Plateau Discovery Gardens

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The University of Tennessee runs the Agricultural Experiment Station — Plateau Research and Education Center just a couple miles from my home on my road—Highway 70N. I pass its access drive every time I go to town, but the site itself is set back by about a half mile, so there is nothing to see from Highway 70N except open fields bordering the road.

I've been a little curious about the center, but didn't feel I had anything in common with agricultural research, so I never drove in to see what was there. The thing that was truly silly of me is that I never paid attention to a second roadside double-sign that included the information that it was also the site of the Plateau Discovery Gardens. In my defense, I think that it would be helpful if their sign also included: "Open to the public, free admission."

Go on to the next page to see some of the garden.

Recently, as I was coming home from town, I decided to drive in, just to get a look at what was there. I figured the worst that could happen was that someone would tell me this was private property and I should turn around and get out.

But this was my lucky day, because when I pulled in there was a convenient parking lot, and next to it were those Discovery Gardens spread over an area of 2 to 3 acres with a wonderful selection of plants, shrubs, flowers, and landscaping...AND they have one section that is officially designated as the Butterfly Garden, which means that it contains many more butterfly-attracting flowers than I could possibly grow around my house. Of course, that means that just a couple minutes down the road I've found a whole lot of butterflies to photograph on lots of different flowers. Today, for the first time this year, I even saw a Monarch Butterfly, and it was enjoying a Buzz Hot Raspberry Butterfly Bush.