UT Arboretum Society Archives

Tonight: Learn about microplastics in Tennessee River

Posted at 8:04 am June 6, 2019
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You can learn about water quality and microplastics in the Tennessee River during a meeting in Oak Ridge tonight (Thursday, June 6).

The program is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Thursday at the University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium. It’s a free program offered by the UT Arboretum Society and co-sponsored by Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning. No registration is required.

Microplastics have been in the news recently, a press release said. Martin Knoll, a professor of geology and hydrology at Sewanee: The University of the South, will explain why microplastics are an issue, and he will present his findings on the water quality of the Tennessee River during the program this evening.

As project manager for the Tenneswim in 2016, Knoll directed the most detailed analysis of Tennessee River water quality ever conducted, the press release said. During this project, Knoll and his colleagues found the highest levels of microplastics recorded in any river of the world to date.

[Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has spring wildflower walk on Saturday, April 13

Posted at 12:25 pm March 22, 2019
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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will have a meet and greet followed by a spring wildflower walk at Haw Ridge Park on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Kris Light, an expert naturalist, educator, and photographer, will lead this fun, educational, and easy walk, a press release said. (Submitted photo)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will have a meet and greet followed by a spring wildflower walk at Haw Ridge Park on Saturday, April 13, 2019. Kris Light, an expert naturalist, educator, and photographer, will lead this fun, educational, and easy walk, a press release said. (Submitted file photo)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will have a meet-and-greet followed by a spring wildflower walk on Saturday, April 13. The event is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. at Haw Ridge Park on Edgemoor Road in Oak Ridge.

Participants are asked to meet at the parking lot, which is at the west end of the park next to the kiosk, near the Soccer Trail, a press release said. The walk is free and open to the public. Kris Light—an expert naturalist, educator, and photographer—will lead this fun, educational, and easy walk, the press release said.

Participants may want to bring a camera to take pictures of the many wildflowers on the grounds. If participants have a wildflower book, Kris suggests bringing that as well, the release said. [Read more…]

Earthquake hazard in East Tennessee: What could happen here?

Posted at 4:20 pm March 7, 2019
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Robert Hatcher

Could we have a major earthquake in East Tennessee? Do we live in an active seismic zone?

These and other questions will be addressed by Robert Hatcher, University of Tennessee distinguished scientist emeritus, in a lecture, “Living with East Tennessee Geology and Earthquakes,” in Oak Ridge in April.

The lecture is scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 11, in the University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Hatcher was a faculty member for 32 years in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Science Alliance Center of Excellence at the University of Tennessee, a press release said. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Vanderbilt University and his doctorate at the University of Tennessee. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society presents smartphone camera workshop Thursday

Posted at 8:42 pm February 4, 2019
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Doug Edlund (Submitted photo)

Did you know that one of the best cameras you can own is in your smartphone? A program in Oak Ridge on Thursday titled “The Best Camera May Be the One in Your Pocket” is designed for people who have iPhones, Androids, and other smartphones, a press release said.

The class was rescheduled from January 29 to Thursday, February 7, because of weather. The class will be at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge Campus in the City Room from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Sponsored by the University of Tennessee Arboretum Society, Doug Edlund, assistant director with UT Institute of Agriculture Marketing and Communications, will share his tips and tricks to get the most out of your smartphone photography, the press release said.

“From lighting to composition, Edlund shares his experiences to help you get the best results to make your digital photos stand out,” the release said. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has New Year’s Hike on Tuesday

Posted at 5:47 pm December 30, 2018
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University of Tennessee Arboretum hike in Oak Ridge (Submitted photo)

Do you get overloaded on football, food, and festivities on the first day of the new year? The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society is offering a great alternative, a press release said: the Fifth Annual New Year’s Hike at the UT Arboretum.

The hike will be at the Arboretum, which is at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge, on Tuesday, January 1, 2019.

“Start out the year on the ‘right foot’ by joining the walk that begins at 9:30 a.m. at the UT Arboretum Auditorium, where you will be greeted by fellow hikers and offered coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks,” the press release said.

At 10 a.m. the group will leave for a guided hike that will last about 45 minutes. The hike will follow a forest trail and will visit the Elmore Holly Collection. [Read more…]

Turtle expert to be featured at UT Arboretum Society dinner, community event

Posted at 3:10 pm September 27, 2018
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George L. Heinrich with an adult male alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) in Harris County, Texas. (Photograph by Jordan Gray)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society is offering two opportunities to hear renowned turtle expert George L. Heinrich in October as part of a nationwide speaking tour. Heinrich is executive director and co-founder of the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust.

The first opportunity to hear him speak will be at the UT Arboretum Society’s Annual Membership Dinner and Silent Auction. It’s scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. Monday, October 15, at Calhoun’s Event Center at 100 Melton Lake Peninsula in Oak Ridge. Heinrich will be the featured speaker. The public is welcome to attend, and the cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members of the UT Arboretum Society, a press release said.

Reservations are required for the dinner. To reserve a place or for more information on the annual dinner and silent auction, call Pat Row at (865) 482-9096 or send her an email at [email protected]. Credit cards, cash, or checks will be accepted at the door, the press release said.

“Come enjoy an evening of great food, an interesting presentation, and silent auction,” the press release said. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has monthly hike on Saturday

Posted at 12:24 pm June 14, 2018
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Photo courtesy University of Tennessee Arboretum Society

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s monthly hike for June will be held Saturday, June 16, at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue. The hike is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Saturday.

“The weather is warm, and this is a great time to spend outdoors,” a press release said. “Learn about the UT Arboretum’s trails on this short trail hike (1 to 1.5 hours).”

This hike will be held outdoors and will be led by a volunteer familiar with the Arboretum and the trail system, the press release said. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has MOTH-er’s Night Out tonight

Posted at 10:50 am June 9, 2018
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Images submitted by UT Arboretum Society

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will sponsor the popular MOTH-er’s Night Out program to learn about moths and other nocturnal insects today (Saturday, June 9). The event is scheduled from 8 to 10 p.m. at the UT Arboretum Visitors Center, which is located at 901 South Illinois Avenue (State Route 62) in Oak Ridge.

“Have you ever wondered about what kind of insects are out hunting and eating while you sleep snugly in your bed at night?” a press release said. “Come learn about these fascinating creatures with naturalist Kris Light. Why should you spend a Saturday night learning about moths? Moths are one of the most diverse species on earth with more than 11,000 moth species in the United States alone! Their colors and patterns make them masters of camouflage. Moths are both important pollinators and a food source for other animals. After an introductory program in the Visitors Center, we will venture outdoors to check our moth attraction sheets to observe the insects that have been attracted by the black lights.”

Organizers recommend you bring a camera, your friends, and your kids, “as well as a magnifying glass, a flashlight, and a desire to learn about these fascinating critters! Bring your mother too!”

The free program is appropriate for all ages.

Five reasons to see Einstein Simplified on Sunday

Posted at 12:33 pm May 4, 2018
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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society offered five reasons to see the Einstein Simplified improvisational comedy group at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge on Sunday, May 6, 2018. It’s a fundraiser for the UT Arboretum Society.(Submitted photo)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society offered five reasons to see the Einstein Simplified improvisational comedy group in Oak Ridge on Sunday. It’s a fundraiser for the UT Arboretum Society.

Here are the five reasons to see the show, the UT Arboretum Society said: [Read more…]

David Haskell, author of ‘Songs of Trees,’ to speak at UT Arboretum tonight

Posted at 12:25 pm April 24, 2018
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David Haskell

Author David Haskell will speak about his new book, “The Songs of Trees: Stories from Nature’s Great Connectors,” in Oak Ridge tonight (Tuesday, April 24).

Haskell, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for an earlier book, will be at the University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday. The Arboretum is at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The event is co-sponsored by Strata-G LLC, the UT Arboretum Society, and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, an Oak Ridge-based environmental advocacy organization that offers informative programs and news about environmental issues affecting Tennesseans, a press release said.

Haskell, a British-born American biologist, is an author and professor of biology at Sewanee: The University of the South. Copies of his new book and “The Forest Unseen” will be available for sale at the event from Union Avenue Books, the press release said. He will be signing books purchased at the event before and after his talk. [Read more…]

Comedy group Einstein Simplified at UT Arboretum for May 6 fundraiser

Posted at 11:49 pm March 13, 2018
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Einstein Simplified

Enjoy an early Mother’s Day with comedy group Einstein Simplified

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society again presents an evening of laughter and live improvisational comedy with Einstein Simplified during a fundraiser on Sunday, May 6.

The fundraiser is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. May 6 at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

“Come enjoy the fun as this well-known Knoxville area comedy improv group entertains us with original, unrehearsed improv,” a press release said. “If you like ‘Second City’ and ‘Saturday Night Live,’ this show is for you! Given today’s roller coaster political climate, we expect a very funny show. Don’t miss it!”

Due to popular demand in 2017, the group is returning to the Arboretum for the second year, the press release said. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has Father-Daughter Hike this month

Posted at 12:28 pm February 9, 2018
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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s monthly hike for February will be held Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue. (Photo courtesy University of Tennessee Arboretum Society)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s monthly hike for February will be held Saturday, February 17, at the UT Arboretum on South Illinois Avenue. The hike is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.

In 2018, the UT Arboretum Society is offering a monthly hike on the third Saturday of each month. For the ninth year, the Arboretum is showcasing the February hike as the Father-Daughter Hike, but everyone, regardless of age, is welcome on this hike, a press release said.

“We encourage grandfathers to bring their granddaughters, uncles to bring their nieces, older brothers to bring their young sisters, etc.,” the press release said. “This is a great winter occasion to spend some quality time outdoors and to learn about the UT Arboretum’s trails. We’re all tired of the cold weather, so why not come out an enjoy some exercise?”

This is a short trail hike (one to 1.5 hours), the press release said. [Read more…]