“Knoxville has been a springtime destination for visitors from around the region since the first Dogwood Trail was established in 1955. The Bazillion Blooms initiative started to encourage tree planting along the 85+ miles of Dogwood Trails — but why stop there?” said Dogwood Arts Trails & Gardens Manager, Vicki Baumgartner. “We want the entire community — no matter where you live — to dig in and plant dogwoods in their yard to Keep Knoxville Blooming for years to come.”
Gift & Memorial Trees: Not only does planting trees beautify the landscape, it’s also a great way to celebrate a special event, honor an individual, or memorialize loved ones. Gift trees can be purchased year-round through Dogwood Arts and include a handwritten commemorative card mailed to the recipient of the purchasers’ choosing. Many have chosen to memorialize the life and legacy of loved ones by having a tree planted; others are celebrating friends and neighbors by donating trees in honor of birthdays, new homes, births, or just the simple joys of friendship. The trees are planted along one of Knoxville’s historic Dogwood Trails, which have been a symbol of civic pride and community celebration since 1955.
Larger blooming trees, flowering shrubs, bulbs, and perennials are available at these participating Garden Centers: Ellenburg Landscaping & Nursery, Mayo Garden Centers and Stanley’s Greenhouse. $25 bare-root dogwood trees are only available through Dogwood Arts and NOT available at these gardens centers.
The Bazillion Blooms program is presented by the Knoxville Utilities Board who wants to remind the community to Plant Smart:
(1) Always call 811 before you dig to have utility lines marked.
(2) Be sure to plant the right tree in the right place to ensure trees remain out of utility maintenance zones, and
(3) select native plants that require less water, fertilizer and pesticides to maintain.
Learn more at www.kub.org/plantsmart.
Dogwood Arts, presented by ORNL Federal Credit Union, is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to promote and celebrate our region’s art, culture and natural beauty.