Strolling through the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum (TRWA) in winter is a serene experience and encourage you all to do so.  There is always something on the trail that catches your eye weather it be a fox making tracks, the first sign of flowers awakening for their Spring symphony that is about to begin or ducks and geese on The Little River.

Yesterday I was fortunate to see a couple of geese sunning themselves on a high spot on the river. Big and beautiful they were enjoying the warmth of the sun.  As I was watching them a pair of ducks swam by.  These weren't your ordinary mallard or wood duck but some that I have not seen on the river before today.  From the trail I watched them swimming up and down stream with the green necked, red billed, male in the lead and her brown head feathers flowing in the wind, female in close tow.  Took some pictures and video to take home and do a bit of homework to find out what kind of ducks they were.

Common Merganser Duck on The Little River at the TRWA - February, 10 2021.Turns out, they were out-of-towners!  The Common Merganser.  They make there home up north during the summer and head a bit south for the winter but rarely this far south.  Most stop in Virginia and Northern Kentucky and not going much further south.  For more information see: Common Merganser on All About Birds.

If you get a chance head on down to the Townsend River Walk and Arboretum for a chance to see the Common Merganser.  Walk about half way up the lower walk and look out on the river.  They spend most of their time in the river and are beautiful and hard to miss.  If you can't make it here is a little video of their graceful movements.

Just another reason to DONATE for the continued maintenance and improvements of the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.

Bob Russell "Father of the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum"  Relaxing on the Bench Dedicated to Him
at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum

On December 12, 2020 a bench was dedicated to the "Father of the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum", Bob Russell.  Bob was instrumental in obtaining the right-of- way and funds for the Townsend River Walk Trail more than 15 years ago. He created the initial signage and helped to clear the initial trail.  Bob was also a Townsend Commissioner and Mayor of Townsend.   We wish Bob all the best and thank him for making the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum a reality.

Bob Russell and Family

A second bench was dedicated to the memory of Ron Byrd, who passed away 2019.  Bob was another of the pioneers that help to get the River Walk on track to become what it is today.  

Ron Byrd Memorial Bench with Theresa Schehr, Charlotte Miller and Ron's wife Florence. All members of the Tuckaleechee Garden Club.

Ron Byrd Family

Kay Goodwin and Charlotte Miller are Busy Planting the Latest Addition to the TRWA, an Iris Garden.

Friday the 13th turned out to be an excellent day for our TRWA maintenance.  Signs were cleaned, grass cut, sidewalks edged, some invasives and weeds removed, trash collected and an iris garden planted as a tribute to the Tennessee state flower, the Cultivated Iris. 

A special thanks to all the volunteers: Charlotte Miller, Rodney & Allison Pearson, Kay Goodwin and Mark Seder.

Allison Pearson Doing the Finishing Touches on Our TRWA Maintenance.

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars devouring the Red Milkweed at the Pollinator & Memorial Garden

I think Fall is one of my favorite times at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.  This years is exceptional with the Pollinator Garden now installed and the abundance of Fall wildflowers.  Last Saturday while hummingbirds were buzzing above my head, I looked at the Monarch Garden that was planted and saw that the Milkweed was being devoured by these cute little orange, black and white caterpillars which weren't Monarch caterpillars but the same colors. After a bit of investigation it was determined that they were Milkweed Tussock Moth(Euchaetes egle) caterpillars aka Milkweed Tiger Moth.  More information can be found here.

This weekend will be a great weekend to see this wide variety of wildflowers throughout the arboretum and along the upper walking path as well as in and around the Pollinator & Memorial Garden.  Take a walk into the Pollinator Garden and see what is growing and if you are lucky enough some of the Milkweed Tussock moth caterpillars will still be around, but be careful of low flying hummingbirds.

If you can't get out and enjoy the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum enjoy it thru my camera lens in the slideshow below.

The Townsend River Walk & Arboretum (TRWA) had a couple of donations made over the last few of months.

First, a BIG THANKS to the Blount County Master Gardeners who have budgeted $500 for 2021 for the TRWA.  This money will be allocated to help re-forest areas of the TRWA that have had invasives removed.   Planting erosion control plants and trees along The Little River and to help ease the bank erosion that is taking place and also to replace invasives that have been removed along the bank,

Second, GBU Life has for the 3rd year straight donated $150 for the hours that have been donated by Master Gardener and Tuckaleechee Garden Club member Mark Seder.  Mark spent over 200 hours in 2020 doing TRWA maintenance, refurbishing and replanting the Butterfly & Memorial Garden and continuing invasive plant management.   Thanks to GBU Life for the the continuing support.

Donations allow for the continued maintenance and enhancements to the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.  Help support the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum with your donation today!

Donate to Support the TRWA, Today!

TWRA Invasive Management - Scott Schehr, Martha Frink & Theresa Schehr

A group of 8 Tuckaleechee Garden Club members and spouses performed very successful invasive management at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.  Bush Honeysuckle, Privet, Euonymous and Ivy.   We were able to clear a large swath that is about 20 yards to the right of the cave and also do maintenance clearing of the area below the Greenway path from the Pollinator & Memorial Garden to the the new cleanup area. 

SPECIAL THANKS TO: SCOTT & THERESA SCHEHR, CHARLOTTE MILLER, MARTHA FRINK, ALLISON & RODNEY PEARSON, KATHERINE GOODWIN & MARK SEDER.  THANKS FOR MAKING THIS A SUCCESS!

We used saws, loppers, picks and our newest tools the Buckthorne Blaster, herbicide applier, and the Pullbearers, tree and root rrmovers.

The Buckthorne Blaster is a bingo dauber like device that is filled with herbicide (25% glyphosate), a surfacant and dye.   It reduces the amount herbicide used by pinpointing the use and the dye indicates areas that it has been applied.  No over spraying or over use of herbicide.

The Pullbears allow us to completely remove an invasive up to 4 inches in diameter.  Just clamp onto it and pull back.  Invasive and roots removed!  Much harder for the invasive to grow back.

This year has been one of the best years for flower blooms thru Spring, Summer and Fall.  The final blooming finale at the TRWA was Asters, Asters, Asters everywhere.  There were several varieties a with golden rod and other flowers it made for delightful strolls on the TRWA.  Enjoy the slide show below and take some time for a walk on the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.

Congratulations to all the participants in the Knoxville Track Club's Townsend Challenge - 10K and 15k this past Sunday.    Part of the run took them thru the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.  Look forward to their next race!