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Review of Katherine Willis, Good Nature: Why Seeing, Smelling, Hearing, and Touching Plants is Good for Our Health, New York: Pegasus Books, 2024
by Paul Prill (2020)
Katherine Willis is a professor of biodiversity at Oxford University, and, for five years, she was director of science at the Royal Botanical Gardens (Kew) in London. She has also received the Michael Faraday Medal for the public communication of Science. This brief biography tells us two things about this book. It is heavily research based, and it is delightful reading throughout. She noticed, as do we, that she was happy walking through the gardens, attending to her senses as she encountered plants for themselves objects to study. And so, she set herself the task of trying to understand why that happens.
Since the 1990s, researchers have been using more sophisticated tests to determine the physical and mental health benefits of plants for humans. Blood analyses, MRI scans, EEGs used to determine whether or not plants actually can reduce inflammation in our respiratory and digestive systems or reduce mental fatigue, slow the progress of dementia, or lift depression. In chapter after chapter, citing study after study, Willis offers us proof that plants give us much more than food and colorful palettes.
She not only explores fully our basic sensory experiences of plants, she also takes us into the world of microbes as well as the more macroscopic creation of interior “sense-scapes” so that our dwellings and offices more closely mimic the experiences of being outdoors.
“Don’t wear gloves when you garden (thorns excepted!).” “Take walks, even short walks, in the woods.” “Put a spider plant on your work desk.” “Have a beautiful plant growing outside a window where you can see it from your workspace.” “Have a vial of cedar essential oil open in your home or office.” Gardeners have always understood this advice, but we are often dismissed as purveyors of snake oil. Katherine Willis provides the needed documentation to prove we are not just perpetuating old wives’ tales.
In the last chapter entitled “Prescribing Nature,” Willis suggests that, given the accumulating evidence of nature’s ability to improve our health in the areas of reducing harm, restoring capacities, and building capacities, we need more encouragement from doctors to get outside. We do not yet have enough evidence to throw away all of our pills, but we have enough to encourage more people to take two doses of nature and call us in the morning!
News and Information from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
Contact: Patricia McDaniels, UTIA Marketing and Communications, pmcdaniels@tennessee.edu
For Release
March 3, 2026
Help Stop the Spread of Spotted Lanternflies by Finding Egg Masses
UTIA entomologist recommends smashing eggs before they hatch in spring
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The invasive spotted lanternfly, which can cause damage to many plants, has been detected in a few Tennessee counties, but all residents can help stop the spread by looking for and destroying egg masses before they hatch in the spring.
The adult female spotted lanternfly lays egg masses in September through November on host plants and other smooth surfaces, such as railroad ties, rocks, lumber, downed limbs and logs. Egg masses survive cold winter temperatures, and the first instar nymphs begin emerging in the spring. The nymphs mature through the spring and early summer before becoming adults in the beginning of June. The first, second and third instars feed on a variety of host plants. The fourth instars and adults prefer tree of heaven, grapes, black walnut, silver maple, red maple and willow.
“The best way to control spotted lanternfly outbreaks is to prevent them,” says Midhula Gireesh, assistant professor and University of Tennessee Extension specialist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. “Careful inspection for egg masses should be made on many types of products stored outdoors, such as firewood and lumber, before they are moved and shipped or before shipments are accepted. Since eggs start hatching at the end of March, now is a good time to scout for egg masses and destroy them.”
Each egg masses typically contain up to 60 eggs and are brown with a gray waxy covering. They are arranged in rows and over time, the waxy covering can weather and disintegrate, exposing the eggs.
To destroy the eggs Gireesh recommends using a scraper card or old credit card to crush the eggs while scraping them into a container filled with soapy water or hand sanitizer. Each egg must be crushed when removed from its hiding place. Eggs can still hatch if scraped off a tree and left on the ground. Be sure to crush nymphs and adults.
Spotted lanternfly is native to China, India and Vietnam and was first detected in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture confirmed spotted lanternfly in Davidson County in 2023, and it has also been confirmed in Wilson and Sullivan counties.
The adult insect is brightly colored with red, brown, black and white on its wings and a black and yellow body. Spotted lanternflies can damage plants with piercing and sucking mouthparts, especially when large numbers feed on a single plant. They also cause indirect damage when adults and nymphs excrete honeydew as they feed. The sugary honeydew can promote growth of fungal mats of sooty mold at the base of trees, fruit, and on the foliage of plants which in turn make plants susceptible to other insects and disease-causing organisms.
If you see an insect or egg mass you suspect is a spotted lanternfly, please notify the Tennessee Department of Agriculture through an online form: tn.gov/protecttnforests/resources/report-a-pest.html.
For information on spotted lanternfly life stages and lookalikes, refer to the Southern Spotted Lanternfly Working Group website: southernslf.org.
For more information, refer to UT Extension publication “Spotted Lanternfly” at tiny.utk.edu/W1032.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.
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Reprinted, with permission from Urbaanite Nashville (May 2024)
by Jada Thompson
It may be surprising to some that areas of our beloved city are in the midst of a food desert. In four areas of Davidson County alone, North, South, East Nashville and Edgehill, grocery stores and nutritious food options are scarce or entirely unavailable. Fortunately, Wonderful People Farm is working to eliminate this disparity through educating, growing and building community.
On a 21-acre plot in Goodlettsville, Tennessee lives Wonderful People Farm, a place that harvests an energy of empowerment, learning, and growth. This open pasture is home to forested trails booming with wildlife in hopes to foster a means to grow healthy foods and support urban communities.
What is Wonderful People Farm? Founded in 2021 by Tonya and Chris Lewis, Wonderful People Farm operates as a teaching farm where youth, women, BIPOC, and underserved individuals have the opportunity to get hands-on experience in cultivating and growing their own foods.
What is a food desert? “A food desert is an area that is devoid of having grocery stores or access to healthy, nutritious food options. A food desert within a rural community is when there is no grocery store within a 10 mile radius; in a city a desert exists if there isn’t a grocery store within a mile of you,” explains Tanya. This judgment-free zone welcomes any person, particularly those experiencing a food desert, in order to attain knowledge and resources to grow their own food: “A big part of addressing the food desert situation is empowering those people that live in those areas to get into micro farming and have an opportunity to control how they eat,” Maxwell says.
Here at Wonderful People farm, the opportunity to learn is endless. In their offered workshops, folks can work side-by-side with skilled farmers, gardeners, and specialty crop producers to learn how to grow their own food and help restore natural resources, plants, and wildlife: “It’s all hands-on experiential learning where you actually put your hands in the dirt and you learn from seasoned and professional experts,” says Tanya. There is power in knowledge and using the resources provided to us by the earth. By educating people about how to utilize natural resources, it gives opportunity to groups of people who historically don’t always have them; “It is important for people to know how
to grow food because when you have your basic needs met, you have the opportunity to really claim ownership of the things you put in your body.”
Wonderful People Farm offers a variety of farming and gardening workshops, connects small-scale urban farmers, gardeners and producers to educational programming, technical training and funding opportunities, and partners with local schools for volunteering, interning, and work-based learning opportunities. To learn more about Wonderful People Farm, visit mpmicrofarm.com, and follow them on Instagram @wpmicrofarm.
by Amy Dunlap
April is a pivotal month in the vegetable garden. It’s the time to finish soil preparation, make sure nutrients are in place, and get both cool- and warm-season crops moving toward a strong harvest. Pre-plant fertilizer, applied according to soil test results, ensures that early crops have the nutrients they need for vigorous growth.
Cool-season vegetables should be nearing the end of their planting window. Finish direct seeding or transplanting now to avoid crops maturing under hot summer conditions. Early-seeded leafy greens and root crops may already be ready for harvest, giving the first taste of the season.
For warm-season vegetables, April is the month to start thinking ahead. Purchase or prepare transplants, and plan for direct-seeded crops like beans or corn. While some gardeners sow these a little before the frost-free date, soil temperatures remain a critical consideration. Cool soils can delay germination, especially for untreated seeds or supersweet corn varieties.
When transplanting warm-season crops, timing and preparation matter. While frost-free dates guide planting, the real limiting factor is often soil temperature. Harden off seedlings before placing them in the garden to reduce transplant shock and encourage strong root development.
Vegetables in containers and raised beds can give you a head start on the season. These setups warm faster in the spring, drain well, and allow for more precise fertility management. Warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers do particularly well in containers or raised beds, especially when soil temperatures in the ground remain borderline. Containers also make succession planting easier, letting you move or replace crops as needed without disturbing established beds.
Beyond vegetables, April is also a time to monitor and manage fruit trees if you grow them alongside your garden. Spring disease sprays can protect new growth and reduce pressure on your vegetable crops later in the season.
By carefully preparing soil, timing plantings, and attending to early growth conditions, April sets the stage for a productive summer garden. Paying attention to both cool-season finishing crops and warm-season starts now ensures steady harvests and healthy, vigorous vegetables all season long.
Thank You, Amy
by Melinda Davis
On a hot summer afternoon in middle Tennessee, the difference a tree can make is something most of us have felt firsthand. A shaded yard is cooler, more inviting, and often more alive with birds and pollinators. As gardeners, we understand that what we plant today shapes the experience of a space for years to come.
Across Nashville, that idea is taking root on a larger scale. Root Nashville is a public-private campaign, led by Metro Nashville and the Cumberland River Compact, to plant 500,000 trees across Davidson County by 2050. The work is supported by a range of local partners, including Nashville Tree Foundation, Metro agencies, and neighborhood groups. While the number is ambitious, the approach is familiar: steady, thoughtful planting paired with ongoing care.
Many of the benefits are ones we already see in our own landscapes. Trees help cool surrounding areas during the heat of summer, slow down stormwater after heavy rains, and provide important habitat for wildlife. They also contribute to healthier soil over time and make our neighborhoods more pleasant places to live and garden.
Just as in our own yards, though, planting is only the beginning. Young trees need consistent watering, proper mulching, and a watchful eye during their early years. We often say “right plant, right place,” and the same holds true here — thoughtful species selection and siting can make the difference between a tree that struggles and one that thrives for decades.
This is where Master Gardeners have a natural connection to the work. Many of the skills we use every day translate directly. Whether it’s helping a neighbor choose an appropriate tree, demonstrating proper planting techniques, or simply modeling good care in our own gardens, we contribute to the long-term success of Nashville’s canopy.
There are also opportunities to get involved more directly. Community planting events, becoming a neighborhood planting captain, or sponsoring a tree are all ways to support the work beyond our own landscapes. Even small actions — checking on a newly planted tree during a dry spell or encouraging others to think about placement and care — can have a meaningful impact over time.
One of the strengths of this effort is its focus on the whole community. Some areas of Nashville have fewer trees and feel the effects of heat and runoff more acutely. Expanding the canopy in these neighborhoods helps create a more balanced and resilient city, something that benefits all of us.
As gardeners, we’re already part of this story. Each time we plant thoughtfully, care for what’s growing, and share what we know, we’re contributing to a healthier landscape — not just in our own yards, but across Davidson County. Root Nashville offers a way to extend that impact, one tree at a time.
Master Gardeners don’t forget to submit your entries for the TENNESSEE EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM SEARCH FOR EXCELLENCE AWARDS.
These awards provide the opportunity to recognize excellent outreach and service across the state as well as the amazing people who power that outreach. There are six categories for local outreach as well as two individual volunteer and partner categories!
The handbook below has been updated to give you all the details you need to submit your great local efforts!
Click HERE
Gardens That Feed the City - Community, culture, and food sovereignty in bloom
by Brenda Peterson
Some of Nashville’s most meaningful gardens don’t just delight the senses—they nourish people and communities.
Across the city, community gardens serve as outdoor classrooms, urban sanctuaries, and gathering places. The Nashville Food Project’s Community Agriculture Network supports more than 80 gardeners, providing spaces to grow food, learn together, and build connections. Gardens like McGruder Community Garden in North Nashville and Donelson Community Garden are rooted in shared ownership, welcoming neighbors of all ages and backgrounds to grow food for themselves and one another.
Education and cultural preservation also flourish here. The Latin American Ethnobotanical Garden, curated by CLACX, features more than 50 culturally significant plant species from Mexico, Central America, Brazil, and the Black Atlantic. With agaves, sages, cassava, epazote, and traditional food crops like corn and beans, the garden honors ancestral knowledge while teaching new generations. Tours offered from May through October highlight the intersection of ecology, history, and cultural knowledge.
School-based and hybrid gardens like BELL Garden at Bellevue Middle School and Vanderbilt’s Community Garden further expand the impact, blending sustainability research, food distribution, and hands-on learning. These spaces act as testing grounds for better growing practices—and better ways of living together.
As the USDA defines it, a community garden is any shared space where people grow plants together. In Nashville, those spaces grow far more than vegetables. They cultivate food security, creativity, intergenerational learning, and a shared sense of belonging
Companion planting is one of the simplest ways to grow a healthier, more productive garden—without relying heavily on chemicals or constant intervention. By intentionally placing certain plants near one another, you can improve growth, deter pests, enrich the soil, and even enhance flavor.
At its core, companion planting is about relationships. Just like people, some plants thrive together, while others prefer a little distance.
What Is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is the practice of growing different plants close together so they benefit one another.
These benefits can include:
This method has been used for centuries in traditional agriculture, most famously in the Native American “Three Sisters” planting system.
The Three Sisters: A Time-Tested Example
The “Three Sisters” method pairs:
Together, these three crops support one another in a balanced, productive system. It’s a beautiful reminder that diversity strengthens a garden.
MGOFDC members at the Heirloom Vegetable Garden, Tennessee Agricultural Museum, Ellington Agricultural Center, provide a yearly hands-on workshop regarding the Native American companion planting method “Three Sisters” for Master Gardener members and interns to learn about sustainable gardening practices and experience a piece of agricultural history.
Popular Companion Plant Pairings
Here are some tried-and-true combinations:
Basil may help repel insects like hornworms and whiteflies while potentially improving tomato flavor. Plus, they pair perfectly in the kitchen.
Onions help deter carrot flies, while carrots don’t compete heavily with onions underground.
Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for aphids and beetles, drawing pests away from cucumbers.
Radishes mature quickly and help break up the soil for shallow-rooted lettuce.
Marigolds are famous for deterring nematodes and certain pests. They also attract beneficial insects.
Plants That Don’t Get Along
Just as some plants thrive together, others compete or inhibit growth. A few combinations to avoid:
How Companion Planting Helps Your Garden
Legumes like beans and peas add nitrogen back into the soil, benefiting neighboring plants.
Tall plants can provide shade for sun-sensitive crops, while ground covers reduce weeds and retain moisture.
Diverse plantings create a more resilient garden ecosystem.
Getting Started
You don’t need to redesign your entire garden overnight. Start small:
Observe what works in your space. Gardening is as much about learning as it is about growing.
A Gentle Reminder
And, last but not least, companion planting isn’t magic—it’s strategy. Results can vary based on climate, soil conditions, and local pest populations. But even small changes can create noticeable improvements.
By working with nature instead of against it, you create a garden that feels balanced, abundant, and alive.
Join us for live distant teaching on Tuesdays in May for our May food production series. This fun series will provide all you need to know about sustainable practices for selecting and managing fruit and vegetable crops in your home food production spaces.
Topics include:
Selecting cultivars of fruits and veggies for disease resistance and quality
Composting and soil amending
Using cover crops for soil building
Supporting beneficial insects
And more!
Three live webinars on May 5th, May 12th, and May 19th
Register Here: tiny.utk.edu/maywebinarseries
Earth Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 22. A day to demonstrate support for environmental protection, organizations across the country observe the day in many different ways.
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally through earthday.org including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.
The original Earth Day, conceived by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, was meant to raise awareness about pollution and environmental degradation. Over time, it led to significant policies like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This history reminds us that celebrating Earth Day should go beyond just awareness; it should foster action and inclusion.
Things you can do for Earth Day:
Actionable Earth Day Activities
At-Home & Virtual Activities
Earth Day Celebrations in Nashville:
Centennial Park Conservancy Presents NASHVILLE EARTH DAY, Wednesday, April 18, 2026, Centennial Park
Earth Day in the Hood, Wednesday, April 18, 2026, Nashville Public Library Pruitt Branch.
The Master Gardeners of Davidson County
P. O. Box 41055 Nashville, TN 37204-1055
info@mgofdc.org
UT/TSU Extension, Davidson County
Amy Dunlap, ANR Extension Agent
1281 Murfreesboro Pike Nashville, TN 37217
615.862.5133
adunla12@utk.edu
©2026 Master Gardeners of Davidson County All Rights Reserved. NOTICE: Trade and brand names are used only for information. Tennessee Extension does not guarantee nor warrant the standard of any product mentioned; neither does it imply approval of any product to the exclusion of others which also may be suitable. Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating. Tennessee Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
