Tony Harris presented “If Plants Could Talk – A Cherokee Relationship” at our Monday, August 20, 2018 meeting. The hour with Mr. Harris was a delightful and extremely informative exploration of both nature and history about the Cherokee Indians.
A citizen of the Cherokee Nation himself, Mr. Harris is passionate about preserving his heritage and as a result, offered a vast knowledge of native plants and how they were appreciated by his ancestors. Thanks to his work, the Cherokee Garden at Green Meadows Preserve in Cobb County contains many of the plants used by these native people for food, medicine, weapons, tools and ceremonies. Their garden offers such a compelling story of the relationship the Cherokee had with plants that it has been designated as an Interpretive Site on The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
Tony is active with the Cobb County Master Gardeners, Georgia Native Plant Society, and he’s also President of the Georgia Trail of Tears Association.