If you go
› What: Plant Natives 2017 Symposium› Where: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, University Center, 642 E. Fifth St.› When: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18› Admission: $60 general public if register today, $70 after March 16; $50 Wild Ones members if register today, $70 after March 16› For more information: tennesseevalley.wildones.org/plant-natives-2017/2017-symposium
Save the date
› April 7-9: Spring Plant Sale and Festival at Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St. Hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.› April 21-22: 30th annual Native Plant Sale at Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, 400 Garden Road. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Purchase a plant at the sale and receive free admission to the 317 acres nature sanctuary.
The Tennessee Valley chapter of Wild Ones is hosting its sixth annual Plant Natives symposium on Saturday, March 18, in the University Center on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Its workshops are designed to teach novice and experienced gardeners how to use native plants in their landscapes, offering practical tips and even plant selections on-site.
Saturday's symposium will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m., followed by an hour to browse exhibits and plant sales. Its four sessions are:
* 8:45 a.m. Planting in a Post-Wild World, presented by author Claudia West, ecological sales manager at North Creek Nurseries in Landenberg, Pa.
* 10 a.m. Challenges to Using Native Plants in Commercial and Residential Design: A Landscape Architect's Perspective, by Steve Sanchez. He has served on the board of Trees Atlanta and oversaw the landscape design for the development of the corporate headquarters for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee on Cameron Hill.
* 1:15 p.m. Practical Considerations in Native Plant Landscapes, by Mike Berkley, co-owner of GroWild native plant nursery in Fairview, Tenn.
* 2:30 p.m. Native Plants and Sustainable Landscapes, by Rick Huffman, founder of Earth Design, a landscape architecture firm in Pickens, S.C.
The workshop led by Claudia West on Designing Plant Communities scheduled for Friday, March 17, has sold out.
Reservations due for EarthCare workshop
Sally Wencel, Master Gardener of Hamilton County and a member of the Chattanooga Tree Commission, will lead EarthCare’s spring workshop on Saturday, March 25, at Greenway Farms in Hixson from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.The workshop’s theme will be choosing beautiful native plants to replace invasive exotics.The event is free, but preregistration is requested as soon as possible since EarthCare members will provide lunch. Register by emailing activities@earthcareonline.org or call 706-278-3979.