UT Gardens Summer Programs

     KNOXVILLE – The University of Tennessee Gardens announced a number of May events that are open to the public.
    Some events recur throughout the summer. Many are free of charge, but some are fee-based and require advance registration.
    The UT Gardens Spring Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 8 at the UT Gardens Friendship Plaza Entrance.
   A variety of plants not readily available locally will be on sale to benefit the Gardens. The sale will include new selections of bananas, elephant ears, Rudbeckia, conifers, and an assortment of native azaleas, mountain laurel, and spring-flowering trees.
    Friends of the Gardens are invited to shop early from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 7. For information on the Friends of the Gardens, go to http://utgardens.tennessee.edu/support.html
    Noon and Twilight Tours of the Gardens will be held May 18 and every third Tuesday at noon and 6 p.m. at the UT Gardens Friendship Plaza Entrance.
    The tours will be held through October, and the dates are May 18, June 15, July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 21, and Oct. 18.
    A tour guide will meet visitors on the Friendship Plaza. Tours are free to the public.
    May Lunch and Learn will be held at noon May 20 at Classroom 124 of the South Greenhouse.
    UT Gardens volunteer Stuart Bartholomaus will lead an interactive demonstration of stretches participants can do to warm up prior to gardening and to cool down afterward.
    Following a stretching regimen can help prevent common injuries and help individuals become more fit. This program is free. Participants are asked to bring a sack lunch and beverages will be provided.
    Books and Blooms will be held at 10:30 a.m. May 20 at UT Gardens Friendship Plaza Entrance.
    This event features volunteers reading stories for the younger set. The event is free and open to the public. Additional dates will be determined.
    The program Dig, Grow and Learn will be held for the first time this year. Beginning in May, the Gardens' staff will offer monthly classes and workshops for children, families and adults.
    Adults can learn about various topics such as gardening, floral design and garden art. Family workshops are a way to learn and explore the garden with the entire family.
    Throughout the year, families can learn about topics such as flowers, container gardening and wreath making. These classes and workshops are fee-based and require advance registration. See
http://utgardens.tennessee.edu/news_events.html for more information.
    Garden Sprouts and Garden Buds will also be held in May. The UT Gardens will offer many programs and tours specifically designed to teach children about the wonders of the natural world.
    Garden Sprouts is a program designed for children ages 3 to 5 and an accompanying adult. Garden Buds, designed for children ages 6 to 9, dig into the garden one Saturday a month and explore topics such as trees, bugs and even slugs.
    These classes and workshops are fee-based and require advance registration. For more information go to, http://utgardens.tennessee.edu/news_events.html.
    Gardens Discovery Day Camps will begin in June and will be held on various dates throughout the summer for children ages four through 12.
    These fee-based camps are filling up fast, so those interested are urged to make their reservations early.
    For more information about these and other educational programs at the UT Gardens, call Emily Smith, Education Coordinator, at
(865) 974-7151 or email esmith27@utk.edu.