Tennessee. Other partners on the project are the Sewanee Herbarium, the Sewanee Landscape Analysis Lab, the Sewanee Office of Forest Manage- ment, and the Tennessee Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Once complete, the project will maintain the unique educational, scientific, and recreational value of the Hollow. The purchase will also protect the view from Green’s View, Piney Point, and parts of the Perimeter Trail. One acre of this land can be pro- tected with a donation of $750. A donation to protect the first acre has been made by E. O. Wilson, Emeritus Professor at Harvard University. In his Convocation address at Sewanee last Volume VII, No. 3 Newsletter of the Friends of the Herbarium Summer 2003 THE PLANT PRESS The Sewanee Herbarium: Education — Research — Conservation Protecting Shakerag Hollow F ew places in the Eastern United States can rival the botanical richness of Shakerag Hollow. From the rare sandy outcrops along the Hollow’s rim, to the spectacular displays of spring wildflowers, to the mosses and leafy liverworts that grow along creeks and on the bark of old growth trees, the Hollow is a treasury of interesting plants. Shakerag’s varied terrain is also home to threatened species of birds and salamanders, adding a zoological shine to the botanical jewel. The southern portion of the Hollow is owned by the University of the South but, as the map (p. 4) shows, the northern edge is in private ownership. This property is now for sale and the South Cumberland Regional Land Trust (SCRLT) has launched a fund- raising campaign to purchase and protect this land. SCRLT plans to buy these two hundred acres of forest, then place the land under a conservation easement (which will prevent develop- ment and resource extraction in perpetuity), then donate it to the University of the South. The University has expressed its enthusiasm for this project and will absorb all future stewardship costs. The easement will be held by one of SCRLT’s partner organizations, The Land Trust for fall, Dr. Wilson said of Shakerag, “It is a cathedral of nature, more valuable for the history it preserves, of millions of years, than any building. It is irre- placeable . . . I’m reminded of my friend John Sawhill, the late director of The Nature Conservancy . . . [who] said, ‘A society is defined not just by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy.’” Wilson has also pledged a signed copy of his latest book, The Future of Life, for donors who contrib- ute $1500 (two acres) or more. Current and retired University faculty and staff from the departments involved with environmental studies have made a gift of a further fifteen acres, underscoring the importance of this forest to our local environment. The Land Trust welcomes donations of any amount, including gifts in memory or in honor of loved ones, to help them reach their goal of protecting this incredible forest. Donations may be sent to SCRLT, P. O. Box 3188, Sewanee, TN 37375. All donations are tax-deductible. For more information see www.scrlt.org/shakerag.htm, or contact David Haskell, associate professor of biology and SCRLT board member ( [email protected]). —David Haskell
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Tennessee. Other partners on theproject are the Sewanee Herbarium,the Sewanee Landscape Analysis Lab,the Sewanee Office of Forest Manage-ment, and the Tennessee Chapter ofThe Nature Conservancy. Oncecomplete, the project will maintain the
unique educational, scientific, andrecreational value of the Hollow. Thepurchase will also protect the viewfrom Green’s View, Piney Point, andparts of the Perimeter Trail.
One acre of this land can be pro-tected with a donation of $750. Adonation to protect the first acre hasbeen made by E. O. Wilson, EmeritusProfessor at Harvard University. In hisConvocation address at Sewanee last
Volume VII, No. 3 Newsletter of the Friends of the Herbarium Summer 2003
THE PLANT PRESS
The Sewanee Herbarium: Education — Research — Conservation
Protecting Shakerag Hollow
Few places in the Eastern UnitedStates can rival the botanicalrichness of Shakerag Hollow.
From the rare sandy outcrops alongthe Hollow’s rim, to the spectaculardisplays of spring wildflowers, to themosses and leafy liverworts that growalong creeks and on the bark of oldgrowth trees, the Hollow is a treasuryof interesting plants. Shakerag’s variedterrain is also home to threatenedspecies of birds and salamanders,adding a zoological shine to thebotanical jewel.
The southern portion of the Hollow isowned by the University of the Southbut, as the map (p. 4) shows, thenorthern edge is in private ownership.This property is now for sale and theSouth Cumberland Regional LandTrust (SCRLT) has launched a fund-raising campaign to purchase andprotect this land. SCRLT plans to buythese two hundred acres of forest, thenplace the land under a conservationeasement (which will prevent develop-ment and resource extraction inperpetuity), then donate it to theUniversity of the South. The Universityhas expressed its enthusiasm for thisproject and will absorb all futurestewardship costs. The easement willbe held by one of SCRLT’s partnerorganizations, The Land Trust for
fall, Dr. Wilson said of Shakerag, “It isa cathedral of nature, more valuablefor the history it preserves, of millionsof years, than any building. It is irre-placeable . . . I’m reminded of myfriend John Sawhill, the late director ofThe Nature Conservancy . . . [who]said, ‘A society is defined not just bywhat it creates, but by what it refusesto destroy.’” Wilson has also pledged asigned copy of his latest book, TheFuture of Life, for donors who contrib-ute $1500 (two acres) or more. Currentand retired University faculty and stafffrom the departments involved withenvironmental studies have made a giftof a further fifteen acres, underscoringthe importance of this forest to ourlocal environment.
The Land Trust welcomes donationsof any amount, including gifts inmemory or in honor of loved ones, tohelp them reach their goal of protectingthis incredible forest. Donations maybe sent to SCRLT, P. O. Box 3188,Sewanee, TN 37375. All donations aretax-deductible. For more informationsee www.scrlt.org/shakerag.htm, orcontact David Haskell, associateprofessor of biology and SCRLT boardmember ([email protected]).
—David Haskell
A Brief History of Abbo’s AlleyAbbo’s Alley is theaffectionate name
given to the SewaneeRavine Garden. The name
honors Abbott CottenMartin (1899-1974), professor
of English atSewanee for over 40 years.
Tremlett (Polk) Spring and nearby ATO(Otey) Spring form a stream that runs abouta mile before dropping over the edge of theplateau. These springs were the first watersource for Sewanee and important inselection of the campus site. Even todaythere are clear reminders of rockwork pools,
was noted by placement of a plaque on alarge stone at the upper garden entrance. Itreads: “A soul whose Master bias leans tohome-felt pleasures and gentle scenes”(Wordsworth). In declining health evenbefore his retirement in 1969, Abbo couldgive little attention to the garden in his lateryears.
In 1972 Vice-chancellor Bennett askedme to chair a committee to “revive andreinstate the Sewanee Ravine Garden.”With support of students and communityvolunteers, progress was steady but slow.In 1975 the group adopted the name“Friends of Abbo’s Alley,” and Albert Goochwas elected president and assumed the roleof head gardener. After a request for $1000from the University was rejected, workcontinued with volunteers and some studentlabor financed from dues. Albert left in 1982and leadership was passed to Don Pippen,and then to Stevens Anderson, who alsomoved away. After that, the Alley flounderedfor several years.
In 1990 the “Friends” group was reacti-vated and Rogers Beasley was electedpresident. Recently retired history professorJoe Cushman, who had worked for Abbo inhis student days, volunteered to serve ashead gardener. The University offeredsupport in the form of some grounds crewtime and work-study students. Several otherrecent retirees now volunteer their time aswork-study supervisors, and Louis Rice wasrecently designated head gardener. TheFriends of Abbo’s Alley group has providedfunds for equipment and supplies. Severalmemorials have been received including agazebo, a sculpture, a butterfly garden,bridges, benches, and a “tool crib.”
The dreams of Abbo and the vision of thetrustees who set aside the garden area haveyet to be fully realized. The daffodils arethriving, and numerous other plantings addto the beauty of the place. But there is muchto be done. The grass is mowed, the brushis cleared and the deer-browsed azaleas arereplaced. But the Alley still waits for a fulltime gardener.
—George Ramseur
which were used by early students forbathing, and remnants of a pump house,which pumped water to a standpipe. One ofthe bathing pools was recently restored as aKoi pond.
A resolution by the Board of Trustees in1886 states “That the ravine beginning nearthe Polk Spring, with adjacent slopes as faras may be necessary and the ground nearthe head of the ravine as far as theBreakfield road be preserved for Parkpurposes and that the commissioner ofbuildings and lands be directed to takemeasures for the clearing and improvementof this space. This reservation to beextended as far as Hodgson’s pond.” At thissame session the trustees called for thecontinued employment of a forester and theemployment of a landscape gardener.
The early response of the University’sadministration to the strong resolution of1886 is not known, but it appears to havecreated little action. For administrationssince then it has been an item of low priority,but there has been considerable voluntaryactivity in the garden.
Just when Abbott Martin first adopted thegarden is not known. The story is told thathis interest in plants was aroused when hespotted an early crocus after his first coldwinter here in 1929. The first record of hisactivity that I could find is a letterheadstating that the Sewanee Ravine Gardenwas established in1942 and that AbbottCotten Martin was superintendent. Hisstated goal was to grow “every floweringplant which would grow in our latitude”.
As a self-taught gardener with meagerresources, Abbo was never able to fullyachieve his dreams. With the labor ofstudents and the help of German POW’sfrom nearby Camp Forrest, however, he wasable to bring beauty to a place where trashand brush had prevailed. He brought innumerous wildflowers and various shrubsand trees, but the main attraction was anabundance of daffodils, which made thegarden a springtime delight.
In 1964 The Sewanee Ravine Gardenwas officially named The Abbott CottenMartin Ravine Garden, and the occasion
Membership Application/RenewalThe Friends of the Sewanee Herbarium support the work of the Herbarium: education, research, and conservation. A $10.00 annualcontribution would be very much appreciated. The date of your most recent contribution is printed on your address label.
Name and Address (if different from that on the mailing label on the back):
Please make check payable to The University of the South. Gifts are fully tax deductible. Send to:Sewanee Herbariumc/o Mary Priestley735 University AvenueSewanee, TN 37383
Others who might like to receive The Plant Press: ___________________________________________________________________
Drawings, by Mary Priestley,are of prairie wood aster, green
salamander and bluets.
Solstice Stroll on the TennesseeWilliams Trail — Wed., June 25,4:00 p.m. Yolande Gottfried
Meet at the Cross for an easy walkon the footpath that parallels Ten-nessee Avenue to see what theplants are doing on the longestday of the year.
Charlotte Gailor’sGarden & Abbo’s Alley— Wed., July 9, 4:00 p.m.Mary Priestley
Botany, history, andhorticulture combine in thisleisurely walk through theAbbott Cotten MartinRavine Garden,culminating with tea in CharlotteGailor’s Garden. Established as apark in the 1880s, the “Alley” did notbegin to take shape until ProfessorMartin brought it under his care in
the 1940s. The Herbarium is main-taining two beds of native plants inCharlotte’s renovated garden. Meetat the South Carolina Avenueentrance to the Ravine Garden. One
mile, easy.
Botanical Drawing in theField — Sat., July 19,9:00 a.m. Ann SeitersAnn, who has taught our
“Bug’s Eye View” botani-cal drawing class several
times, is taking us outside fora morning of sketching. Meet
at Charlotte Gailor’sGarden behind Chen
Hall on North Carolina Avenue.Bring paper and pencil or suppliesfor other media, and something to siton if you wish. Adults and childrenwith their parents.
For more information about these outings, contact Mary Priestley.
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Herbarium, Biology Department735 University AvenueSewanee, TN 37383-1000
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Proposed Land Purchase in Shakerag Hollow (story p. 1)
