Time To Make A Visit To The River Walk & Arboretum

river view A Great View of the Little River during an Early Morning Walk.

All the hard work and many long hours by our fantastic volunteers this past Winter & Spring has really paid off. It is well worth a trip to the TRWA with this beautiful summer weather upon us. Besides the new signage for the Arboretum, Gardens and Plants, the invasive removal has done wonders in promoting native plants. We also just planted a couple of Beautyberries along the River Walk as well as three Passion flowers located behind the Pollinator and Memorial Garden. The views of the Little River from the lower River Walk & the upper Greenway are the best they have been in a long time. Speaking of a long time, below is a circa early 1940's picture of the original TN 73 which is now the lower path of the River Walk.

A Blast from the Past Old Hwy 73 now known as the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum

Photo (circa early 1940's) from Tommy McCampbell of Townsend provided to us by Mary Morgan. The truck on the road to the right is the old single lane TN 73 which is now the main path of the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum. The approximate location would be the area below the Roadside Garden. The steam shovel is being used to construct what was then the new double lane TN 73 that eventually became US 321 (Lamar Alexander Highway).
old732lanebeingbuilt900px

A Blast from the Past Old Hwy 73 now known as the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum

Photo (circa early 1940's) from Tommy McCampbell of Townsend provided to us by Mary Morgan. The truck on the road to the right is the old single lane TN 73 which is now the main path of the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum. The approximate location would be the area below the Roadside Garden. The steam shovel is being used to construct what was then the new double lane TN 73 that eventually became US 321 (Lamar Alexander Highway).
Wingstem aka Yellow Ironweed - Verbesina alternifolia

Winstem is now blooming and can get 5 - 6 ft tall. The Wingstem gets its name from the wing-like flanges on the stem. It is of special interest to bees, bumble bees and butterflies. Plenty of it along the River Walk and in the Pollinator Garden.
wingstem

Wingstem aka Yellow Ironweed - Verbesina alternifolia

Winstem is now blooming and can get 5 - 6 ft tall. The Wingstem gets its name from the wing-like flanges on the stem. It is of special interest to bees, bumble bees and butterflies. Plenty of it along the River Walk and in the Pollinator Garden.
Notice the wing-like appendages on the stem of the Wingstem.
wingstemstem

Notice the wing-like appendages on the stem of the Wingstem.
The flowers are big and yellow. Bees and bumble bees love them!
wingstemflower

The flowers are big and yellow. Bees and bumble bees love them!
Anemone virginiana sometimes called thimble weed is growing along the upper and lower trails.
anemone

Anemone virginiana sometimes called thimble weed is growing along the upper and lower trails.
Two American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) bushes were planted along the River Walk, just up the path on the right from the Pollinator & Memorial Garden.
beautyberries1

Two American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) bushes were planted along the River Walk, just up the path on the right from the Pollinator & Memorial Garden.
Passion Flowers - Passiflora incarnata - planted behind the Pollinator and Memorial Garden. This used to be the TN State Flower until the Iris replaced it in 1933. This passion flower vines will grow over 10 ft in length. A trellis will be constructed to support these when we replace the fencing around the Pollinator & Memorial Garden.
passionflowers

Passion Flowers - Passiflora incarnata - planted behind the Pollinator and Memorial Garden. This used to be the TN State Flower until the Iris replaced it in 1933. This passion flower vines will grow over 10 ft in length. A trellis will be constructed to support these when we replace the fencing around the Pollinator & Memorial Garden.
The sun glistening off a spider web on an early morning stroll along the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.
spiderweb

The sun glistening off a spider web on an early morning stroll along the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum.

2025 TRWA Picnic Area Fund Drive

Townsend River Walk & Arboretum

Nature Trail & Certified Tennessee Arboretum

Latest News from the Townsend River Walk and Arboretum