NatureZen Month
October 2024
Presented by Overton Park Conservancy
Nature has the power to heal, to make us feel connected to something larger than ourselves. Overton Park, with its Old Forest and open green spaces, has been a constant in Memphians’ lives for more than a century, and Overton Park Conservancy is eager to share its healing power with our community.
NatureZen Month is a celebration of what the park–and nature as a whole–can do for our mental and physical health.
Calendar of Events
Tuesday, October 1 at 5:30PM
Science Café
Our monthly happy hour brings people together at the golf clubhouse to learn about ecology over drinks. This month’s talk, by Dr. Farhad Jazaei of the Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research (CAESER) at the University of Memphis, discusses his work on water hydrology and contamination. Registration opens September 17. Learn more here.
Every Tuesday at 4:00PM
Nature Journaling
Join us for a weekly event offering the opportunity to sketch what we see and hear in the Old Forest. Meet at the East Parkway Old Forest gateway (389 E. Parkway N.). Get some inspiration here.
Every Wednesday at 8:00AM
Yoga in the Formal Gardens
Cecelia Cordera of Delta Groove Yoga leads free morning kundalini sessions in the park’s formal gardens. Register here.
Every Wednesday at 4:00PM
Wednesday Walks
Join this relaxed walk-and-talk through the Old Forest to meet new friends and catch up with old ones. Meet at the information kiosk in the Rainbow Lake Playground parking lot.
Thursday, October 3 from 5:00-8:00PM
Clubhouse Zen at Brooks Museum
Join the Conservancy and the Brooks Museum for a party on the Brooks plaza to celebrate the closing of the summer art garden installation and the beginning of NatureZen Month. Galleries will be open late with paid admission and for Brooks members. Food from Feast + Graze will be available for purchase, and there will be music by Future Everything. Free with registration.
Saturday, October 5 from 11:00AM to 1:00PM
Community Tree Giveaway at Veterans Plaza
We’re enriching Memphis’s tree canopy by giving away free native trees to the public. Choose from several species and chat with our team about what will work for your space.
Saturday, October 5 from 2:00 to 3:30PM
Concert and Open Rehearsal
Bring your instrument to the Greensward for a communal music-making experience led by the Bartlett Community Concert Band. Registration opens September 21.
Tuesday, October 8 at 9:00AM
Tree ID Workshop
Join SAF Certified Forester and ISA Certified Arborist Dr. Eric Bridges for a morning in the field learning to identify our local trees by their leaves, fruits, bark, and buds. Registration opens September 17.
Thursday, October 17 at 4:00PM
Third Thursday Trek
This monthly walk with our Programs Manager covers forest-related topics. Registration for this walk opens October 10. Learn more here.
Saturday, October 19, walks at 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00AM
Nature 101 Walks
New to nature? No problem! Learn about birds, insects, plants, and more with guided walks. Registration opens October 5.
Saturday, October 19 at 2:00PM
Paint & Picnic
Discover your inner creative with instructor Anna House as you immerse yourself in a Nature Zen art experience, using paints and pastels to craft your own mixed media masterpiece. Registration opens October 5.
Saturday, October 26 at 6:00PM
A Magical Night at Overton Park
Join us for our signature fundraising event, honoring outgoing Conservancy Executive Director Tina Sullivan. Tickets are available now.
Sponsored by:
The Arbor Day Foundation
Assisi Foundation
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
Delta Groove Yoga
Echo Systems Landscaping
FedEx
First Horizon
Hampline Brewing Company
International Paper
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
National Environmental Education Foundation
To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kaci Murley at [email protected] or 901-214-5450.