Butterfly garden celebration

Burgess Falls State Park and Natural Area will host the ninth annual Butterfly Garden Celebration from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 15. A variety of educational programs will be offered in the award-winning Native Butterfly Garden and surrounding park for this event.

“This fun-filled day of celebration is an opportunity to enjoy the butterfly garden at the peak of its beauty and to learn why it is such an important asset to Burgess Falls,” said Bill Summers, park manager. “We are excited to provide educational programs such as hikes, landscaping with native plants, butterfly identification walks, creek studies, birds of prey, and reptiles and amphibians.”

Scheduled programs will include:
9 a.m. - Walk in the Woods
State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath will take participants on an easy hike through the forest, talking about trees and telling their stories. The forest is likely to provide a few surprises from the multitude of plants and animals that make their home there.

10 a.m. - Birds of Prey
Join the Burgess Falls Ranger staff at the park’s amphitheater to learn about Tennessee’s native hawks and owls.

11 a.m. - Mammals
Join the Burgess Falls Ranger staff at the amphitheater to learn about native mammals.

11 a.m. and 1 p.m. - Landscaping with Native Plants
Meet at the amphitheater to learn how to landscape with native plants and attract butterflies and other wildlife to your own yard. The program will be held at 11 a.m., followed by a repeat presentation at 1 p.m.
Noon and 2 p.m. - Butterfly Identification Walk
Middle Tennessee Naturalist John Froeschauer will lead an informal butterfly identification “walk and talk,” beginning in the open garden and continuing into the nearby woodland habitat. His talk will focus on native butterfly food and nectar plants. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars. The program will be held at noon, with a repeat presentation at 2 p.m.

Noon - Creek Studies
Participants will learn to measure a stream’s health by observing the animals that live in it. Please meet at the picnic pavilion and wear wading shoes.

2 p.m. - Hike to the Big Falls Overlook

Participants will join the park’s Ranger staff for an hour-long hike from the picnic shelter to the main falls overlook. They should wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Meet at the amphitheater.

Burgess Falls is a 200-acre park, which lies on the rugged Eastern Highland Rim in Putnam and White counties. It is noted for its sheer bluffs, narrow ridges, waterfalls and diverse forests. The Burgess Falls Native Butterfly Garden was created by park staff, the Putnam County Master Gardeners, countless volunteers and the Iris Fund group and received the 2006 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award in Excellence in Parks and Recreation.

Tennessee's 54 state parks offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families, or business and professional groups. State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses. Celebrating its 75th Anniversary this past year, the Tennessee State Parks system was established through legislation in 1937. Today, there is a state park within an hour's drive of just about anywhere in the state, offering a variety of recreational, lodging and dining choices. For more information about Tennessee State Parks, please visit www.tnstateparks.com or connect via Facebook or Twitter. For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call 1-888-867-2757.

For more information about the Butterfly Garden Celebration at Burgess Falls State Park and Natural Area, please call (931) 432-5312.