Don Shadow can grow anything— from native plants to unique species of dogwoods, from exotic cultivars to baby camels. Shadow will give the keynote presentation for Trails & Trilliums on Sat., April 19 at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School. A fourth-generation nurseryman, Don has operated Shadow Nursery in Winchester since 1973. A master plantsman with an extraordinary nursery on an 800-acre farm, he also has a world-class breeding program of 600 exotic animals that thrive in his natural landscape. The collection of rare creatures is a vital part of his outreach and keeps him in touch with plant and animal lovers, zoo and arboretum directors around the globe.

Don will present a slide show about his flora and fauna during the two-day event that is designed to raise awareness about preserving native plants and their woodland habitats. Shadow’s wholesale nursery specializes in woody ornamentals, deciduous shrubs and trees, flowering dogwoods including rare hybrids, and hard-to-find native plants. Field-grown specimens, field-trials, propagation beds, and a container operation include tried-and-true plants, hard-to-find rarities, and exciting new introductions that Shadow feels have potential as remarkable landscape plants. More than 20 varieties of his trees and shrubs will be available as part of the native plant sale on April 19 and 20.

Don tends his incredible array of plants along with more than 60 different species of animals—14 kinds of deer, 46 camels, antelope, zebras, tapirs, and lemurs. He works closely with zoos, which regularly send him animals for breeding, based on his remarkable success record. He has quietly amassed one of the South's most important collections of rare livestock breeds, and he is part of a national movement to preserve endangered breeds of livestock and poultry.

But whether it’s growing tender bamboo for his pandas or developing new varietals of fruit trees, Shadow’s first love is in the realm of plants. Don describes these varietals, some of which were featured in an edition of “Garden Design” magazine, not as unique but as “new and useful.” He wants the average gardener to feel confident to plant them.

Shadow and Paul Cappiellos co-authored “Dogwoods: the Genus Cornus,” which is a bible for dogwood lovers. According to Cappiellos, “Don has become known worldwide as the keeper of as much plant knowledge as just about anyone on the planet. A longtime grower of dogwoods, he grew up in one of the family nurseries that was at the forefront of dogwood improvement.” Copies of the book will be available for purchase, and autographs at Trails and Trilliums.

Shadow’s contributions have earned him numerous honors. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Horticulture and served for nine years on the UT Board of Trustees. He has been president of the Eastern Region of the International Plant Propagator’s society, president of the Southern Nursery Association, president of the Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association, and a member of the American Nursery & Landscape Association Board of Governors. He served three terms on the Advisory Council of the United States National Arboretum. Don was awarded the Slater Wright Memorial Award presented by the Southern Nursery Association for outstanding service to the industry, the Garden Club of America’s Medal of Honor for outstanding contribution to Horticulture, the Individual Commercial Award presented by the American Horticulture Society, and the Silver Seal Award of the American Federation of Garden Clubs.