wilflowers popping up everywhere along the Townsend RIver Walk & Arboretum.

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  Wilflowers popping up everywhere along the Townsend RIver Walk & Arboretum.

• Soloman's Seal ready to bloom

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  Soloman's Seal ready to bloom

• A large patch of Virginia Bluebells

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  A large patch of Virginia Bluebells

• Old roadside picnic cooking fireplace

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  Old roadside picnic cooking fireplace

• Wildflower's are everywhere.  What a beautiful Spring.

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  Wildflower's are everywhere.  What a beautiful Spring.

• Mayapples!  More mayapples growing than ever before.

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  Mayapples!  More mayapples growing than ever before.

• The result of volunteers removing the invasive plants from this area.

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  The result of volunteers removing the invasive plants from this area.

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Invasives can't stop Trillium from growing!

Took some photos today at the River Walk of some of the flowers and trees.   Ragwort, bloodroot, trillium, bluebells, redbuds and more.  With all the invasive removal it is much easier to spot all the blooming plants as well as seeing the river from the walk.  Check out our slideshow below and spot our new friend of the River Walk!