Native Plant Rescue Squad

10/22/2026

When: Sunday, Oct. 25th from 12pm-3pm
Where: Trailhead B**r Market Trailhead B**r Market (https://www.instagram.com/trailheadbeer/)

*All Gender Clothing Swap
Clothing + shoes + houseware + anything ourdoor etc. Please no children's clothing.

*Free! No entry fee but appreciate donation to Native Plant Rescue Squad (NPRS) Native Plant Rescue Squad (https://www.instagram.com/nprs.knoxville/)

*Native Plants for Sale from NPRS

*Early Clothes Drop Off- message KnoxSwaps (https://www.instagram.com/knoxswaps/) or Rachael Guarnieri Pack (https://www.instagram.com/rachaaelg/)  to coordinate

*Day of Clothes Drop Off- Please arrive at 11:30am to organize clothes (SML/tops &  bottoms)

*All leftover clothes will be donated to
local non-profit for LQTBQ+ support

* Gato Peligroso Food Truck (https://www.instagram.com/gatopeligrosokno/) food truck will open early for the event! Come for brunch & lunch!!
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10/20/2026

We need to see you at our big shindig!

SASSAFRAS AWARDS 2026: Sunday, Nov 1st 5:00-8:00 PM. Please don’t wait to get your Sassafras Awards tickets! Space is limited, and we’re going to party, celebrate, and strengthen the connections that make our incredible native plant movement possible, while giving a pat on the back to the people who find rescue sites, help us dig, restore landscapes and everyone in this CONSERVATION MOVEMENT. We may be grass root peanuts, but we’re part of a much bigger conservation community because of YOU.
Tickets: (go to our website NativePlantRescueSquad.org)
Sliding Scale: $40, $60, and $80 or pay what you can to reserve a spot.

10/17/2026

Sassafras is back, and just in time for peak sassafras leaves amazing colors. This event celebrates local native gardens and their stewards in the Knoxville community and raises awareness about the importance of native plants. Come enjoy a yummy dinner, silent auction, sassafras cocktails, music, and of course, the awards! Wear your favorite sweater.
Ticket Cost:
Sliding Scale: $40, $60, and $80. Pay what you can (plus fees) to celebrate the NPRS!
Table of 10: $450
Go to our website to purchase tix and learn more: https://givebutter.com/NPRS-sassafras-2026

10/17/2026

Join our Native Plant Rescue Squad community and stay informed about upcoming plant rescues, habitat restoration opportunities, and local events!
How to stay updated:
Sign up for our newsletter to ensure you never miss an update. Tip: Be sure your subscription settings are set to "regular" so our emails land right in your main inbox.
How to join:
Comment below or DM me with your email address, or to our website and click GET INVOLVED.

By signing up, you’ll receive notifications about volunteer meetups, plant rescues, and local restoration projects happening all around you!

HabitatRestorationDefendOurForests NationalWildlifeRefugeHabitatRestoration

10/15/2026

Selling a House with a Native Plant Garden?
Make it look intentional. Ya gotta define bed edges, add mulch, and selectively prune to create a tidy, maintained appearance. Perhaps display native garden or wildlife habitat certification signs. NPRS can help with that.
How to educate buyers?
Provide a plant list, garden map, and simple maintenance guide. NPRS is also on your side. We can provide photos of seasonal blooms in the listing.
Let them know about us. We can offer a native landscaping consultation or maintenance visits for the new owners.
OR, we can relocate treasured plants before listing.
Don't assume every buyer will want a traditional lawn. The right buyer may appreciate the living ecosystem you've created. .knoxville

10/11/2026

This season NPRS is giving some well-deserved recognition to Ran Brady with Burwell Gardens for cultivating a truly exceptional, multifaceted community garden and being named a Sassafras Award Finalist this year. Ran's commitment to making the garden accessible through open garden hours, educational events, sliding-scale community garden beds, and the Common Good Garden, advancing their ultimate goal of making the community garden an open space for events. Burwell Gardens excels on many fronts, fostering both native biodiversity and community stewardship and we will be honoring them at this year's Sassafras Awards as a finalist.
Join us at the Sassafras Awards Event
Date: Sunday, November 1st, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Joy Grissom - Director

.knoxville nativeplantrescue

10/08/2026

CHEROKEE TRAIL BLUFFS - PART 1: FERNS

Cherokee Trail Bluffs 1028 Cherokee Trail, Knoxville, TN 37920

If you’ve only explored the main trails at Cherokee Trail Bluffs, there’s a whole other world tucked beyond them.

This place is a mix of rocky cliffs, steep slopes, shaded hollows, ponds, and rugged trails that wind through the bluffs. Some of the less-beaten paths are rough, and it’s definitely possible to lose your at. I've used my GPS for years to figure out where I am.

All these varied habitats come with a lot of biodiversity. Ferns are especially abundant in the damp, shaded areas along the rocks and slopes, with different species tucked away.

So we’re starting this series with FERNS.

More Cherokee Trail Bluffs experiences coming soon.

09/25/2026

Riverdale Nursery is opening their wholesale nursery for a special benefit to all native plant enthusiasts to come and shop for heaps of plant varieties not often spotted in many retail nurseries. Bring native plants you’ve thinned, divided, or simply have extra to share, along with seeds from your garden. Swap, trade, or donate what you bring, then browse and purchase something new for your home or community garden from Riverdale Nursery. Address: 3220 Rush Miller Rd, Knoxville, TN 37914

09/25/2026

09/24/2026

This coming Monday, September 28th, 9:00 am-11:00 and Tuesday September 29th (same time), NPRS, along with Knox County Parks & Rec BLOOM committee will be at John Tarleton Park, 3201 Division St., where an established native meadow needs to be moved and saved. If you'd like to join or have any questions, please email me at [email protected]
There’s swamp milkweed, American boneset, prairie grasses, lobelias, cup plant, and plenty of other native goodness hiding in the mix. It’s a little hard to count exactly how many species are in there because some renegade goldenrods and cup plants have taken over.
Nonetheless, it is a valuable native meadow, and it deserves a second chance.
Rescue. Restore. Educate. Grow Community.