by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

“It’s astonishing how well this has been received,” said John Bloecher, Superintendent at The Course commenting on the community enthusiasm about the wildflower displays that unexpectedly appeared this spring at the Sewanee golf course and along the approach to The Course on Green’s View Road. The “why” is a perfect storm of serendipity and intentionality. It all began in May of 2025 when Sewanee resident Michael Payne tossed out a few handfuls of zinnia and other native seeds at the edge of The Course next to deadfall trees.

Payne fell in love with wildflowers in 10th grade working in a state park greenhouse. After retiring in Sewanee he took the lead in reimagining the neglected community garden on Old Farm Road, creating two planting areas: Hayseed Farms for vegetables and Old Farm Road Wildflowers. The wildflower patch was the seed source for the golf course planting. With minimal soil preparation, some rake scratching and clearing, the wildflowers thrived.

Inspired, Payne and fellow Monteagle-Sewanee Rotarian Johnny Walters reached out to Bloecher about designating areas for intentional plantings. “John was all for it,” Payne said. Out for an afternoon of golf that August, Sewanee resident Todd Mayo was awed by the stunning wildflower display born of Payne’s haphazard trial planting. “Where did that come from?” he asked Bloecher. “How can we do more of this?” Bloecher advised him wildflower seed was expensive, but the Rotary had taken on the project of wildflower plantings at The Course. Enthusiastic, Mayo signed on as a donor.

Bloecher explained some of the wildflowers observed by Mayo came up on their own because he did not spray weed control chemicals. A naturalist at heart and by habit, Bloecher said, “There are no weeds on this golf course. Everything has a purpose.”

Bloecher has embraced countering narratives about high rates of Parkinson’s disease for those who live near golf courses and golf course managers being “the bad guy when it comes to chemicals.” Challenging that opinion, Bloecher said, “Most golf course superintendents are pretty good stewards of the environment. Chemicals cost money. Golf courses are great habitats. Anything we can do to promote pollinators and butterflies and show they can live in cohabitation with the golf course helps make the public aware we are stewards of the environment, not users of the land.”

Payne stressed the importance of cold stratification, planting after a frost to promote germination of native perennials — which all the wildflowers seeded on The Course are. Last fall Payne and Walters oversaw tilling up six areas for plantings, as well as two roadside plantings along Green’s View. “The two beds along the road are for community members to see and to promote The Course as a natural habitat. Our plans to expand include more planting areas and beehives.”

“My last course in Kentucky we had beehives,” Bloecher said, “and we sold the honey in the pro shop.” So far as a location for the hives, Bloecher suggested the No. 5 hole on the bluff, which would avoid casual encounter and offered the plus of a shallow pond to attract monarch butterflies. The Course also features a dozen bluebird houses. Bloecher plans to pursue certification as an Audubon Sanctuary, a lapsed distinction The Course held in the past.

Bloecher’s mantra is about doing research “to promote what we want” and to discourage “what’s taking over.” He advocates burning to discourage invasive weeds and grasses, which don’t like the low acidity resulting from ash, and to provide cover to promote germination with the ash acting as a natural fertilizer.

In addition to adding color to low maintenance areas populated by tall grasses, Bloecher emphasized the role of the wildflower plantings as “a learning laboratory. It fits the vision of the Domain as a natural environment promoting the biological and environmental sciences.” To that end, Bloecher plans to offer a First Green class geared to third graders, a STEM type program designed to encourage young people to pursue a career in turf management. “It’s more than just mowing the grass,” Bloecher joked countering another misleading assumption.

“We’re trying to enhance a natural habitat,” Payne observed, tackling the existential question of “why” wildflowers at the golf course matter. “It’s a simple thing we can do that’s enjoyable.” “It’s a gift that gives to everybody for the simple beauty, and that’s needed more now than ever,” Mayo added. Bloecher’s advice on understanding the existential why, “take a moment out of your busy life to stop what you’re doing and look at a flower.”

A final note: Please don’t pick the flowers. Enjoy them, but leave the nectar and pollen for the bees.