April 30 – May 3 (Friday-Sunday) - Map #11

Come to Cedars of Lebanon State Park for all or part of the 48th Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival, April 30 – May 3, 2026. Learn more about limestone cedar glades and the unique flora this spring. Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Cedar Glade Studies and Cedars of Lebanon State Park will host a variety of activities throughout the weekend. Many events are facilitated by our own TNPS members.

Here is a brief overview:

Thursday, April 30: Dr. Erin Anfinson will lead a morning session on making and using inks from native plants; in the afternoon botanical illustrator, Mary Priestley, will share how to journal about nature through narrative and art.

Friday, May 1: A research roundtable will occur in the afternoon for those interested in sharing or learning more about research related to cedar glade and other rare plant species, followed by a field experience. There is an evening program with Phil Hodge, Director, TN State Archaeology.

Saturday, May 2: A full suite of events will begin at 7am with a bird hike and end at 7pm with an owl prowl. Activities include gardening with native plants, edible natives, glade fossils, cave critters, photography, and morning/afternoon signature hikes to the glades with Holly Taylor and Milo Pyne.

Sunday, May 3: Join Jason and LA Rawlings Allen from NEST (Nature Education Society of Tennessee) for a morning hike to Mt. Pleasant State Natural Area, where Vanderbilt professor, Elsie Quarterman (namesake for the weekend) rediscovered the TN coneflower. In the evening, they will lead a hike at Vesta Cedar Glade to experience the glades in the evening and to listen for our three bird species of “night jars.”