NatureZen Month
October 2023
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 3 at 5:30PM
Science Café
Our new monthly happy hour brings people together at the golf clubhouse to learn about ecology over drinks. This month’s talk, by Dr. Sarah Boyle of Rhodes College, asks why some species go locally extinct in areas heavily impacted by human activities, while others do not. She’ll talk about how we as individuals and a collective can help address the loss of biodiversity. Registration opens September 19. Learn more here.
Every Wednesday at 7:00AM
Yoga in the Formal Gardens
Valentine Leonard of Delta Groove Yoga leads free morning kundalini sessions in the park’s formal gardens. Register here.
Every Wednesday at noon
Nature Journaling
Join instructor Amaya Shreeve for a weekly lunchtime event offering the opportunity to sketch what we see and hear in the Old Forest. Meet at the Old Forest gateway near Overton Bark. Get some inspiration here.
Wednesday, October 4 from 5:30-7:30PM
Party on the Plaza at Brooks Museum
Join the Conservancy, the Brooks Museum, and DJ Bizzle Bluebland for a party on the Brooks plaza to celebrate the closing of Kong Wee Pang’s “Art Garden” installation and the beginning of NatureZen Month. Admission to the plaza is free with registration. Galleries will be open late with paid admission and for Brooks members.
Saturday, October 7 at 8:00AM
Day of Service
Volunteers gather at Rainbow Lake Playground to spread new safety surfacing at this Team Up day sponsored by Comcast. Register to participate here.
Thursday, October 19 at 4:00PM
Third Thursday Trek
This new monthly walk with our Programs Manager covers forest-related topics. Registration for this walk opens October 12. Learn more here.
Saturday, October 21, walks at 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00AM
Nature 101 Walk
New to nature? No problem! Learn about birds, insects, plants, and more with guided walks. Sign up here.
Saturday, October 21 from 11:00AM to 1:00PM
Community Tree Giveaway
We’re enriching Memphis’s tree canopy by giving away free native trees to the public. Meet in front of Rust Hall (former Memphis College of Art) to choose from several species and chat with our team about what will work for your space.
Saturday, October 21 at 2:00PM
Paint & Picnic
Local artist Nicole Dorsey guides participants in a fall-themed painting project in the beautiful formal gardens. Register here.
Thursday, October 26 at 9:00AM
Tree ID Workshop
Join our Director of Operations for a morning in the field learning to identify our local trees. Register here.
All month long
Mindfulness Walks
Volunteer-led walks in the Old Forest give visitors the chance to slow down and breathe. Learn more here.
Sponsored by:
The Arbor Day Foundation
Baptist Memorial Health Care
Comcast
Delta Groove Yoga
Echo Systems Landscaping
Eclectic Eye
Hampline Brewing Co.
Hohenberg Foundation
International Paper
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
National Environmental Education Foundation
ServiceMaster by Stratos
Tennessee Valley Authority
To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kaci Murley at [email protected] or 901-214-5450.