One year in Norris

This month marks one year for me as a resident at the New Norris House. As a previous resident of various apartments near the center of Knoxville, one of the most interesting aspects of living in Norris has been the increase in time I’ve spent outdoors and the animals I’ve happily encountered along the way.

One frequent visitor is the brown snake. I’ve seen several of these (or maybe it is the same one?) around the landscape this summer. They are friendly snakes and don’t mind to be picked up and relocated away from the main walkways to the terraced gardens.

Brown snake, Storeia dekayi

While weeding the perennial bed this nest of small eggs was discovered. I had noticed several dozen juvenile five-lined skinks in the area. A little online research indicates that these are five-lined skink eggs.

Five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) nest

A juvenile skink found nearby sunning on top of the retaining wall.

Everyday, hundreds of bees, flies, dragonflies, and butterflies visit the rainwater and greywater beds and the meadows and perennial beds. The black-eyed susan’s and purple coneflowers are a favorite as well as the nodding onions and the passionflower vines, which are frequented by big, buzzing bumblebees.

The animals seen on a regular basis in the New Norris House landscape are not rare or threatened in East Tennessee, but every time I see one of them it brings a sense of joy and wonder to my day. However, it seems that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find these animals in many urban and suburban residential yards. Additionally, there is a growing body of research indicating that humans, especially young people, are not spending enough time outside engaged with plants and animals.

Fortunately, landscape methods, such as pesticide-free gardening with native plants and establishing small patches of native grass meadows as a lawn alternative, can create habitat for these and other species in urban and suburban yards. Native plantings are easier to care for than many non-natives because natives have evolved defenses against local predators and adaptations to thrive under local weather patterns. The reason native plants attract so many beneficial species of wildlife is also because they evolved together – with the plants providing food and shelter in return for species-specific relationships with the animals that pollinate or spread their seeds.

The New Norris House landscape is an example of how alive a suburban residential yard can feel.

Turkeys and deer and snakes—oh my!

Not long after moving to Norris, we were driving around town and saw a rafter (or gang, if you prefer) of wild turkeys walking through a field. As a newcomer to the area, I did a double take—were we really seeing turkeys?? I’ve seen them again on several occasions and while it doesn’t come as much of a surprise anymore, it’s fun to spot them and their distinctive walk.

Norris is home to all kinds of wildlife; the city and the Norris Watershed area are considered a wildlife sanctuary (see map). An aerial view of the city shows how much green space there is throughout the town; this remnant of early city design provides space for animal habitats to coexist with the people who live here. We’ve noticed at the house that as the grasses are filling in and the garden is growing, there are more butterflies, dragonflies, and bees in the backyard.

many trees and green spaces in the city of Norris

In addition to the wild turkeys, we’ve seen deer, rabbits, squirrels, opossums, raccoons, hawks, bats, snakes, and vultures. We’ve smelled skunks, and have heard frogs, crickets, cicadas, and many songbirds. This is only a small sampling of area wildlife; the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Watchable Wildlife Information site has links to different wildlife types, wildlife programs, species lists, and publications.

eastern bluebird (source)

The trees around the house are full of birds that start their singing early in the morning and continue until the evening. The time of day could be tracked by the singing and chirping of the birds alone. The early hours are bursting with song, midday is a quieter yet constant chatter, and late afternoon the cawing of crows almost drowns out anything else. From the kitchen window, I’ve seen Eastern bluebirds (they have the most brilliant blue coloring), cardinals, blue jays, robins, hawks, crows, house finches, pileated woodpeckers, sparrows, and wrens. This list is short since it’s limited to the birds I can identify; there are many more species in the area.

hawk with snake, seen from kitchen window

The Norris Dam recreation area is close by and a good spot for watching birds or wildlife. Because the Clinch River flows through here, different types of birds and wildlife live in the area; you might see herons, ducks, kingfishers, trout, and turtles. The 2.5 mile Songbird Trail follows the river, and is a good place for an easy and peaceful walk close to many birds. We’ve always enjoyed the trail on the walks we’ve taken there; it’s a bonus to have a protected area like it practically in our backyard.