Native Plants 101

Join accomplished naturalist Mary Priestley for a day of exploring the forests areas around St. Mary’s Sewanee and learning about its remarkable collection of native plants. Participants will acquire tools for identifying and becoming familiar with plants of the local area. The workshop will begin with the introduction of basic plant anatomy terminology, followed by an exploration of characteristics of some of this area’s more important and recognizable plant families.

After lunch and a walk around the St. Mary’s Sewanee grounds to try out newly-acquired plant identification skills, participants will each choose, from the selection offered, one plant to “adopt” and become well acquainted with it, including making a simple drawing using materials provided. Reference materials, including copies of the Tennessee Native Plant Society’s field guide “Wildflowers of Tennessee the Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians” by Horn and Cathcart will be available for use during the workshop. Participants who have cell phones with web-searching capability are encouraged to bring them.

The workshop fee includes lunch. Accommodations are available before and after the workshop; inquire with the Reservations Manager.

Mary Patten Priestley is curator of the Sewanee Herbarium and editor of “The Sewanee Plant Press,” the quarterly newsletter of the Friends of the Herbarium. Additionally, Mary facilitates the herbarium-sponsored nature journaling group. She leads wildflower walks and teaches workshops for the herbarium and for the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Smokies as well as leading classes and workshops for the Certificate in Native Plants Program sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones and for the Tennessee Naturalist Program. Mary has authored several books, including “William’s Wildflowers,” “What If Trees Could Walk?,” and “Sewanee Wildflowers in Watercolor.” She and husband Mac, a retired University of the South mathematics professor, have three grown children and two grandchildren.