Tuesday, February 28, 2012 12:43 pm

On Saturday, February 25, thirteen Cannon County residents with the Stones River Watershed Association, students from Middle Tennessee State University School of Agribusiness and Agriscience, and the Master Gardeners of Rutherford County assisted park staff in planting nearly 1,000 native plants including Carolina buckthorn and swamp milkweed along the Stones River floodplain at McFadden Farm, near the site of one of the bloodiest engagements of the Battle of Stones River.

Before planting, park staff cleared non-native invasive plants like Chinese privet which quickly dominate and outcompete native plants. The restoration of native plants improves water quality in the Stones River and habitat for wildlife and other organisms.