Human Flower Project
Savage Gardens
Many thanks to Liz McGeachy and Tim Marema for guiding us to this wonderland in east Tennessee—nature nurtured in one of the most beautiful parts of North America.
Graham Marema, left, and Alyssa Stooksbury from Norris,
Tenn., look at a shooting star growing in the middle of the
trail at Savage Gardens
Photo: Tim Marema
By Liz McGeachy & Tim Marema
Savage Gardens hides along a tributary of the Clinch River, between Norris and Lake City, Tennessee. When we were there in the last days of March, there were carpets of trout lily, spring beauty, violet and twinleaf, as well as sprinklings of bloodroot, hepatica, Dutchman’s-breeches and many plants we didn’t know by name, having forgotten Grandmother’s long-ago wildflower identification lessons. Trillium, shooting-star and may-apple were just about to bust open.
Rock “ruin” at Savage Gardens
Photo: Tim Marema
With all its trees and flowers, there’s something more here, something enchanted. Rock formations have eroded from the lip of the gorge into shapes of houses, chimneys, and dripped sand castles. They rise in natural archways and shelter wildflowers in natural courtyards. It seems these are the ruins of an ancient sacred meeting place.
Savage Gardens is owned by Rebecka and David Carl Dew, who live on the property and graciously open up the garden for others to enjoy. “We know it is a really unique place and want others to be able to see it,” Rebecka says. In the 1930s, the land was owned by Arthur Savage of Knoxville, who cultivated it as a public garden by bringing in wildflowers and trees. The Depression made it impossible for him to maintain the garden, and eventually he sold it.
Rebecka’s father-in-law, Carl Dew, purchased the property in the 1960s. “We didn’t really know what we had for a long time,” Rebecka says. “Then we started walking around and exploring the place and said, ‘Woah!’ It’s still a wonder to me, because every year I find something new and pockets I didn’t know were there.”
Yellow trillium
Photo: Tim Marema
The Dews decided to open up the spot to the public about 15 years ago. Today they clear paths for people to walk through, remove dead trees and bring their goats in during the fall to eat the climbing vines, but for the most part this is just a quiet, natural woods with an abundance of wildflowers.
The spot is not highly publicized and can be a little tricky to find, but Rebecka said they do get many visitors, especially between March and May. Hours are daylight to dusk everyday. Park in the turn-around of the driveway, then follow the dogwood trail signs. The only rules are to stay on the paths, don’t bring pets and don’t pick, dig or molest any plant.
To get to Savage Gardens from Norris, turn on River Road off Highway 441. Go to the stop sign and turn right and go over the bridge. Immediately turn left onto Lovely Bluff Road (although there’s no street sign). Go about three miles until you see a spring on your right; Savage Garden Road will be on the left. Turn here and go up the hill to the first driveway on the left.
From Knoxville, take I-75 north to Exit 128 at Lake City. Cross over Highway 441 to Lovely Bluff Road (although the sign says Cob Hollow Road in one spot). Follow this to where Savage Garden Road turns off to the right and follow the directions above.