This year’s abundant rainfall has produced a beautiful early spring in East Tennessee. Our grass is lush green, and the early blooming trees, flowers, and shrubs are stunningly brilliant. The daffodils and crocus have, for the most part, come and gone, but the tulips, dogwoods, and azaleas are putting on quite the show. I had to share and maybe brag on our region a bit as we raise the curtain on another splendid spring showing.
The Dogwood Arts Festival, which began in 1955, draws attention to the spring blooming season’s arrival by featuring public and private gardens that are open to visitors. Also featured are driving routes through several neighborhoods, designated as Dogwood Trails, where flowering trees are plentiful and yards landscaped to perfection. The trails are a sight to behold, but our blooming period is always too short in East Tennessee. We seem to go from cool weather to hot almost overnight.
In addition to highlighting things floral, the Festival also focuses on the arts, both performing and visual. Festival organizers schedule concerts, theatrical performances, art galleries, and craft shows to entertain visitors from all over the region and the entire country with local artists’ skills and talents in hundreds of venues. It’s busy, but it’s fun.
One of the more popular events on the schedule is named “Chalk the Walk,” where the first 500 artists to register compete for prizes in several age groups. Each artist receives a box with 48 chalks and pastels to draw their masterpiece. In the past, the competition took place in our downtown square and was always well-attended by on-lookers wishing to view genius at work.
I had not planned to blog this week. Helen and I are in a frenzy preparing to leave on an RV trip, and I still had taxes to finish, a doctor, dental, and eye appointment, a wedding to attend, and a myriad of last-minute details to complete. Nevertheless, when I heard that the Chalk Walk competition was on for this week, I thought I would share some of the drawings with Easin’ Along readers. I grabbed both cameras and drove downtown. When I reached the square, there were maybe ten people there and no artists. I called the Festival office thinking that the competition had moved to another location.
A very polite gentleman answered the phone and informed me that Festival organizers decided not to risk the event becoming a “super spreader” during the pandemic. Artists would still compete, but individually, at a site of their choosing, and submit a photograph of the finished product to the judges online. I understood but was very disappointed.
I wanted to share these gifted artists’ works, but finding a work in progress would be impossible with the limited time available to me. Instead, I looked up some images from previous competitions on the Festival website and “borrowed” a few to share. Google Images also had several good examples. I hope you enjoy them. When artists are chalking the walk, we know that “spring has sprung” in the hills of East Tennessee.
Have a great week everyone. We’re Easin’ Along.
Your spring flowers are wonderful! Our azaleas have all faded for this year, but they were beautiful while they lasted.
That chalk painting of the magnolias that you posted is gorgeous! Amazing to think it’s just a temporary work of art. Ephemeral, just like the flowers. 🙂
Hello, Laurel,
We’ve had a beautiful spring so far, and today’s scattered rain should help. Hope all the chalk artists are either finished or working under cover. Great to hear from you…please stay in touch. Joe
I absolutely love all those flowers. It’s something I truly miss when I’m here in Phx, but we’ll be heading north in about a month and I’ll get a garden fix. Beautiful pics!
Good morning, Ingrid,
A garden fix will get your summer off to a great start. We’ve had a beautiful spring blooming season for tulips and daffodils, and my grass has never been greener. You must be in the final stages of planning your trip north, and I’m looking forward to your pictures. Have a great week, and stay cool out there! Joe
Just beautiful
Thanks, Nancy. We’ve been blessed with a very beautiful spring this year. Hope your RV journey is going well. There is nothing like the RV lifestyle when it comes to travel. So relaxing! Thanks for stopping by, and please stay in touch. Joe
Hi, Joe – Your spring flowers are gorgeous.
And the chalk drawings are amazing. Thanks so much for collecting them for us. Oh how I miss festivals like that!
Hi, Donna,
There is nothing like a hillside covered in daffodils to help one shake off the fog of winter. Our Dogwood Trails are especially beautiful this year. We have two spring festivals every year and Helen and I will miss the second one in May. The Rossini Festival brings musical performances of every kind to almost every street corner and our downtown square. It is always a great day when we find a festival while traveling. I remember two that added much to our trips. First was the “Walleye Festival” in International Falls, MN, and we found a “Harvest Festival” in El Centro, CA. I smile thinking about them. Big fun! Thanks for checking in. Joe
“Chalk the Walk” – that’s catchy and creative. Although I have to admit that I thought we were going to do a little reminiscing about hopscotch when I first read the title! Your header photo is incredibly amazing, Joe. What a gorgeous piece of art – and a fun venue for the artists, too, I bet. Here’s hoping that you and Helen get off to a smooth start and have a fabulous trip!
Good morning, Mary,
When I first learned about “Chalk the Walk” several years ago, I also thought it was a hopscotch competition. Thankfully, it was a bit more than that. I agree that the chalk drawing of Dolly Parton is an incredible piece of work. We leave Friday–can’t wait. Stay in touch! Joe
Joe, thanks for sharing all your spring flowers. I grew up just outside Tallahassee, and we had Dogwoods in abundance in our yard. Still miss that sight.
I’ve heard about the chalk artist and seen their work on-line but never in person. Some of the stuff is pretty amazing. Probably wise to cancel this year. But sorry you didn’t get to see them. At least you got a break from all your preparations – that’s worth something!
Good morning, Suzanne,
I would miss Dogwoods as well. I did miss the chalk artists this year, but I took the opportunity to drive one of the Dogwood Trails and capture some of the flowering trees and tulips so, all was not lost. I read where you an Malcolm had a trip planned soon. I know you’re looking forward to that. I don’t know when “normal” returns, but we’re inching closer. Tuesday will mark two weeks since we received the second COVID vaccinations–I’m not going to go wild–but I am going out to dinner! Have a great week! Joe
thanks for sharing these….. it was fun to see the chalk walk despite the virus…Have a great trip and please continue to send your “Easin Along” ,..it is great to get to travel along with you.
Hi, Jennie,
Thanks for stopping by and for the nice comments. We’re hitting the road soon. Please join us and please stay in touch. Joe
Awesome artworks! Love how the colours are blended in with chalk. Springtime looks gorgeous at your place.
Hi, Monica,
Spring months in East Tennessee are glorious. Hope you have a chance to visit sometime. Thanks for stopping by! Joe
I miss the abundant daffodils and the various chalk art sponsored by one of my favorite people in Oak Ridge, Jim Dodson. East Tennessee will always be the best part of the state in my opinion, though I only have Middle TN to compare it to. Obviously, what I miss most are the natural beauty and the wonderful people, like you and Jim!
Hi, Sue,
I cherish the daffodil blooming period and the flowers that follow, particularly the wildflowers. When we lived on the lake, we had groves of wildflowers of different variety–spring beauty, winter aconite, wild Iris, bloodroot,–and many more. I miss that greatly, but I still have a wonderful time enjoying other gardens that bloom. It is hard to find a more beautiful place in spring than East Tennessee. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend. Joe