Oak Ridge Today

UT Arboretum Society plant sale this weekend

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

UT Arboretum Society Plant Sale

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society plant sale is Saturday at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue, and there is a members-only plant sale Friday evening. (Submitted photo)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will hold its annual spring plant sale on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue. The “Members Only” sale will be on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. Memberships may be purchased at that time.

The Society will be offering plants with colorful foliage or flowers. Selections will include crape myrtle, vitex, encore azalea, hardy gardenia, hydrangea, and loropetalum. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society hosts azalea workshop Tuesday

Posted at
By 1 Comment

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will sponsor an azalea workshop at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the UT Arboretum at 901 S. Illinois Ave. in Oak Ridge. Follow the signs in the parking lot to the event site.

“Longtime Oak Ridge resident Huey Sides, a true azalea aficionado, will share his lessons learned regarding the planting, care, and propagation of azaleas,” a press release said. “Huey’s knowledge on this topic has been mostly self-taught and demonstrated with over 40 years of both successes and failures in his New York Avenue backyard.” [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society presents lecture on geology, petroleum, fracking

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Robert Hatcher

Robert Hatcher

A University of Tennessee scientist and professor on Thursday will discuss geology, petroleum resources in Tennessee, and the use of “fracking”—hydraulic fracturing—as a drilling tool.

The lecture by Robert Hatcher, a professor in the UT Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, will start at 7 p.m. Thursday at Roane State Community College. Presented by the UT Arboretum Society, the program is free and open to the public.

[Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has Feb. 7 climate change program

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Scott E. Schlarbaum

Scott E. Schlarbaum

Scott E. Schlarbaum, a professor of forest genetics at the University of Tennessee, will address the question, “Why All the Concern About Climate Change? Forests in the Future Will be Very Different With or Without Climate Change” on Thursday, Feb. 7.

The lecture will be in the City Room at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge at 7 p.m. It’s free and open to the public.

[Read more…]

Register by Thursday for UT Arboretum Society annual dinner

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Andy Pulte

Andy Pulte

Reservations are due by Thursday for an annual dinner and auction with the University of Tennessee Arboretum Society.

The Nov. 13 dinner will feature keynote speaker Andy Pulte, radio host on WNOX and University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences gardening expert, a press release said.

The dinner and silent auction start at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at The Elks Club, 684 Emory Valley Road in Oak Ridge. The public is invited, and the cost is $25 per person, the press release said.

The release said Pulte is one of the hosts of “The Garden Guy” with Sue Hamilton on WNOX’s “Garden Talk,” a weekly radio show on from 8 a.m. to 9 .m. Saturdays.

His topic for the UT Arboretum Society dinner and auction is “Backgrounds and Borders Design Theory and New Plants for Everyone.”

“Paying attention to the specific emotions plant colors evoke is important,” Pulte said in the release. “Colors can be beautiful in peaceful, happy, relaxing, invigorating and even sad ways. The colors you ultimately choose for a garden should reflect the mood you want to express.”

He will also discuss using a set of newer or unusual plants you should consider adding to your landscape this year.

The press release said Pulte grew up in the nursery industry in Grand Island, Neb. He received his bachelor’s degree in horticulture from the University of Nebraska and a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee in the area of public horticulture.

He has worked at the National Arbor Day Foundation in the education department and the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb. He contributes to several gardening publications, speaks regularly to diverse groups, and travels extensively to feed his passion for people and plants, the press release said.

The Nov. 13 dinner and auction will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour (cash bar) and silent auction followed by a buffet dinner at 7 p.m., then a brief business meeting and Pulte’s presentation. Silent actions items include fine crafts, gifts certificates, art, wine and accessories, hard tools, and more, the release said.

For more information on the Annual Dinner and Silent Auction, call (865) 482-9096 or send an e-mail to patrow@comcast.net. Cash or checks only will be accepted at the door.

To learn more about the Arboretum Society, go to www.utarboretumsociety.org.

Pumpkin Fest, regatta, car show this weekend

Posted at
By 7 Comments

From a regatta and football to a car show and pumpkin festival, there is much to do in Oak Ridge this weekend.

Tonight, the Oak Ridge Wildcats football team wraps up its regular season with a 7:30 p.m. game at Campbell County.

On Saturday, the Secret City Head Race starts at 8 a.m. at the Oak Ridge Marina, and the annual Pumpkin Fest starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. in Grove Center.

[Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society to hold fall plant sale Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s Fall Plant Sale will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the arboretum.

Proceeds benefit the arboretum at 901 S. Illinois Ave. in Oak Ridge.

Four vendors and the UT Arboretum Society will have plants for sale. All sales are cash or check only, a press release said.

“Dr. Will Witte, the Society’s ‘Answer Man,’ will be there to answer all of your plant questions,” the release said.

The release said fall is the best time to add plants to your landscape because milder temperatures and more dependable rainfall allow them to establish a stronger root system, giving them a head start in the spring.

[Read more…]