Sycamore Shoals is a Tennessee State Park that commemorates early history of the area. Visitors to this historic site number over 300,000 each year. The park has many educational activities and events throughout the year, which can be found on the Sycamore Shoals website.
Children with their teachers and classmates come to view the gardens and learn about the metamorphosis of the Monarch Butterfly. The Carter County Conservation Group also visits the park and the gardens each year as part of their curriculum.
This project was begun by the Master Gardener Class of 2006. By 2008 the design was approved by the Park Manager with the state of Tennessee agreeing to finance the purchase of 25 native species; 297 total plantings.
In 2010 a grant from the Elizabethton/Carter County Community Foundation was obtained to complete perimeter and inside garden paths for access and efficient maintenance of the pollinator garden. Members of other Master Gardener Classes help to maintain the following gardens:
The Pollinator Garden is a registered official Monarch Way Station.
The Pollinator Garden is included in the annual butterfly census of the North American Butterfly Association.