Shade Gardening with Native Plants: Insights from Charlotte Freeman

Have a shady spot in your yard and not sure what to do with it? Discover the art of native plant landscaping and learn how to match the right plant to the right place. Shade gardening is more than just selecting plants that tolerate low light—it’s about understanding the unique conditions your space offers. She will also show how mosses can be combined with wildflowers to form a natural green ground cover. Join local expert Charlotte Freeman as she shares practical tips and her extensive experience with shade gardening in North Chattanooga.

Charlotte Freeman has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Emory University and a Master’s degree in Zoology with a minor in Ecology from University of Florida. She taught biology at the university level and secondary school level for 38 years. She received the National Association of Biology Teachers Award for Outstanding Biology Teacher in the State of Tennessee in 1986. She received the Distinguished Teacher Award at Girls Preparatory School in 1989. Charlotte became an advocate for native plants about 40 years ago and has received her Certificate in Native plants from the Tennessee Valley Chapter of The Wild Ones and is a teacher of plant communities, and liverworts, mosses and ferns for the CNP classes. Her passion is converting her yard to native plants and propagating them as space allows. She has been instrumental in starting several other native wildflower gardens in the Chattanooga area.