We are passionate about sharing our love of gardening and nature with the community. We offer a variety of classes and workshops for all ages throughout the year, utilizing our 10-acre display to strengthen the connection between people and the natural environment.
All programs require preregistration. Click on the links below to register. Contact Derrick Stowell, Education Director, at dstowell@utk.edu, (865) 974-7151 if you have any questions.
Growing Natives in the Shade
Join local author and plant enthusiast John Tullock as we explore growing native plants that thrive in shade. We will cover ferns and perennial wildflowers, with emphasis on the most adaptable and readily available varieties. Ferns don't often receive the attention of gardeners, but they are among the most useful and durable horticulture subjects. Many of our favorite wildflowers adapt readily to cultivation. We will discuss the most popular ones, and offer tips for growing them.
Participants will receive a 1 gallon container of Heucherella 'Solar Eclipse' or Phlox stolonifera 'Blue Ridge' to plant in their home garden.
Sunday, September 29, 2019 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $35 members/$45 nonmembers
Seed to Sachet
Just in time for holiday gift-giving, join Knox County Master Gardener Cathy Carpenter and UT Gardens Horticulturist Holly Jones on a journey from seed to sachet as we share our experience from this year’s potpourri garden and guide participants on the creation of a naturally scented sachet. Growing requirements, harvesting and preservation tips as well as plant selection and design ideas will be explored. Participants will create a sachet to personally enjoy or give as a holiday gift while enjoying warm organically grown herbal tea.
Saturday, November 23, 2019 10:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $25 members/$35 nonmembers
Relaxation Day at the Garden
DIY Bath salts, body scrubs, and scented relaxation putty
We all know how expensive relaxation products can be, but what if you could make them yourself? During this workshop, you will learn how to make three different herbal and essential oils-based products for relaxation. We will make bath salts, a body scrub, and relaxation putty, which is all the rage right now. Everything you make, you get to take home, too! Additionally, we will have a special guest from the Aveda Institute come speak to us about self-care. Join us as we learn how to make our very own relaxation products at the UT Gardens.
Saturday, November 23, 2019 10:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $50 members/$60 nonmembers
Holiday Wreath Making
Kick off your winter festivities by making your own gorgeous wreath using freshly harvested greenery from the Gardens. All levels of experience welcome. We will provide a mixture of seasonal greens and decor for your take home wreath that will last throughout the holiday season. Participants are welcome to bring personalized decorations to add if they like. This is our most popular class so don't delay in registering.
Saturday, December 7, 2019 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Cost: Garden member $30/nonmember $40
UT Gardens Book Club
"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." (Cicero) This book club is for those folks who love plants and books and even books about plants (or nature in general at the very least.) We will spend three months reading three different books and meeting to discuss them once each month. At each meeting we will provide you with a new plant, tea, and snacks; you provide your own copy of the book. Feel free to use an audio book, check it out from the library, borrow a friend’s copy, or purchase your very own!
Cost:
Cost per session: Garden member $30/nonmember $45
Cost per series: Garden member $85/nonmember $130
The Garden Party by Grace Dane Mazur
Our first book club read is a novel that takes place entirely in one day! Set in a garden, two families must behave civilly towards one another at the rehearsal dinner for their children who are getting married. People magazine says, "Lyrical and charming, this comedy of errors is a delightful summer read." This first book will give us some insight to each of our own quirks and interests that will make our book club unique! We will also plant and take home a nice end-of-summer/early autumn plant at this meeting.
Date: September 20, 2019; 1-4 p.m
An Orchard Invisible by Jonathan Silvertown
"The story of seeds, in a nutshell, is a tale of evolution bursting with questions," says author Jonathan Silvertown in An Orchard Invisible. He takes the reader on a journey of discovering the natural history of seeds through the lenses of evolution. Regardless of one's perspective on evolution itself, this book raises some interesting thoughts that will be fascinating to discuss during our October book club meeting. We will plant and take home a beautiful chrysanthemum this month!
Date: October 18, 2019; 1-4 p.m.
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
An environmental classic, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson had to be on our list for our first book club series. It will round out our trio of books by allowing us to dig deeper into our understanding of the impact our choices make on the environment, which is something gardeners experience more often than most. Our final plant for the year will be a lovely houseplant that will be able to stay nice and cozy during the winter months indoors with you.
Date: November 15, 2019; 1-4 p.m.