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Plant communities are assemblages of plant species living together in a given place. Interactions among plant species, the interactions plants have with other organisms, and the interactions plants have with their physical environment all work together to determine the community's structure over time. This class will give an overview on these interactions throughout the globe and a more specific study of the plant communities that occur in our region and the multitude of factors that create them.

Location: The location will be sent to registrants with other pre-class materials.

Materials to bring! Notebook, pencils, snacks, water, and a lunch. This class will be both in and out of doors, please wear weather-appropriate clothing and foot wear.

Registration Policy: 

As with all CNP classes, class size is limited. To give everyone the best opportunity to participate, there is a non-refundable cancellation fee of $10, with the balance refunded if you cancel at least 7 calendar days before the class will be held. If the class is cancelled by the instructor or the CNP program, registrants will get a full refund.

Instructors: Charlotte Freeman & Mary Priestley

Charlotte Freeman has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Emory University and a Master’s degree in Zoology with a minor in Ecology from University of Florida. She taught biology at the university level and secondary school level for 38 years. She received the National Association of Biology Teachers Award for Outstanding Biology Teacher in the State of Tennessee in 1986. She received the Distinguished Teacher Award at Girls Preparatory School in 1989. Charlotte became an advocate for native plants about 35 years ago and has received her Certificate in Native plants from the Tennessee Valley Chapter of The Wild Ones. Her passion is converting her yard to native plants and propagating them as space allows. She has been instrumental in starting several other native wildflower gardens in the Chattanooga area.

Mary Priestley is the Sewanee Herbarium Associate and a nature journalist. She is editor and illustrator of the Friends of the Herbarium's newsletter, The Sewanee Plant Press. Active in the Tennessee Native Plant Society, she has served as the society's president and assisted in writing and editing the TNPS field guide, Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians. In 2011 she authored William’s Wildflowers, a guide to wildflowers of the Southern Appalachians. In 2014, she published Fiery Gizzard: Voices From the Wilderness. Mary has been nature journaling for 15 years and has conducted several nature journaling workshops, including for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage.