Tree Walks

Who doesn’t like to take a walk and learn about trees? There is always something new to learn about trees!

Trees Knoxville finds experts in the field who generously donate their time to share with the pubic their tree knowledge. Tree Walks take place in neighborhoods, greenways, arboretums, parks, and other public spaces. They are geared for all walking abilities and vary in distance. The walks are planned for an hour but may run longer due to the amount of information and participant interest.

Tree Walks are announced on Things to Do & Happenings and Facebook page. After tree walks, participants often get together at a nearby establishment for conversation and more fun!

Tree Walks are free to the public.

How to Identify Trees in the Winter with Mac Post

January 22,2022

25 brave folks showed up on a very chilly but sunny January afternoon at Meades Quarry to learn how to identify trees in the winter. Mac Post, naturalist, took us on a walk that included working in small groups and using a key to native trees of Ijams to identify trees. Mac talked about the differences between opposite and alternative leaves; how to look at the terminal bud and axillary buds, how different tree barks vary, and much more. He talked about how trees may have a certain scent that also help identify trees. It ended up not being as cold as the weather predicted. It was a great way to spend a weekend afternoon, and everyone left knowing more that afternoon then they knew in the morning! Thank you, Mac for a great walk!

Downtown Knoxville with Kasey Krouse

December 16, 2021

Under a clear starry sky, Kasey Krouse, Knoxville’s Urban Forester and Trees Knoxville Board Member, led a large group of 26 through downtown Knoxville for Trees Knoxville’s annual Holiday walk. Kasey talked about the challenge of growing trees in the urban setting where cement is more prevalent than soil. He talked about some of the problems that have occurred and how as an urban forester he addressed and solved those problems. Kasey pointed out the many different species of trees, their root systems, and how the different trees each have varying care plans.

Holston River Park walk with Jim Cortese

October 25, 2021

The slight fog coming off the river gave a perfect backdrop for a sunny crisp morning for our tree walk along the water with the resident Lorax of Tennessee, Jim Cortese of TIPCO. We started at the pavilion near the boat ramp and walked the greenway that parallels the river. Jim shared a lifetime knowledge to include tree facts, tree folklore, fun facts, personal stories, tree care, and his famous tree jokes. We strolled for two hours as Jim pointed out every tree and gave a little information about each one. Trees Knoxville is extremely grateful and appreciative of you, Jim! Thank you for always being so willing to share your knowledge with us!

4th & Gill Walk with Evan Tishuk

August 11, 2021

What a great and hot evening with Evan Tishuk and former board member Gordon Coker! Evan put together a perfect walk, and we visited the largest species of each tree in the 4th and Gill neighborhood. After the walk, we went to Geezers Brewery at 225 E Fifth Ave using the secret staircase to get there!

Background

Years ago several residents made a map of the 4th and Gill's largest and most notable trees, and it was lost to time. During the pandemic, the map was rediscovered. Many of the trees had died or been removed. The initial goal of the project was to update the map and add new trees, but it evolved into: identify the largest examples of all the tree species within the neighborhood with the ultimate goal of becoming a registered arboretum.

Old Gray Cemetery Walk with

Jim Cortese

March 7, 2020

Old Gray Cemetery will never be the same again! 30 people showed up to hear one of Knoxville’s most knowledgeable tree person, Jim Cortese, founder of Cortese Tree Specialists, talk about the 59+ species of trees at Old Gray Cemetery where he helping to restore and keep alive some of Knoxville’s oldest trees. Jim didn’t disappoint as he led the group for almost two hours pointing out trees, sharing tree history, and educating about tree care. Old Gray Cemetery has the largest sycamore in Knox County that Jim knows about, and he’s been around! Jim’s favorite Dogwood also resides there! It’s a very lovely place to walk around with over 400 trees!

How the City of Knoxville Grows Trees in Cement with

Kasey Krouse

Downtown Knoxville

December 19, 2019

Kasey Krouse, Knoxville's Urban Forester, walked us around a festive downtown in balmy 37 degrees temps and talked to us about how the city grows trees in cement. We started at the big tree on Gay Street and made our way around to end up on Market Square. Thanks to everyone who came out and braved the cold temps!

Riparian Buffer Repair with

Lori Saal & Clay McCammon

Wentworth Greenway, Town of Farragut

October 2, 2019

After a rain, have you noticed how the waterways turn orange? That change in color is caused by the soil being washed into our waterways.

Trees Knoxville and the Town of Farragut Stormwater teamed up to talk about the importance of trees for our waterways and how they help keep stormwater in check. On this walk, Lori Saal, Stormwater Coordinator, and Clay McCammon, CAC AmeriCorps, explained the importance of Riparian Buffers, which is vegetated strip of land along a waterway that helps to protect water quality and provide wildlife habitat. Some of the benefits are: providing shade and clean water for the aquatic habitat; stabilizing stream banks; reducing runoff; decreasing erosion; and filtering sediment (soil) and nutrients (fertilizers) from the water. A natural stream would generally be lined by trees and native herbaceous vegetation, but when it isn’t, sediment can clog a waterway and create an inhabitable environment for aquatic wildlife. Not only does it affect wildlife, it affects our drinking water because all that sediment has to be filtered out before being sent to your home, which we pay for in our water and sewage bills. What happens on the rivers, creeks, and streams affects all of us.

Discovery Tree Walk with Joe Cope

Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum

August 29, 2019

Trees Knoxville was honored to have Joe Cope a Tree Service Technician with the City of Knoxville, as well as a Public Horticulturist Certified Arborist lead us through a less traveled area of the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum pointing out trees that we didn’t know were there! He explained how the trees growing in rows were remnants of the Howell Nursery days…probably meant to be sold but weren’t and how trees grow in a forest vs in an open space. He showed us some interesting trees and taught us a little bit about each species. Thank you, Joe for a great walk! We finished up the evening with conversation and laughter at Boyd’s Jig and Reel.