MTSU faculty, alumni contribute to Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival May 3-5

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University biology faculty and alumni will once again be involved in the 46^th Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival at Cedars of Lebanon State Park, located six miles south of Lebanon.

MTSU’s Center for Cedar Glade Studies partners with the state park to host the annual event the evening of Friday, May 3, and all day, through the evening Saturday, May 4. The free festival continues Sunday, May 5, with a morning hike at Couchville Cedar Glade State Natural Area and an afternoon program at Long Hunter State Park. Most events are free, but some events have a materials fee. To register, go to https://tnstateparks.com/parks/events/cedars-of-lebanon.

There are activities for all ages attending the 46th annual Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildlife Festival Friday through Sunday, May 3-5, at Cedars of Lebanon State Park off U.S. Hwy. 231 south of Lebanon, Tenn. MTSU biology faculty and alumni are main contributors to the event. (Submitted photo) — There are activities for all ages attending the 46th annual Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival Friday through Sunday, May 3-5, at Cedars of Lebanon State Park off U.S. Hwy. 231 south of Lebanon, Tenn. MTSU biology faculty and alumni are main contributors to the event. (Submitted photo)

The late Elsie Quarterman was a professor emerita of Vanderbilt University and pioneered cedar glade research in the early 1950s. She did much research at what is now known as the Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade, a 185-acre natural area in Rutherford County, according to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation website.

Quarterman was an advocate for natural area protection throughout her career, and her efforts helped Tennessee in 1971 become one of the first states to pass legislation to protect natural areas in the U.S.

Lori Klukowski, left, a Middle Tennessee State University master’s in science education doctoral student, and former MTSU biology research scientist Alex Romer shared about the turtle, snake and other creatures on display at the animal table during the 2023 Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Festival at Cedars of Lebanon State Park, five miles south of Lebanon, Tenn., on U.S. 231. This year’s 46th annual event will be held Friday through Sunday, May 3-5. The MTSU Center for Cedar Glade Studies partners with the park to hold the event. (Submitted photo) — Lori Klukowski, left, a Middle Tennessee State University master’s in science education doctoral student, and former MTSU biology research scientist Alex Romer shared about the turtle, snake and other creatures on display at the animal table during the 2023 Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildlife Festival at Cedars of Lebanon State Park, five miles south of Lebanon, Tenn., on U.S. 231. This year’s 46th annual event will be held Friday through Sunday, May 3-5. The MTSU Center for Cedar Glade Studies partners with the park to hold the event. (Submitted photo)

Cedar glades are characterized by very thin soil and exposed, rocky patches surrounded by redcedar trees. Cedar glades, which support a variety of plant life, are found in the Midstate in Wilson, Davidson and Rutherford counties.

Dr. Kim Cleary Sadler, professor of biology education, Department of Biology — Dr. Kim Sadler

Kim Cleary Sadler, professor of biology education, and biology professor Jeff Walck will be key contributors, along with alumni Todd Crabtree, Sharon Bracy and Matt Niemiller.

“There will be something for everybody at this year’s festival, even if you don’t want to get out and hike,” said Sadler, adding that the event was formerly known as the Wildflower Pilgrimage. “We want people to come and learn about the cedar glades. There’s a wonderful native plant garden behind the nature center. Native plants will be available for sale May 18, but not at this event.”

Native Tennessee plants including the rare Glade Phacelia are found in the cedar glades near Cedars of Lebanon State Park, about six miles south of Lebanon, Tenn. Middle Tennessee State University students, faculty and alumni will have active roles in the 46th annual Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildlife Festival Friday through Sunday, May 3-5, at the park. (Submitted photo) — Native Tennessee plants including the rare Glade Phacelia are found in the cedar glades near Cedars of Lebanon State Park, about six miles south of Lebanon, Tenn. Middle Tennessee State University students, faculty and alumni will have active roles in the 46th annual Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival Friday through Sunday, May 3-5, at the park. (Submitted photo)

What’s in store

Activities at the festival include three-hour hikes with field botanists for people wanting to learn more about the plants. Returning by popular demand this year is Botany by Bike — bring snacks and bike with Todd Crabtree to selected glades for the entire afternoon. A new event for adults this year is an afternoon cave crawl inside Jackson Cave with cave biologist Matt Niemiller from the University of Alabama-Huntsville.

Experience your creative side with Renee Morris and paint a cedar glade flower in multimedia. There is a photography workshop by David Pineros, where you will learn how to collect images of unique and rare cedar glade flowers.

For children of all ages, there will be events all day, including making Tennessee Coneflower seed bombs, learning about cedar cookies (cross sections of a tree trunk), an owl presentation with park ranger Shawna Bridges and more.

The Friday evening program features Niemiller discussing “Creepy Crawlies on Karst: A Look into the Amphibians, Reptiles and Cave Life of the Cedar Glades in Middle Tennessee.”

Attendees should plan to bring food and drink, particularly water, on Saturday, as there are no food vendors at the park, Sadler said.

The 2025 Cedar Glade Festival will be held May 2-4.

For more information, contact Sadler at Kim.Sadler@mtsu.edu.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)