NEST - Nature Education Society of TN

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NEST - Nature Education Society of TN

Through educational opportunities, we seek to create a connection that will inspire you to protect and conserve Tennessee’s natural resources.

NEST is operated by Leslie Anne Allen and Jason Allen. See the "About" section for more information and bio. Nature Education Society of Tennessee (NEST) was created by Leslie Anne Allen and is operated by Leslie and her husband, Jason Allen. Whether you need help identifying plants and trees on your property or wish to have us present a program or hike for your group or organization, we offer a v

ariety of services. We also plan to offer annual wildflower identification classes. Leslie Anne Allen was introduced to wildflower identification and elementary education at an early age, being influenced by her grandmothers. This led her to choose a degree in Environmental Interpretation and attend The Ohio State University. Upon graduation she “cut her teeth” as a naturalist in the Columbus Metro Parks. In 1995, she moved to Nashville and eventually worked as a tour guide at Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame, as a volunteer director at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, as an interpreter at Shiloh National Military Park, and as a ranger at Stones River National Battlefield. She then spent 21 years working for Tennessee State Parks as a ranger and interpreter, and was responsible for creating the first Story Trail in the state park system. In 2016 she earned the Certified Heritage Interpreter certification through the National Association for Interpretation, becoming one of the handful of environmental educators in Tennessee to receive this honor. Since 2018, she also has been teaching a popular wildflower identification class. Leslie Anne is passionate about connecting people of all ages to discover the natural resources of Tennessee. Jason Allen is a Nashville native who grew up roaming and exploring the woods near Percy Priest Lake. As a naturalist and wilderness guide, Jason has led interpretive programs for such groups as the Tennessee Native Plant Society, TennGreen Land Conservancy, Sierra Club, Outdoor Murfreesboro, and Tennessee Trails Association. He has also worked on special projects for such organizations as Missouri Botanical Garden, Tennessee Division of Natural Areas, and AmeriCorps. While working for Tennessee State Parks, Jason created park events and nature festivals, interpretive programs, flora & fauna brochures, newsletters, website content, and interpretive signs. In 2008 he created Couchville Lake Arboretum, which became the first state-certified arboretum in Tennessee State Parks. Jason has a special interest in cedar glade habit, and he maintains the Hip Cedar Glades of TN page. He is also a frequent contributor to The Tennessee Conservationist magazine. His writing and photography have appeared in numerous books, newspapers and magazines.

06/02/2026

We're excited to announce that registration is now open for our summer NEST Wildflower ID Class!

Instructor Leslie Rawlings Allen normally offers only one course per year, but due to popular demand we are offering a second course this year. It runs from July 26 through the end of August at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. It's a great way to beat the summer heat, make new friends, have a ton of fun, visit scenic natural areas, and learn about the native plants of Tennessee!

The course fee includes more than 24 hours of instruction, a notebook and handouts, light snacks, optional field trips, and a field notebook upon completion of the course. Certified Tennessee Naturalists will earn CE credit with attendance.

Space is limited. If you wish to register, view testimonials from former students, or get more info, go to https://www.nest-tn.org/wildflower-classes

We look forward to seeing you in the classroom this summer!

05/10/2026

How about a cactus flower explosion for Mother's Day! This is Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia cespitosa) blooming today alongside our road in Davidson County.

This plant is native to Tennessee, which surprises many. In our area, it normally blooms from about mid-May to early June. The reddish fruits, which ripen later in the year, are edible and can be made into a yummy jelly or refreshing drink. The tender young green pads are also edible; once the spines are removed, they can be peeled and cooked like string beans.

The plant is also known as Indian Fig and Devil's Tongue. A wide variety of animals feed on the fruit, seeds and stem of prickly pear. Some wildlife take shelter under the shade of the large pads, and some animals even use broken-off pieces of the spiny pads to protect their nests.

Eastern Prickly Pear may not be as rare as many of the cedar glade species we discuss on our page, but there's no denying that its flower is one of the most spectacular you will see in our area! Have you seen any blooming?

Photo by Jason Allen

05/04/2026

We were honored and thrilled to lead a special hike to close out the 48th Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival. Leslie Anne led a group to Mount View Glade in Davidson County, which is the site where Dr. Elsie Quarterman and one of her students rediscovered the Tennessee coneflower back in 1968.

We saw several rare and unique glade species, and we also learned about the life and work of Dr. Quarterman. And as an added bonus, we even found a Tennessee coneflower in bloom! It was a magical experience on a beautiful day, and we certainly felt Elsie there with us.

Thanks to Scott Pessoni for these wonderful photos!

04/23/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Wetlands Night Life hike at Murfree Spring on Earth Day! It was a magical evening: perfect weather, a large and enthusiastic group, and lots of wildlife to see and hear! Thanks also to Scott Pessoni for capturing some excellent photos.

Earlier in the day, we had a table at MTSU Center for Energy and Sustainability's “Table Talk for the Earth” event, and we met so many wonderful people. We were thrilled to see several of our friends with tables, including Outdoor Murfreesboro, Stones River National Battlefield, Tennessee Native Plant Society, Wild Ones Middle Tennessee Chapter, Sierra Club - Middle Tennessee Group, and Cedars of Lebanon State Park.

Whew… Earth Day 2026 will surely go down as one of our busiest days ever! But it was deeply fulfilling and inspiring. To see so many people passionate about gaining knowledge and caring for our planet, well, it did our hearts good. To everyone we came in contact with yesterday, we just want to say a big THANK YOU! Let’s keep that momentum going through the rest of the year and make EVERY day Earth Day!

04/14/2026

This week several of our NEST Wildflower ID Class students enjoyed a field trip to the cedar glades and barrens of Rutherford County. We found such species as Yellow Sunnybell, Pyne's Ground Plum, Glade Larkspur, Wild Strawberry, Price's Wood Sorrel, Tennessee Milkvetch, False Blue Indigo, Downy Phlox, Heart-leaved Golden Alexanders, Carolina Vetch, Nashville Breadroot, Long-styled Glade Cress, Hoary Puccoon, Glade Phacelia, and Smooth Solomon's Seal.

The glades and barrens were magical, and we wanted to share some of our discoveries. Many thanks to Kim Sadler and Lauren May for showing us some special places and for their expertise! Click on images for plant IDs and more info.

Photos by Jason Allen

04/06/2026

Over the weekend we had a memorable visit to John and Hester Lane Cedar Glades in Wilson County. First-of-season flowers included Blue False Indigo, Bastard Toadflax, and Yellow Stargrass.

Other highlights were Nashville Breadroot, Glade Phlox, Hoary Puccoon, Pale Blue-eyed Grass, and Limestone Adder's Tongue. We also heard our first Prairie Warbler of the year! And after Saturday's rain, the upland chorus frogs were calling again. Click on images for IDs.

Photos by Jason Allen

04/02/2026

We are excited to announce several hikes we are leading in April, including a "Wetland Night Hike at Murfree Spring" for Outdoor Murfreesboro, a tour of Lamar Cedar Glades & Woodlands with our friends at TennGreen Land Conservancy, and a "Nightjars: Birds of Mystery" hike at Vesta Cedar Glade!

Also this month, NEST will have a booth during the Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival at Cedars of Lebanon State Park and at MTSU Center for Energy and Sustainability's "Table Talk for the Earth" event on Earth Day.

Last but not least, Leslie Anne will be leading a special wildflower hike to the site where Elsie Quarterman and one of her students rediscovered the Tennessee Coneflower back in 1968!

There are limited spots available for each of these hikes. You can get the complete scoop (and signup info) in our April newsletter. This month's NEST newsletter is titled: "Nighthawks, Chucks and Whip-poor-wills: The Return of the Goatsuckers." We'll post the link for the newsletter in the comments below.

But next up for NEST: Leslie Anne and Jason will present a program on cedar glades wildflowers and ecology on April 7th for the Wilson County Master Gardener Association. We love our local master gardeners groups, and we love talking about cedar glades!

We hope to see you at one of our upcoming hikes or programs!

Photo of a Common Nighthawk by Graham Gerdeman

03/29/2026

I (Leslie Anne) led a birding hike at Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park yesterday as part of their Spring Nature Day, and the eight participants and I got some great views of Bald Eagles that were soaring around the confluence of the Duck and Little Duck Rivers. No photos, you know how that goes!

Afterwards, I made my way to Short Springs State Natural Area for my first ever visit to this place that I had heard was the "best place to see spring wildflowers," and it did not disappoint.

I decided to take the trails directly back to Machine Falls and check out the trail that was labeled the Wildflower Loop. I found some flowers that I have not seen since my childhood and a couple of new "life" flowers too!

This area is located in a "tween" place as far as geology goes, and a layer of shale separates the province known as the Eastern Highland Rim from the Central Basin. The upper slopes of the area are a dry, oak-hickory forest, and the lower areas are moist riparian with Bobo Creek creating several falls in these 420 acres.

The rumors I had heard were true, and if you're ever in the area during spring wildflower season, I would definitely recommend making a stop.

📷by Leslie Anne Allen

03/25/2026

This week we visited one of our favorite places in Tennessee: Sellars Farm State Archaeological Area in Wilson County. The site is known for its historical significance and is one of the best preserved Native American villages in the Southeast. It was occupied during the Mississippian Period from about 1000 A.D. to 1350 A.D., and it features a large platform mound at the center of the village

The 65-acre site is a mix of fields, woods and creek bottom, and it has an impressive variety of flora and fauna, including the rare Tennessee clubtail dragonfly.

This week we found many wildflowers blooming here, including Miami Mist, Yellow Trout Lily, Virginia Bluebell, Golden Alexander, and Wild Blue Phlox.

During summer the fields are full of such flowers as Giant Ironweed, Passionflower, Carolina Elephant's Foot, Mistflower, our native Field Thistle, and many varieties of milkweed. Oh, and there is blackberry - lots and lots of blackberry!

Another highlight is scenic Spring Creek, which is rich in aquatic wildlife. The creek flows northward into the Cumberland River. The village was likely built in one of its bends so that it would provide natural protection on three sides. The creek also produced food, fish and freshwater mussels, whose shells were crushed and used in the shell-tempered pottery.

The trail alongside Spring Creek features a population of native River Cane. The people who lived in this village during the Mississippian Period used the cane for house construction.

The creek and fields are also nice spots for birding, especially during migration. We've seen or heard such species as Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Yellow-breasted Chat, Prairie Warbler, and Louisiana Waterthrush. Great Blue Herons and Belted Kingfisher are common sights along the creek.

Trees found on the site include American Hornbeam, Bur Oak, American Beech, Sugar Maple, Kentucky Coffeetree, Ohio Buckeye, American Elm, Sassafras, Honey Locust, American Sycamore, Osage Orange, Black Cherry, and many types of hickories and oaks.

There is one particular stretch along Spring Creek where we always enjoy seeing the "The Four Giants," as we like to call them: Bur Oak, Sugar Maple, American Beech, and Sassafras - four very large trees lined up in a row beside the creek.

We wanted to share a few images from our Sellars Farm hike this week. It is a special place and definitely worth checking out. Click on photos for more info and IDs.

Also, if you would like to visit Sellars Farm and learn more about it, our friends at Cedars of Lebanon State Park are leading a hike there this Sunday, March 29th. For more info or to sign up, visit the Cedars of Lebanon website and click on "Upcoming Events."

Photos by Jason Allen

03/13/2026

If you enjoy spring nature hikes and programs, then this post is for you! Today we'd like to mention some of the upcoming events a few of our friends have planned.

Our talented friend Leslie Gossett Whalen of School of Earth and Awe is offering an "Introduction to Medicinal Mushrooms" workshop in Old Hickory, TN on March 21 from 1-3 p.m. More info at https://www.schoolofearthandawe.com/events

Wanna hike and learn about wildflowers from a Tennessee State Naturalist? Then you'll enjoy a "Hike with Jane" at Barfield Crescent Park in Murfreesboro on March 21. This easy Outdoor Murfreesboro hike around the Wilderness Station is free and for all ages. More info: https://www.murfreesborotn.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=47605 You can also learn about what Jane is seeing on her Nature Walks page.

If you would like to see the rare Nashville Mustard in bloom, Metro Nashville Parks has programs the next two Saturdays. March 14 is “In Search of Nashville Mustard and Other Yard Flowers” from 9-11 a.m. at Warner Park Steeplechase. Register by emailing [email protected] or calling 615-862-8555. And March 21 at Fort Negley Park is “Meet the Mustard.” Drop in anytime from 10 a.m. to noon at the table on the front lawn.

The Tennessee Division of Natural Areas has a Deep Swamp Kayak Float at Reelfoot on March 20, an Ozone Falls SNA Hike on March 21, and a Wildflowers of Laurel Snow hike on March 28. https://tnstateparks.com/parks/events/division-of-natural-areas

TTA - Tennessee Trails Association has several hikes upcoming, including trips to Rock Island State Park (March 14), Narrows of the Harpeth (March 18), and Short Springs State Natural Area (March 20). https://tennesseetrails.org/events/

The annual Trails & Trilliums naturalists rally is scheduled for April 10-12 at Beersheeba Springs, TN. Enjoy a full slate of guided hikes and walks, expert-led presentations, hands-on workshops, exhibits, and the always-popular native plant sale. https://www.friendsofsouthcumberland.org/trails-and-trilliums

On March 14, Beaman Park is hosting a Hepatica Hunt at 9 a.m. Then at 1 p.m. there will be a special presentation on the Louisiana Waterthrush with John Norris. Learn all about this amazing bird and then take a hike to find them in the wild. https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/nature-centers-and-natural-areas/beaman-park-nature-center

Bells Bend Park's schedule features their Spring Flora Hike on March 21 and a Hike the River Loop on March 24th. https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/nature-centers-and-natural-areas/bells-bend-outdoor-center

Shelby Bottoms Nature Center & Greenway has several programs scheduled for this Saturday, March 14th, including Jr. Naturalist Pond Life, Relaxing Sound Bath, and an evening Crepuscular Critters stroll. https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/nature-centers-and-natural-areas/shelby-bottoms-nature-center

Warner Park Nature Center is hosting a Searching for Sallys salamander program on March 21, a Bloom Spotting: Spring Wildflower Walk on March 25th, and a special book event on March 26th as renowned biologist and author David Haskell share's his exploration of the power of flowers through his new book, "How Flowers Made Our World." https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/nature-centers-and-natural-areas/warner-park-nature-center

Cedars of Lebanon State Park has an impressive variety of programs in March, including wildflower walks, woodworking and blacksmith demonstrations, Sadie Ford Farm hikes and tours, and an exploration of Sellars Farm State Archaeological Area. https://tnstateparks.com/parks/events/cedars-of-lebanon

Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary has a wildflower hikes every Saturday in March at 9:30 a.m., and they are hosting a Spring Lantern Hike on March 27. https://www.owlshill.org/contact_us

Boro Birders is hosting a bird walk at Murfree Springs at Discovery Center on March 14th, and another bird walk at Stones River Battlefield on April 24th. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577209083430

The Nashville Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society is hosting a bird walk at Lytle Park in Davidson County on March 21st, and a field trip to the Gossett Tract of Harpeth River State Park on April 18th. https://nashvillebirds.org/events/category/calendar/

These are just a sampling of some upcoming nature programs. We hope to post more soon! If your park or organization has an upcoming nature program, feel free to post the info in the comments.

As for us here at NEST, we've been busy as bees teaching our spring Wildflower ID Class at MTSU. But we will be doing something a bit different on March 17th as we discuss cedar glade wildflowers for the monthly Tennessee Native Plant Society online seminar.

In April we have programs scheduled with such organizations as Wilson County Master Gardener Association, TennGreen Land Conservancy, and Outdoor Murfreesboro. We'll also have a booth at MTSU Center for Energy and Sustainability's "Table Talk for the Earth" event at MTSU on Earth Day, April 22nd. You can see what else we are up to by visiting our website: https://www.nest-tn.org

Happy spring, everyone!

Photo by Jason Allen: Long-styled glade cress (Leavenworthia stylosa) blooming this week in the Middle Tennessee cedar glades

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Mount Juliet, TN

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/951545518202410, https://www.facebook.com/jasonsnaturebooth, https://www.nest-tn.org/

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