Newsletter Articles & Archive

By Margaret Littman

It’s about that time, you may be thinking. Daffodils have popped up, red buds are budding and the grass isn’t dormant any longer. It might feel like it is time to get the lawnmower out of the shed and start the seasonal chore.

You might consider holding off on that. In Davidson County, April is “no mow month.” It’s the local part of an international movement to encourage people to hold off mowing the lawns for the first month of spring. Proponents believe that not mowing allows plants that attract pollinators—like dandelions and clover—to grow long enough to bloom. And master gardeners know what more pollinators means: better flowers. Longer grass may also attract more non-pollinating, but in-demand, insects like fireflies. Longer grass may also help improve water absorption, stopping fertilizer and chemicals from heading to runoff. 

Plus, you get a little extra rest before mowing is your regular chore again.

Cumberland River Compact has worked with Metro Codes to develop the local No Mow April program. As long as your grass is 12 inches long or shorter, you won’t be subject to any kind of Codes violations. Sign up for free with the Compact and you’ll get directions on how to get a No Mow sign. You’ll stick it in the ground on your own and let Codes (and your neighbors know what you’re doing). After the month is over, the Compact will grab the sign for re-use next year.

When No Mow April is over, make sure your lawnmower blades are sharp. It may take two passes to cut the grass to the length you like it.

By Blake Davis

Two years ago, I achieved a dream I didn’t think was possible. I bought a house with a little bit of land—a place where I could plant, grow, and restore.

Exploring the property I quickly realized nearly everything growing here was invasive. Tree of Heaven (the host plant for the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive insect destroying native trees across the eastern U.S.) and Japanese honeysuckle were rampant.

After MGDC members Caroll Marrero convinced me to read some Doug Tallamy, and Paul Prill got me all excited about native planting, I’m doing what I can to fight the war against invasive bushes and plant as many trees as I can.

I contacted the Cumberland River Compact program “Root Nashville”. They are dedicated to increasing the tree canopy in Davidson County, giving three free trees to neighborhood yards across Nashville. 

I found out they also have a large-yard tree program made for places of worship, HOA’s and residents with enough land to support 10+ trees. After a few site visits and some commitments for care, I’m honored they chose to deliver a large number of trees to my yard—each one a quiet force in an ever-growing urban landscape.

For months I dug holes every night, augering pilot holes and expanding with a shovel. Some friends and new neighbors came to help, and that summer found my daughter eating her first berries from a baby carrier on my back, pointing and squawking until I let her pick straight from the new Serviceberry (or as I prefer, Juneberry) trees in my yard.

The Quiet Power of Trees (Why This Matters Beyond Berries and Beauty)

Now my daughter is about to turn three years old and has already asked me about a dozen times this year when summer is coming and the Juneberries will be ready to eat. My yard is starting to fill with sounds beyond the typical traffic and airplanes we hear so close to a city as the buzz of insects increases and butterflies like Red-Spotted Purples and Viceroys have started appearing more regularly in the yards connected to mine.

The past two summers have seen friends and neighbors bring cups and buckets to share in berry activities like picking and baking.

In 2021 I lived on one of the worst hit streets when the 7 Mile Creek flooded. I was out in knee to waist deep water until 2am helping neighbors out of their houses and pointing them across the street and uphill to my house where my wife and over a dozen traumatized neighbors were waiting with blankets, children, babies and dogs as they could watch through our window as their houses flooded across the street.
This is what Root Nashville is about. Their goal is to plant 500,000 trees across Davidson County by 2050.
Call your representative: Request that they look into what is happening with these funds that were secured, but have been removed with no warning.
Donate to Root Nashville: Every penny makes a difference.
Plant a tree yourself, or even better become a Tree Planting Captain! If you have a yard, now is the time to put roots in our Nashville neighborhoods. 

But planting trees isn’t just for the insects, berries, and pretty views.

Trees do essential jobs for the city’s health such as lowering temperatures, cleaning the air, supporting wildlife and, you guessed it, preventing flooding.

Bad News with No Warning 

In February 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture pulled around $1 million in federal funding that had been earmarked for The Cumberland River Compact’s tree canopy program, canceling plans that were built off of valid contracts meant to place trees where they are needed most.

I reached out to my contacts at both Root Nashville and the Cumberland River Compact. They assured me that the work will continue—Root Nashville remains funded by Metro Nashville and Metro Water Services, and Cumberland River Compact is still financially stable. 

But they confirmed what this lost funding means: Fewer trees planted in low-canopy neighborhoods that need them most, fewer contracts for Tennessee tree farmers who grow these trees, less green space growth, and slower progress in the fight against extreme heat and urban flooding.

What You Can Do (Right Now) to Help

Spread the word: Many people are unaware of the Cumberland River Compact, Root Nashville, or their funding cuts.

If you want help, call me and I’ll lend my shovel—as long as you’re willing to let my 2 and 4 year old bring theirs. And I’ll bring some berries if they’re in season. 

By Bethany Fancher

Urban farming- in Nashville this can have a suburban feel, at least it does in my neighborhood. Our enclave has yards that are often 1 acre, so there is some ground to play with. We have a neighborhood group meeting once a month, not because we are an HOA, (we are not that),  it is just a way to get to know neighbors and organize some projects together. Sometimes it’s a trash pick up around the neighborhood, sometimes a porchfest or planting trees. Last week it was a seed swap. Besides swapping some seeds, we talked about all the upcoming plant related events fast approaching, as well as timelines for planting and preparing. Dormant oil was a timely topic- the weather is warming up and soon buds will pop open (perhaps by the time this is published) - read the label on the dormant oil container, it will advise for different kinds of trees and plants for what is the best moment to spray for each. Pick a non-windy day between 40 to 70 degrees.Thwart those mites! 

Another topic discussed was how to make a yard into an official farm. My main crop has been garlic, and I’ve been ramping up production for a few years. I also have some small cold frame beds for growing greens over winter. I registered my yard plot with the USDA and got a farm and track number. Now that I have that, I am eligible for programs through the NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE( NRCS), like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) grant to help me expand my growing season for winter greens by getting a hoop house (these are big enough to require a permit from Metro). Unfortunately, after a site visit from an NRCS representative, it was determined my yard has too much slope for a hoop house (needs to be 4% grade or less, I am told). If it had been less than 4% grade slope, I would have been a candidate for a hoop house grant. Also, due to sudden funding cuts, farmers are being backtracked out of grant money already promised to them this year. So I can’t say for sure what will be available for these EQIP grants right now. But if you are growing some crop and want to get a farm and track number, you can do that with a very small plot, just talk to someone at the USDA about what you want to be growing and what you have been growing- Also, just  fyi, getting a farm number does not change your tax status, in case anyone is wondering or getting excited about that aspect, zoning stays the same. 

Lastly, we talked about the Smart Yard program, in case you missed the memo: TN Smart Yards Festival in Davidson County is on May 10^th from 9am-1pm at the Demonstration and Education Gardens at Ellington. I have the Smart Yard certification, and I encourage my neighbors and beyond to take up the challenge, make it a group challenge, support each other, share equipment, make it easier!  It’s about  designing your yard to be a healthy ecosystem. Sequestering water into the ground or catching it in a rain barrel will create less water run-off, less flooding. Tree and plant roots help secure the soil from erosion. Creating pollinator gardens, and no-mow yards help the ecosystem thrive and can cut down on labor (no mow!). Root Nashville and the Nashville Tree Foundation are excellent resources. We planted almost 300 trees in my neighborhood! When the summer heats up, we’ll stay cool.

Review of Robert Pavlis, Soil Science for Gardeners:

Working with Nature to Build Soil Health,

British Columbia: New Society Publishers, 2020

By Paul Prill

“I feel the earth move under my feet” is the title of a 1971 song by Carole King. It was not about gardening! But if we became aware of the living organisms in the combinations of sand, silt, clay and organic matter which support our plants, we could imagine the earth moving under our feet and could appreciate what those movements do to produce a healthy soil. 

Much of what we practice in gardening is the result of lore passed from generation to generation. As one of my associates used to say, “if it works, use it." But we often use it without assessing its consequences for our soil health. After all, if we want bigger plants or more tomatoes, we just add fertilizer. 

Unit 5 in our master gardener handbook introduced us to basic concepts about soil health. Soil Science for Gardeners: Working with Nature to Build Soil Health, by Robert Pavlis expands those 16 pages into a 200 page book, but don’t be put off. Pavlis writes for the non-specialist gardener to help us better understand how maintaining a healthy soil in turn promotes plant health. You might, though, want to refresh your memory about the basic concepts before you launch into this more extended discussion. 

Because this is a book for gardeners and not for academics, Pavlis has lots of practical advice which arises from the soil science he presents. Some of those we already practice because they work. But some practices we might want to rethink.

Too often we reach for a standard 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer when we already have, in most of our yards, an overabundance of phosphorus.. We do this not realizing that phosphorus can reach toxic levels. In the spring we crank up our tillers/cultivators and grind away at our gardens to get that soil good and loose. In doing so, we also destroy soil structure and the fungal networks which allow our plants to take up nutrients they need to grow and fruit. 

Since the extension service is committed to science-based horticultural and agricultural practices, we are reinforcing that commitment when we take some time to learn more about the science. Soil Science for Gardeners is very readable, and you will get many answers to “your anything you want to know about soil” questions

By: James Hearn

Master Gardeners are known for their passion for home horticulture and their dedication to sharing gardening knowledge. But did you know that your garden or landscape can be more than just a source of beauty and fresh produce? It can also be a living laboratory, contributing valuable data to scientific research. As Master Gardeners, we're uniquely positioned to act as Citizen Scientists, bridging the gap between our communities and the world of scientific discovery.

So, what exactly is a Citizen Scientist? Simply put, it's an amateur researcher who contributes to scientific knowledge. This can take many forms, from observing and recording natural phenomena to collecting data and even participating in experiments. Master Gardeners, with our established network and deep connection to the plant world, are ideal candidates for this role. We already possess a wealth of gardening experience and a desire to learn more. By combining these qualities with a few key skills, we can transform our gardens into valuable sources of scientific information.

Our gardens, whether they're sprawling landscapes or container plantings on a balcony, are dynamic ecosystems. They’re microcosms of the larger environment, influenced by weather patterns, soil conditions, and the interactions between different species. This makes them perfect for observing and recording changes over time. The unique value of local, long-term observations cannot be overstated! Researchers often rely on large-scale, short-term studies, which can miss subtle but significant trends that unfold over years. Master Gardeners, rooted in their communities, can provide this crucial long-term perspective. We can track the arrival of pollinators, monitor the spread of invasive species, or observe the effects of changing climate patterns on our plants, all within the familiar context of our own gardens.

Scientific literacy is an essential ingredient for effective citizen science. It means understanding experimentation, reasoning, and basic scientific facts. It means being naturally curious, asking questions about the world around you and seeking answers to those questions. It means being able to read science articles in newspapers and magazines and assess whether those findings are valid. Because Master Gardeners are informed about science and technology, you can evaluate the quality of information based on its source and the methods used to generate data. Most importantly, being scientifically literate allows you to distinguish science from pseudoscience. Differentiating between the two can help you avoid misinformation and poor advice found on websites and other unverified sources.

Becoming a Citizen Scientist as a Master Gardener involves cultivating a few key skills. Systematic observation is paramount. This means paying close attention to details, noticing patterns, and recording your observations accurately. Careful data collection is essential for ensuring the reliability of your contributions. Using standardized methods and tools, whether it's a simple notebook or a dedicated app, will make your data more valuable to researchers. Critical thinking is also crucial. As you collect data, you'll need to analyze it, identify potential biases, and draw informed conclusions. Citizen science is often a collaborative endeavor, so the ability to work effectively with others, including professional scientists, is important. Finally, sharing your discoveries is a vital part of the process. Whether through writing articles in Master Gardener newsletters, delivering a presentation at a Speaker's Bureau event, or fielding questions at an Ask a Master Gardener event, communicating your findings helps to expand our collective understanding of the natural world.

How can your garden and landscape become a source of valuable scientific information? There are numerous citizen science projects that welcome the participation of Master Gardeners. Here are a few examples:

UT Home Garden Vegetable Trials: (https://mastergardener.tennessee.edu/home-garden-vegetable-trial) This program, sponsored by the University of Tennessee, enlists Master Gardeners to grow and evaluate different vegetable varieties in their home gardens. Participants receive seeds and instructions, then provide feedback on plant growth, yield, pest resistance, and flavor. This data helps researchers identify top-performing varieties for Tennessee gardeners.

Tennessee Butterfly Monitoring Program: (https://www.zooknoxville.org/conservation/tennessee-butterfly-monitoring-network) Butterfly enthusiasts can contribute to conservation efforts by monitoring butterfly populations in their own backyards. The Knoxville Zoo provides training and resources for identifying different butterfly species and recording their numbers. This data helps track butterfly populations and assess the health of their habitats.

Great Backyard Bird Count: (https://www.birdcount.org/) This nationwide event, organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, encourages birdwatchers of all levels to count birds in their backyards for a designated period of time. Participants submit their data online, contributing to a massive snapshot of bird populations across the country.

Budburst: (https://budburst.org/) Budburst enlists citizen scientists to make careful observations of the timing of plant life cycle events (phenophases). Participants can choose from featured research projects or create their own, focusing on specific plants or ecological questions that interest them.

These are just a few examples of the many citizen science opportunities available to Master Gardeners. By participating in these projects, you'll not only be contributing to scientific research but also deepening your own understanding of the natural world.

Each year during the prime-time gardening season, any Master Gardeners of Davidson County member can show off their garden by hosting a tour or open house. When you host a garden tour, you earn 15 volunteer hours. In addition, any Master Gardener who assists a host in preparation for the tour can record one volunteer hour for every hour you assist (including travel time to and from the garden). Master Gardeners who visit the tour garden can count the visit for one CEU hour.

Here are the steps for hosting a garden tour or open house:

Schedule: Decide on a date and time for the tour. Generally, tours take place on Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Time and hours are up to the host; a two- to four-hour window provides ample time for visitors to come and go as they are able. You may provide a rain date, but it’s not required. 

Email the request at least two weeks in advance to gardentours@mgofdc.org. Along with the date and time, include the address of the tour, a bit of information about your garden, and a couple of recent images that we can include with the announcement. 

Plan: Even if your garden is a “work in progress,” Master Gardener colleagues enjoy and learn from it. We encourage tour hosts to include an educational component. Possibilities could include visible labels on plants, including botanical names; a listing of plants in the garden; a handout with information on design/planting/maintenance, or other learning opportunities relevant to your garden.

Enjoy: Welcome visitors, chat with your gardener colleagues, walk with them around the garden and enjoy showing off your hard work. Some hosts provide very light refreshments, but it’s not required. Water is nice to have on hand, though, especially on a hot day.

Questions? Email Gloria Ballard at gardentours@mgofdc.org.

Get to know our 2025 First Vice President: Karen Kupelian

- What is your favorite thing about gardening? I love the beauty it adds to the world and being able to enjoy it on my own and with others.

- What led you to become a master gardener? I enjoyed gardening since buying my home but knew much less than I wished to. I wanted to know how to care for my yard and my friends and families yards with evidence backed research.

- What is your favorite thing about being a master gardener? The community and commitment to growing and education. The all hands on deck mulching days, the way we celebrate milestones with and for each other and learn from each other is wonderful.

- What is your favorite memory during your time as a master gardener? So many! Apple tasting in class to garden tours and the satisfaction of weed pulling and mulching at the arboretum with friends.

- What is your favorite season as a gardener? Spring! reminder of the renewal and life that spring brings. 

- How many years have you been gardening? Less than 10

- Have you always gardened in TN or did you start somewhere else? What is the same/different? I have always gardened in TN with a background growing up in Maryland and college and grad school in Virginia. All the same growing zone so I had some familiarity with the plants that would grow there. 

- If you were moving and could only take one plant with you, what would it be? I'm really a sucker for flowering plants and trees. I guess an Iris tuber- they are easy to transplant and spread nicely.

- What are some staples that you will always grow in your garden? Boxwoods, azaleas, iris, peony, helleboreus, dafodils, coneflower, rose and Hydrangea. I hope to always have a cutting garden to share with friends and family.

- What is the most important lesson you have learned about gardening? To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. It takes time, patience, pruning, consistency, management to reap the rewards a garden can offer. Also of course-right plant, right place.

By: Susanna Hadley

Over the last few years, especially since joining the Master Gardeners of Davidson County, my fascination with the diversity of gardens across cities, states, and counties has grown. Traveling has provided me with a unique opportunity to explore varied landscapes, understand communities better, and add many new destinations to my bucket list. In this article, I want to share my experiences visiting extraordinary locations and exhibits that left a mark on my journeys, connecting me to the places and people I discovered along the way.

Aburi Botanical Garden, Ghana:

Nestled at the base of the Aburi Mountains in Ghana lies the Aburi Botanical Garden. During my recent visit to Ghana, West Africa, I felt compelled to explore this enchanting oasis. The long royal palm tree walk that greets visitors into the park immediately captivated me. Covering approximately 160 acres, the garden boasts a diverse collection of trees and plants thriving in the cooler climate afforded by the higher altitude compared to neighboring capital, Accra. Although my exploration was just the beginning (I didn’t have time to cover the full 160 acres!), I eagerly anticipate returning next year for a guided tour and perhaps experiencing one of the many festivals hosted in the gardens.

Orchids: Amazing Adaptations at Smithsonian Gardens, Washington DC:

In February, I visited the Smithsonian Gardens in Washington DC. The "Future of Orchids: Conservation and Collaboration" exhibit was a testament to the intricate beauty and resilience of these fascinating plants. Featuring over 350 live orchids alongside captivating artworks by artist Phaan Howng, the exhibit provided both amazing sights and valuable insights into orchid conservation efforts. Joy Columbus, Director of the Smithsonian Gardens, described the exhibit as a rare opportunity to explore the "weird and wild world of orchids." Not only was this a fun way to spend time with my friends and family, but it also deepened my understanding of the importance of addressing challenges such as climate change and habitat preservation.

Chelsea Flower Show, London, England:

While I haven't had the chance to attend personally, I had the pleasure of living vicariously through my sister's experience at the Chelsea Flower Show. Regarded as the pinnacle of flower and gardening events, the show showcases breathtaking landscapes and innovative designs that epitomize horticultural excellence. My sister was awestruck by the skill and creativity on display. I asked her to describe her experience, and she shared, “The most impressive part of the show was the creation of these stunning gardens in just a few weeks. They built incredible landscapes that looked like they'd been established for years. The skill, design, and effort required were truly amazing. I also loved how many gardens embraced sustainability and a natural, organic feel that really seemed to resonate with everyone.”

In closing, I'm reminded of the joy and inspiration that nature and gardening offer across our country and the world. Whether exploring botanical gardens abroad or nurturing our own green spaces at home, it’s always a great opportunity to live in the moment and explore new spaces. I hope we all can draw inspiration from our travels, whether they are in our own Davidson County gardens or gardens thousands of miles away.

By: Blake Davis

As a child I had a favorite spot on a crooked tree by a creek where I’d process the confusion of adolescence by watching water striders and tadpoles, and getting lost in the constant movement of life in a forest.
I grew up on a farm in a rural part of Tennessee where the sky was only ever full of birds, breathtaking sunsets or stars. The noise was different there, a layered and organic hum of life. The wind in the trees, the crack of sticks and leaves from deer hooves and small animal paws were the sounds I knew. I didn’t have context for the continuous whir of airplanes, the startling scream of street-racing cars, or the ever-present churn of construction. 

The nearest neighbor was a quarter of a mile away. I was a kid who could pee wherever I wanted. I could jump buck naked into a river (though why I would I can’t guess, it was always ice cold). Gardening wasn’t something I ever thought of- why would I when there were crawdads to catch, bluffs to climb and crooked trees for sitting and thinking? 

Now, in hindsight, I could tell you the forest was filled with mountain laurel, and I hunted copperheads in groves of glade ferns. I didn’t know their names then-I only knew they were my world to explore. 

My favorite moments were when I’d find a hummingbird moth (Hemaris diffinis) hovering nearby, its wings buzzing so fast it seemed suspended in time. My whole world would freeze as I watched this fairy-like creature flicker around me, a quiet miracle I never knew to be rare. 

But time moved on. I was swept into the all-encompassing stages of life- leaving home, learning trades, struggling towards stability, building a livelihood, then a marriage, then a family.
And my mom had to sell the farm when times got hard. 

Through it all, I knew someday I’d scrape enough together to own my own house and soil, and then I could have my own peaceful, quiet spot again. 

What I didn’t realize as a small-town kid was that if you marry a city girl in an urban county, unless she’s a Cheek or a Vanderbilt, the land you start off with is not likely to be a dense evergreen forest within the city limits. 

So after I finally achieved that grand dream of home ownership, this farm boy had a rude awakening when I stepped out of my newly bought ranch home in a bathrobe and discovered there were six angles of neighbors who could see me in my backyard. 

I had to find another way to carve out a feeling of solitude without the budget for a fence. 

The First Attempt

The first attempt was a valid -though ignorant- effort. 

I sourced 36 small arborvitae from a nursery and spent a record-hot Saturday with a rented auger, attempting to create a barrier between my yard and the rest of the world. 

I assumed this would fix the issue, so I confidently planted these three-foot trees, which I was confident would grow into an impenetrable barrier blocking all airplane and construction noise while hiding me from all my neighbors. Then I could find peace again.

I built a pergola from scrap wood to hide in. I dug. I planted bushes. I wanted a sense of enclosure, a green refuge where my kids could run barefoot without an audience. I waited. I checked those arborvitae every day for the first few weeks. I realized I had no idea what the heck I was doing. 

Then I joined the Master Gardeners, and everything started to shift. 

The Unexpected Outcome

One of my favorite skills I learned as a farm boy (that I hated when I was a farm boy) is that chores must be done no matter the weather or discomfort. 

Animals must be fed and watered, even if it takes dragging half-frozen water buckets across a field in eight inches of snow.
The outcome is that as an adult, my neighbors will often see me out at 11pm with a headlamp in 30 degree weather. I became “the weird gardening guy.”

To my surprise, they began stopping me when they drove by to tell me what they were beginning to plant and ask me to help them plan. 

I planted trees in neighbors' yards. 

I won over a particularly grouchy neighbor when I kept offering fresh flowers from my garden. 

The deeper I plugged into the community of Master Gardeners—whose passion and excitement for the work were contagious—the less I focused on building walls and more on opening doors and sharing the abundance that gardening brings.
It occurred to me this would be incredibly difficult if I didn’t live in an urban setting, surrounded by neighbors. 

This humbled me. It also made me feel fraudulent as a newly minted Master Gardener as I met this community of passionate, kind and generous members, the best of plant nerds. 

A Garden That Gives Back

My plans have only ever become more audacious.

After three years of building the yard, creating spaces to sit and connect with friends, and growing plants to share with others, my wife and I found a house just a few minutes farther from the city with three times the land and mature trees around the back yard.

It’s a dream I didn’t think I could see living in Davidson County. 

We listed the house and its messy, scrappy yard, and just so happened we sold it to an incoming Master Gardener.

The garden I built in an attempt to hide is now being nurtured, expanded, and shared by someone who knew exactly what to do with it, something I took five years to discover. 

As I packed up the very last of the moving trailer and took one final look to say farewell to the garden where I discovered my passion and numerous mistakes- something caught my eye. 

A flicker of motion. 

Hovering between the hostas I had planted but would no longer tend, I saw little wings buzzing so fast they seemed suspended in time.

It was the first and only hummingbird moth I’ve seen since leaving my childhood farm. 

In that moment I wept. 

Gardening in an urban space isn’t about building walls to close ourselves in to hide from neighbors, it’s about creating an oasis. A place where life, in all its forms, can pause and find nourishment. For a hummingbird moth, it’s a rare bloom in an ever-shrinking ecosystem. For friends and neighbors, it’s a space to connect with life and each other-a reason to stop, to breathe and to belong.