Department of Environment & Conservation
Robert Martineau, Commissioner

Ryan and Travis Keller with their tent at Norris Dam State Park. Photo by Julie Keller.

By Louise Zepp

When the weather begins to turn to spring and summer, camping with kids might be on your mind. There are plenty of camping opportunities in Tennessee’s 53 state parks that offer 36 campgrounds. Several camping aficionados share their favorite Tennessee State Park camping stories in the featured article “Family Camping in Tennessee State Parks.”

A Barred Owl on alert. Photo by Tom and Pat Cory.

By Tom and Pat Cory

Photographers Tom and Pat Cory of Signal Mountain walk two miles each evening and keep an eye on the Barred Owls in their neighborhood. They share their owl photos and knowledge in “A Close Look at Owls.”

Public access to wildlife gardens allows people to get up close to nature. Photo by Jana Wilson.

By Bonnie Grosshans

Mark your calendar to recognize May 11 as National Public Gardens Day, a day tailor made to visit a public garden near you. Bonnie Grosshans, a Memphis freelancer who writes for the Memphis Botanic Garden, shares some events that will take place that day in her article “National Public Gardens Day is May 11.”

In Tennessee, public gardens include Memphis Botanic Garden; Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art in Nashville; and the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis. Check for admission specials at a public garden near you on May 11.

For more than seven decades, the award-winning Tennessee Conservationist has been dedicated to telling the stories of Tennessee’s natural, cultural and historical distinctiveness. In a cluttered media marketplace, this magazine continues to stand out by offering authentic Tennessee places, people and experiences through beautiful photography and engaging, informative articles. The magazine fulfills its purpose without receiving a state appropriation as it is totally funded through subscription revenue, non-commercial advertising for Tennessee State Parks and environmental programs plus gifts and donations from supporters. With continued strong support from our subscribers, we look forward to sharing more authentic Tennessee stories with you in the years to come.

Bob Martineau, Commissioner