Who didn't come down with a case of spring fever during this week's sunny days and mild temperatures?
If you can't wait to get outside, there are several events in the area this weekend offering ways to do just that. Following is a roundup of places to go and grow.
SPRING PLANT SALE
» Where: Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St.
» When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday-Saturday, April 5-6; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, April 7
» Admission: Free; plants priced from $3.50 to $20
» For more information: 423-493-9155
Nearly 350 varieties of sustainably grown fruit, vegetable, flower and herb starts (59 in tomatoes alone!) will be sold to gardeners in the urban farm's annual plant sale.
Friday's event focuses solely on the plant sale. But Saturday and Sunday, guests can enjoy free gardening workshops, live music, fun-on-the-farm activities for kids and a vendors market with 20 exhibitors.
Bring a wagon and fill it with new plants for your home garden.
OCOWASSEE FESTIVAL
» Where: Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park, 404 Spring Creek Road, Delano, Tenn.
» When: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, April 6
» Admission: Free
» For more information: 423-263-0050
You won't find crafters or live music here, but you will learn how to better enjoy the great outdoors with some guidance from the professionals.
Hourly programs will cover topics ranging from birding and wildflower walks to mountain biking, backpacking, cooking over a campfire and what to do if you get lost in the woods.
The day-long event wraps up at 8 p.m. in the group camp field where guests can view the night sky with Bill McConkey, retired McMinn Central High School teacher.
PLANT GIVEAWAY
» Where: Daisy United Methodist Church, 9508 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy
» When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 6
» Admission: Free
» For more information: 423-756-4106
The grounds of Daisy UMC are filled with colorful flowers creating splashes of color from spring to fall - so much so that it has become known as "the church with the flowers," says church member Bill Haley.
So the congregation is sharing this wealth of flowers with the community. A plant giveaway will be held for the eighth year to help their neighbors beautify their yards. The church will give away flowers, vegetables, herbs and ornamental plants.
There is a limit of three free plants per guest, and recipients must choose in person; they can't send a relative or friend to make a pickup for them.
Anyone wishing more than three plants may choose up to five additional plants for $2 each.
STRAW BALE GARDENING
» Where: Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co., 5829 Main St., Ooltewah
» When: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6
» Admission: Free
» For more information: 423-238-9775
Greta Basham demonstrates straw bale gardening from start to finish, and class members will take home a how-to booklet. It's comparable to container gardening, only the bale is the container. When straw inside the bale begins to decompose, the straw is ready for planting, creating a warm, moist and nutrient-rich environment for your plants. It's a good way to grow for people with limited space.
WILDFLOWER WALKS
» Where: Rising Fawn Gardens, 521 Cureton Mill Road, Rising Fawn, Ga.
» When: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 6
» Admission: $10
» For more information: https://risingfawngardens.com/events/interpretive-wildflower-walk
Join Josh McKinley at Payne Pavilion for a relaxing, slow-paced hike through the Lookout Creek valley at Rising Fawn Gardens while learning to identify spring wildflowers.
Bring a camera, refillable water bottle, snacks and wear comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes.
» Where: Cherokee National Forest, location details given with registration
» When: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 6
» Admission: Free, but registration required
» For more information: 423-643-6888
Enjoy a family-friendly wildflower walk on fairly flat terrain with botanist and ecologist Mark Pistrang. Bring a camera, a packed lunch/snack and water.
Sponsored by Outdoor Chattanooga, this walk is appropriate for beginner hikers and children, however participants should keep in mind the nearest restroom/restaurant will be in the nearby community of Reliance, Tennessee.
Participants will carpool to the trailhead, which is about 70 minutes from Chattanooga.
TO THE BAT CAVE
» Where: Nickajack Bat Cave and Wildlife Refuge, Mapleview Road, South Pittsburg, Tenn.
» When: 6-8 p.m. Saturday, April 6
» Admission: $75
» For more information: 423-485-1249
An estimated 100,000 gray bats roost in Nickajack Bat Cave from spring to early October. In April, when TVA begins filling Nickajack reservoir to summer levels, the warm water heats the cave enough to create a good environment for bats to raise their young,
Join REI Co-op staff for a sunset paddle to watch these bats fly out of the cave at night in search of insects. REI will provide the kayak and gear; you bring a water bottle, water shoes (but not flip-flops) and wear synthetic quick-dry clothing. Camera, insect repellent and snacks are optional.
Registration is required since limited spaces are available. However, if Saturday night's paddle is full, ask about one of the nine more trips scheduled through Sept. 21.
STAR PARTY
» Where: Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga.
» When: 8-10 p.m. Saturday, April 6
» Admission: Free, $5 parking
» For more information: 706-657-4050
Members of the Barnard Astronomical Society join the Friends of Cloudland Canyon to sponsor viewings of the night sky through telescopes.
Telescopes will be set up near the disc golf course to look for planets, nebulae and star clusters.
CHICKAMAUGA BATTLEFIELD PROGRAMS
» Where: Chickamauga Battlefield, 3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
» When: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 6
» Admission: Free
» For more information: 706-866-9241
Volunteers are needed to help paint cannon carriages throughout the park during American Battlefield Trust Park Day.
Meet in the lower parking lot of the Visitor Center. Come dressed for outdoor work in clothing that can get dirty and paint-splattered. For safety reasons, clothing should include long-sleeve shirts, long pants, tennis shoes or work boots. Gloves, brushes, paint and other equipment will be provided.
» Where: Chickamauga Battlefield, behind Visitor Center, 3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
» When: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 7
» Admission: Free
» For more information: 706-866-9241
"Fit to Fight" is a one-hour, ranger-led program examining the ways Civil War soldiers physically prepared for and exerted themselves during the Battle of Chickamauga.
This hands-on presentation will discuss physical training, clothing and nutrition of soldiers as well as several historic runs undertaken by units during battle. The program is stationary, but afterward there will be a 3.5-mile group jog following the route of one regiment's attack at the battle.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.