2022 Evening Speakers
We’re back! History and health of the 72-year-old Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
Wednesday evening
Speaker: Joey Shaw, Chair SWFP Organizing Committee, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
(Read about the speaker)
The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park began in 1951 as a collaboration between GSMNP Staff, the City of Gatlinburg, and regional academics, naturalists, and artists. The original goal was to bring the public to this "great outdoor classroom" as winter transitions to spring to drive education and public awareness on the Park's biodiversity, conservation of resources, and importance to humanity through scientific, cultural, and artistic lenses. These traditions continue today and our Pilgrimage is currently the oldest and largest event of its kind in the US.
The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the war on pollinator decline with ecological gardening
Thursday evening
Speaker: Kim Eierman (Read about the speaker)
Countless pollinator species have suffered dramatic declines in recent years. It’s a serious problem for all of us since pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of 80% of all flowering plants on Earth, and at least 30% of the food that we eat. Unfortunately, our managed landscapes offer little in the way of appropriate habitat and forage for these essential animals. With ecological design strategies and informed native plant selection, you can attract and support a wide array of pollinators that have different requirements. In this talk, Kim Eierman will share useful tips from her book, The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening. Get the information you need to start your own Pollinator Victory Garden this spring!
Wednesday evening
Speaker: Joey Shaw, Chair SWFP Organizing Committee, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
(Read about the speaker)
The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park began in 1951 as a collaboration between GSMNP Staff, the City of Gatlinburg, and regional academics, naturalists, and artists. The original goal was to bring the public to this "great outdoor classroom" as winter transitions to spring to drive education and public awareness on the Park's biodiversity, conservation of resources, and importance to humanity through scientific, cultural, and artistic lenses. These traditions continue today and our Pilgrimage is currently the oldest and largest event of its kind in the US.
The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the war on pollinator decline with ecological gardening
Thursday evening
Speaker: Kim Eierman (Read about the speaker)
Countless pollinator species have suffered dramatic declines in recent years. It’s a serious problem for all of us since pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of 80% of all flowering plants on Earth, and at least 30% of the food that we eat. Unfortunately, our managed landscapes offer little in the way of appropriate habitat and forage for these essential animals. With ecological design strategies and informed native plant selection, you can attract and support a wide array of pollinators that have different requirements. In this talk, Kim Eierman will share useful tips from her book, The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening. Get the information you need to start your own Pollinator Victory Garden this spring!