Restore: Nurturing Nature's Next Generation
This year, we witnessed how a single field trip can spark a lifelong journey in conservation. For Jahore Vann, a junior at The Howard School, that spark has grown into a blazing passion for environmental stewardship through our Native Landscape Apprenticeship program.
Reflect: Finding Purpose in Land Stewardship
At Reflection Riding, we often pause to consider what it means to truly reflect in nature. Few stories capture this essence better than that of David Riall, whose connection with our campus began during the isolating days of COVID-19 and has blossomed into a profound relationship with nature and land conservation.
Apprenticeship Update - Fall 2024
Our apprentices continue to learn land stewardship through invasive removal, botanical knowledge, and career development. Our Lead Naturalist, Emily Jackson, gives an account of their progress throughout the third quarter of 2024.
Gum Spring Creek Restoration
At Reflection Riding, conservation and restoration are at the heart of everything we do. As part of our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, we’re excited to announce that we’re undertaking a significant streambank restoration project on Gum Spring Creek.
Gaining Ground for Land Conservation
This past year, we welcomed 455 students from The Howard School to our campus and hired three Native Landscape Management Apprentices—Jahore Vann, Blandy Lopez, and Maria Alonzo Francisco.
Kym Martin Saves Monarchs
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are beautiful wonders of North America. During their southerly migration in late summer, we welcome them to our campus, where they can feed at two waystations filled with milkweed. Kym Martin is a monarch enthusiast who manages the two stations and has big plans for their future!
Restoring an Imperiled Bog Ecosystem
Last week, our land management team ventured to the southern Blue Ridge Mountains to aid in the restoration work of an imperiled Southern Appalachian bog ecosystem. Read on to see the collaborative work being done to restore this bog.
Students of Landscape Management
Thanks to generous support from United Way, Reflection Riding has partnered with Howard High School to engage their students in conservation work and establish a career pathway in conservation and native landscape management. This past January, we hired two Howard students as Native Landscape Management Apprentices, and we’ve been so grateful to have them on our team! Read on for an update of their experiences in environmental stewardship!
Clearing the Sea of Invasives
We are excited to give an update on our invasive species removal project, thanks to grant funding from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture! Since the summer of 2023, we have worked on habitat restoration on the northern end of our property through the removal of invasive species–more specifically, fragrant honeysuckle. Read more on the work completed and what we have to look forward to as the weather allows for the project to resume.
Land Conservation Efforts Grow
Our land conservation team worked through a variety of important projects and, simultaneously, expanded our Native Plant Nursery into its best year yet!
Tennessee Department of Agriculture Supports Invasive Species Management at Reflection Riding
We are excited to announce that we have received an invasive species removal grant from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, allowing us to tackle the management of a four-acre area on campus that is overgrown with invasive species.
Management of 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘷𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘮 Underway Along Trails
It’s that time of year again! The part of the growing season when invasive species management efforts on campus are focused on an exotic grass, 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘷𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘮.
2022 Prescribed Fire Season Reintroduces Fire to Landscape
Prescribed fires can be helpful for many reasons, including the removal of unwanted species that threaten species native to an ecosystem. Using prescribed fires as a management tool will also help these areas recover and restore its native biodiversity.
Historic Conservation Easement Complete
Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center has completed the process of permanently preserving its 300+ acres of idyllic green space in the heart of Chattanooga. Reflection Riding partnered with the American Battlefield Trust and the City of Chattanooga to further protect their scenic land forever through a historic conservation easement. With partners like Reflection Riding, the Trust has worked to protect more than 53,000 acres across 24 states. This work adds an important tract of “The Battle Above the Clouds” to conserved, historic landscapes across the greater Chattanooga region.
The American Chestnut Tree
The American chestnut tree, Castanea dentata (C. dentata) was once one of the most dominant tree species of deciduous forests in the eastern United States. The effort to restore the American chestnut species involves developing American chestnut populations that are resistant to blight.
Hospitality Association Brings Project Full Circle
In 2020, a group from the Hospitality Association volunteered at Reflection Riding, pulling Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) in our new Playscape area. Many of the volunteers from last year’s Trail Day returned this year and planted 120 native Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) to restore and help re-forest the area they had previously cleared. We enjoyed seeing the project come full circle and can’t wait to see the Spicebush swallowtails that will have a field day in that area!
