It was a packed house — or tent! — last month as the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum held its 15th annual Green Thumb Gala, the largest fundraiser of the year for the horticultural gem located less than five miles from downtown.
The 47-acre non-profit public garden is on the former site of historic Howell Nursery and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Signature features of the garden, located at 2743 Wimpole Avenue in East Knoxville, include numerous different themed garden areas plus more than two miles of distinctive stone walls, several curious stone roundhouses, and a variety of event spaces. The garden is open free to the public every day, thanks to generous contributions and fundraisers such as the Green Thumb Gala.
The Knoxville Botanical Garden traces its history to the 1780s when it was established with a land grant from a new Untied States of America to David Wessel Howell of Buncombe County, North Carolina, for his “exemplary” service during the American Revolutionary War. Howell planted an orchard, established a family farm and began selling fruits and vegetables to local families and businesses. He also began selling the trees, seeds and small plants settlers heading west needed to begin their own farms and gardens. We are so fortunate his descendants planned for the preservation of the original garden and generously arranged for it to be open to visitors.
Now, let’s look at that party! Continue reading