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The Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum sits on a ridge-top 5 minutes from downtown Knoxville surrounded by an urban community. The gardens are a magical place with whimsical round stone buildings, stone-sided greenhouses and secret garden paths and alleys. Today, mature specimens of rare and unusual trees and shrubbery remain, surrounded by thousands of feet of beautiful stone walls that define the planting areas. The process of identifying, mapping and tagging every tree, plant and shrub on the property is underway.
It is expected that it will be at least four years before any gardens are planted. In the short term underbrush and vines in the woods will be cleared, trees thinned, dead wood cut out, and pathways established for the arboretum. Under planting of shady plants such as hosta, ground cover, ferns, and wild flowers can begin slowly. In the long term, the arboretum will have an example of every tree native to this region (of which there are many) as well as the rare and exotic trees already established.
Also, in the short term flowers will be planted seasonally in the garden areas. Eventually, the goal is to invite nationally noted garden designers to design pleasure gardens so that when they are installed we will have a collection of important gardens. No other botanical garden can make that claim, and it will make ours quite extraordinary and significant, drawing large numbers of garden enthusiasts to Knoxville.
Ultimately, the Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum will be a bird sanctuary, have places for meditation, areas for cultivating rare flowers and plants. Sculpture and water will be used in the gardens as well as in transition areas from garden to garden. Part of the long-term plan is to have an amphitheater based on the Greek model where annual theater festivals can be held. Greek comedy or tragedy could be performed or a Tennessee Williams play could be featured since he had a strong Knoxville connection. The amphitheater could be used also for symphonic performances, rock and roll concerts, revivals and other events.