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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers Nan Hampton, Jimmy Mills and Barbara Medford to be the culpable and capable parties. Yet, others think staff members Damon Waitt, Joe Marcus and Philip Hawkins might play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

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Crossville, TN
Plants for centerpieces that can be planted in a garden
I want to purchase flowers in Crossville, Tennessee to use as centerpieces and then plant in my garden. What are the best suggestions to do so?
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Crossville, TN
Need suggestions for a vine to grow on a fence in Crossville, TN
I would like your suggestions on a vine to grow on a fence in part shade that would look good in winter as well as summer, if possible, for a site in Crossville, TN.
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Crossville, TN
Yellow butterfly in Tennessee
I live in Crossville Tenn and am seeing a butterfly that is yellow with a long hanging. What is it and what is it doing?
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crossville, TN
Plant ID in Crossville TN
I live in Crossville TN and have found a common plant on hikes in the state park. It has long (1-1.5)narrow leaves that are green and deep red? What is it please?
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Cookeville, TN
Native plant initiatives for universities in Southeast U.S.
Hello, I am an undergraduate student majoring in botany at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN. I am a native plant enthusiast and would like to promote n.p.'s on campus. Do you kn...
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Jamestown, TN
Plant identification
I have found a small tree like plant that is small and the stem or trunk was thin and the leaves look like fern leaves. I also found a larger one it was thicker and closer to the ground the leaves wer...
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Loudon, TN
Lifespan of non-native weeping cherry tree
What is the lifespan of a weeping cherry tree? Thanks.
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Loudon, TN
Native Plants for a Steep Slope in TN
Hello, I live in Knoxville, TN and have a very steep slope in our backyard. There is a lot of water erosion causing our grass to be covered with red dirt. I would love to try to plant something on thi...
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Oak Ridge, TN
General information on native Fendlers sandwort (Arenaria fendeleri)
I am trying to locate any general information on Fendler's Sandwort. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
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Oak Ridge, TN
Problems with dogwood borers in TN
What is the best way to treat native dogwoods infested with Dogwood borer insects? I have cut and removed the dead ones and the ones with large patches of bark missing but would like to save the remai...
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Oak Ridge, TN
Looking for plants for erosion control in Tennessee.
We are looking for plants native to east Tenessee that will help control erosion once the kudzu in a ravine has been removed. The site is full sun with dry soil. Moderate to fast growth and resist...
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Granville, TN
Plants for a steep lot in Tennessee
I have built a home on a very steep lot (approx 1 1/2 acres)in Northern Central Tenn in Jackson County. The lot is too steep to mow and some of it is too steep to stand on comfortably. My question is...
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Altamont, TN
Native Suppliers Directory
we are a wholesale wetland plants nursery.we'd like to be added to your wetland plant suppliers list. thank you tammy sons tn nursery 12845 state rt 108 altamont tn 37301 931-692-4252 www.wetl...
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Delano, TN
Can I make my large pecan trees produce larger nuts?
I have 2 older large pecan trees about 40' tall but the nuts are very small, only about 1 1/2". What can I do to get larger nuts?
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Cleveland, TN
Peak times for viewing wildflowers in Texas
We are planning a trip to Texas to see wildflowers this spring. I have time off March 17-25. Would you expect to see much in bloom then? What area might be the best to visit? Does anyone put reports o...
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Cleveland, TN
Pollinating Pawpaws
We have many good sized pawpaw trees in our area but they never bear any fruit. I've checked them at different times in the fall over the years but no fruit. Someone told me that the flowers were po...
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Woodbury, TN
Plant ID in Woodbury TN
Please help identify this unusual plant. I am in Middle TN, Cannon County. This plant comes up every year and looks like something tropical. It has huge leaves about 16 + inches wide. and grows abo...
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Woodbury, TN
Plant identification
Need to identify multi branched plant, feathery appearance, approx 6' tall stalks, grows in clusters. Tiny whitish/pink flowers at top of stems. Very similar in appearance to milfoil, only these grow...
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Red Bank, TN
What habitat would my Antennaria solitaria like in Red Bank, TN?
I want to know what habitat my mystery plant will like- sun, shade, dry or moist. I think it is an Antennaria solitaria or Little Pussytoes. I got it at a native plant sale here in Chattanooga. It has...
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Ooltewah, TN
20 years to bloom
My girlfriend and i have come up with an interesting question, we were wondering if there is a plant in existance that takes over 20 years to bloom, and how many different kinds (if any) there are? We...
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Maryville, TN
Are dogwood trees poisonous to horses?
Are dogwood trees poisonous to horses?
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