Join Roan Mountain State Park from 9:00am-1:00PM EST on Saturday, September 26th in celebration of National Public Lands Day as we work to maintain and better our pollinator gardens along TN Highway 143 located at Picnic Shelter 1. Our fields were replanted in 2025 by Patchwork Meadows of Black Mountain, NC after they were flooded and destroyed by Hurricane Helene. We now have a successful sprawling native plant meadow designed to benefit pollinator species of insects.
The workday will begin with a tour of the fields, the planted species of wildflowers and grasses, and a look into the benefits host plants give to their respective insects. Work will then be done to weed out invasive plants attempting to establish in the gardens with a heavy focus on pulling Chinese Bushclover (AKA Chinese Lespedeza), cutting the seeding heads of Tall Goldenrod, and removing any traces of Multiflora Rose or Blackberry from the gardens.
This workday is limited to 30 volunteers. The park will provide all tools, work gloves, and equipment for the tasks. Volunteers are asked to wear gardening clothes that can get dirty, close-toed shoes, and bring a water bottle/snacks as needed. Restrooms and potable water will be available on the worksite. If you have a favorite weeding tool, you are welcome to bring it with you.
