April has been officially designated as Tennessee Native Plant Month! After several years of decisive action, state lawmakers have concluded that this month will live on every year to support native plants and their conservation. The Garden Club of America and State Representative Greg Vital have led this initiative since 2023.
If you’d like to show your support for native plants this month, check out Reflection Riding’s Native Plant Nursery. They have a selection of grasses, herbs, shrubs, and trees that benefit the local ecosystem and have a wonder all their own.
Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center
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Plus: 26th Annual Spring Plant Sale & Festival at Crabtree Farms – April 17-19
Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga will host its 26th Annual Spring Plant Sale April 17 to 19, 2026 at the farm’s historic grounds at 1000 E 30th Street. The free, family-friendly event is one of the region’s most anticipated spring traditions, welcoming gardeners, families, and plant lovers from across the Tennessee Valley.
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How to Increase Biodiversity in Your Backyard Garden
Do you want to help native species in your area thrive? It doesn’t take much to create a biodiversity hotspot in your own backyard or garden. Check out this easy-to-follow guide. Learn what you can do to create healthy habitats for native plants and wildlife. Make your home a safe haven.
Sam Davis – Dogwood Alliance
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And…
Q&A: The Unexplored Wilderness in Our Own Backyards
Leigh Ann Henion is the New York Times bestselling author of Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark. An experience with synchronous fireflies inspired her immersive journey into the nocturnal world. Night Magic shares about the creatures that thrive in the dark – moths, salamanders, bats – and Henion’s journey towards embracing it.
Kim Kobersmith – The Daily Yonder
Image: The Garden Club of America