More 2012 Exhibits Photography by Barbara Sammons July 7 through September 2 Blue Ridge Fiber Show Into the Garden: an International, Biennial Celebration of Fiberarts Western North Carolina Fibers/Handweavers Guild October 2, 2012 through January 2, 2013

Discover Life in America
Prints of new species of life discovered in the Smokies
April 17-July 1, 2012

Discover Life in America, “Ferns of the Smokies,” reveals the beauty and diversity of ferns and their allies through 20 high resolution scans.

Developed with funding from the Knoxville Garden Club, the exhibit showcases almost half of the 49 ferns and fern allies that exist in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Though black bears and white-tailed deer are commonly recognized as the mascots of the Smokies, visitors are encouraged to take a closer look through the images of the exhibit to discover another world within the Park.

Discover Life in America (DLIA) is involved in a quest to identify and understand all species of life within the 800-square-mile ecosystem of the Great Smoky Mountains. DLIA researchers seek to learn more about the components, abundance, and diversity of life, from spiders in the soil to slime molds in the forest canopy. The primary tool of DLIA is the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI), which brings scientists from around the world to inventory the estimated 80,000 species of living organisms in the Park. The project develops checklists, reports, maps, databases, and natural history profiles that describe the biology of this rich landscape to a wide audience. DLIA’s mission is to help the ATBI identify and develop resources and partnerships to conduct the inventory and related educational activities.

Considered by many to be one of the world's biggest and most ambitious science projects, the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory aims to decipher the mysteries of the Smokies' intricate ecosystem by finding and cataloging every species of plant, animal, and microorganism in the park. Since collecting began in 1998, the ATBI has uncovered over 900 species new to science, as well as over 7,300 species that are newly documented to exist in the Park. The ATBI project involves hundreds of “citizen scientists,” volunteers who collect specimens for the scientists to analyze, thereby keeping the project cost-effective. 

The exhibit is on display in the Education Center of the Arboretum through July 2.

Wicked Plants
May 6-September 3, 2012

This unusual exhibit introduces you to the evildoers lurking in your backyards and beyond. It is inspired by Stewart’s book Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln’s Mother and other Botanical Atrocities. This hands-on experience allows interaction with some of the world’s most diabolical botanicals—without the risk of intoxication, addiction, dismemberment, or other danger.

According to author Amy Stewart, “A botanical garden is so much more than pretty scenery—it’s a living museum that can help tell the story of our relationship to the plant kingdom.” Surely Frederick Law Olmsted, the ‘Father of American Landscape Architecture,’ felt the same when he envisioned a public garden near Asheville as part of his legacy to the famed Biltmore Estate. His sentiments were likely not so sweet when he was nearly blinded by poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix).

Step into a macabre world where plants hold the power. Poisonous, carnivorous, or just plain nasty, the diabolical botanicals are shown in all their fearful glory. Get introduced to infamous plants that have left their mark on history and claimed many an unfortunate victim.

Upon entering a decrepit old home, be introduced to the crime family of the plant world, the deadly Nightshades. A veritable rogue’s gallery features portraits of these intriguing characters who beguile unsuspecting victims. In the conservatory, weeds of mass destruction have taken over, while a crime scene in the potions laboratory teaches that things aren’t always what they seem, especially in the plant world. Also discover that even the most mundane foods can be poisonous under certain circumstances.

Wicked Plants is on display at the Baker Exhibit Center through September 3. The exhibit is open to the public during regular Baker Exhibit Center hours: 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. daily. There is no additional fee to tour.