Cedars of Lebanon to Host Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival May 1-2

LEBANON, Tenn. – Cedars of Lebanon State Park will host its annual Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival May 1-2. Held in partnership with The Center for Cedar Glade Studies of Middle Tennessee State University, this event will offer visitors an opportunity to learn more about the area through seminars, guided nature walks, exhibits, guest speakers and naturalist displays. All events are free and open to the public.

“This is the 32nd year for this event and we are excited about the incredible roster of experts on hand during this two-day festival,” said Kenny Daniel, park manager. “We also have numerous activities and educational opportunities planned and encourage you to join us for this wonderful event, rain or shine. We also are very pleased that Dr. Quarterman will be here throughout the festival, leading hikes and sharing her extensive expertise.” 

The festival will kick off on Friday, May 1, beginning at 1 p.m. at the park’s Assembly Hall for The Center for Cedar Glade Studies’ research roundtable. For the nature enthusiast, Ranger Randy Hedgepath and his fellow park rangers will be leading hikes from the Cedars of Lebanon Nature Center every hour, also beginning at 1 p.m. Friday’s evening program will feature guest speaker Dr. Wayne Estes of Austin Peay State University and begins at 6 p.m. A reception will follow the evening program and will include light refreshments and traditional glade music until 10 p.m. 

On Saturday, May 2, early risers and bird watchers will enjoy a Bird Walk, beginning at 7 a.m. at the park’s Huddleston Cedar Forest Lodge. Expert birders, including members of Wilson County’s own Tennessee Ornithological Society chapter, will lead the walk. Participants are encouraged to bring field glasses and bird books. 

Other event highlights on Saturday include several motorcade jaunts to various glades led by expert guides, including park naturalists and MTSU professors. Participants are encouraged to contact the park office toll free at (800) 713-5180 for reservations and departure times, as transportation is limited. 

Also on Saturday, exhibits in the park’s Nature Center will open at 9 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m. This year’s exhibits include edible native plants, wildlife and displays by Mt. Juliet Woodcarving, GroWild, Reflections in Wildlife, Tennessee Native Plant Society and the MTSU Center for Cedar Glade Studies. In the Assembly Hall beginning Saturday at 9 a.m., experts will give various talks throughout the day, covering topics such as Cedar Glade plant germination, snakes of Middle Tennessee, flowers of the Glades, photography tips, butterflies and exotic invasive plants, just to name a few.  

Daniel added that two additional Saturday activities will be held at this year’s event, including a cave trip and Owl Prowl / Frog Frolic. Led by New Cave Discoveries’ Ken Oeser, the cave trip will be held on Saturday from 12:15 to 3 p.m. and participants are encouraged to wear clothes that can get dirty and bring helmets, lights and a change of clothing. Following the dinner break on Saturday evening, the Owl Prowl / Frog Frolic will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. and will be led by herpetologists Ray Pope and Danny Bryan. Participants are asked to meet at the Huddleston Cedar Forest Lodge for this activity. 

Cedars of Lebanon State Park and State Forest are located in the southwestern part of Wilson County within the central basin of Tennessee. During the early 1800s, many of the original settlers gained land ownership through land grants for their service during the Revolutionary War. First arrivals to the area thought they had found the area to be a vast cedar forest, when actually it consisted of juniper trees mistaken for cedars. For more information about the park, visit www.tnstateparks.com/Cedars.

The Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade is a 185-acre natural area in Rutherford County. It is a part of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Percy Priest Reservoir and is managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency as a Wildlife Management Area.

Dr. Elsie Quarterman was professor Emeritus of Vanderbilt University and pioneered cedar glade research in the early 1950s. Coupled with her extensive research at this site, Dr. Quarterman has been an advocate for natural area protection throughout her distinguished career. Her efforts helped Tennessee in 1971 become one of the first states to pass legislation to protect natural areas in the U.S.

For more information about the Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival, please contact the Cedars of Lebanon State Park office toll free at (800) 713-5180.