Tennessee Yards Done Right and A 'River of Daffodils' in the Yard!

From In the Garden

The daffodils are such a joy in the garden. These bulbs reward the gardener with years of beauty and one can't help but to smile when you see all their sunny faces in the garden, or in this case, in my yard.

Speaking of yards, this post is really about the Tennessee Yards and Neighborhoods Program. This is a fairly new statewide program that is modeled after similar programs in Florida and North Carolina. The purpose of the program is to help Tennesseans learn how to have a yard that is in harmony with Tennessee’s native flora, soil and topography.

At it's heart are nine principles that will help make our yards more compatible with nature and better able to-ah how to put it-look good, be more functional, and reduce our water run off and poison use. I think we all want this in our yards and neighborhoods. The nine principles are as follows:

• Right plant, right place
• Manage soils and mulches
• Appropriate turf grass management
• Water efficiently
• Use fertilizer appropriately
• Manage yard pests
• Reduce storm water runoff and its pollutants
• Provide for wildlife
• Protect water’s edge

Did you know the number one source of pollution in our streams and waterways is 'point of source' pollution? That is pollution coming from home use. It is the oil someone dumps down the drain, the sediment running off our properties, fertilizers leaching into our water table and running into our storm drains, and much more. While each of us contribute only a little bit the amount all together is staggering. This program helps to make us all aware of the problem and works with us to find better ways of reducing the pollution in storm water runoff from our yards to protect a precious resource we all need to live, that is water.

The University of Tennessee (UT) is working in conjunction with county extension agents and master gardeners to get the word out and to teach Tennessee residents how to work with their yards in a harmonious way that is beneficial to all. Karla Kean is our local extension agent and she has a workshop scheduled for Saturday, April 10, 2010 at the Civic Hall located at 350 Pageant Lane. The workshop begins at 8:30 and lasts until 3:30 pm. The cost is $35 per individual or $50 for couples. For that $35 you get several goodies, including a certificate for a soil test, a rain gauge and other helpful items for your yard in addition to learning how to do your yard right. The fee barely covers program costs. If you are interested in this workshop give Karla a call at (931)647-5725 or email her at: kkean@utk.edu. She needs to know how many to expect so she'll have the supplies available at the workshop but if you wish to show up that day, I think that will be fine too though the class is limited to only 25 persons so call a head to be sure to save your spot.

In the meantime enjoy my 'river' of 'Ice Follies' daffodils....

in the garden....and a yard done right.

P,S. I'll be teaching a class there about landscape design-think right plant-right place. Come on out and join the fun.

Everyone have a great Easter from all of us here at In the Garden!

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden