July 2026

McCoy Farm & Gardens Newsletter

Volume Eleven: Issue Seven, July 2026

Find your next treasure this Independence Day weekend! The Star-Spangled Sale at McCoy Farm & Gardens is packed with vintage treasures and artisan booths. Join us and shop for a great cause; every purchase helps support McCoy Farm & Gardens and its year-round programs and preservation efforts.

Jordan Gianos, Tom Voychehovski, Beth Myers, and Benjamin Horne treating McCoy’s green ash trees recently for the emerald ash borer.

McCoy continues to protect its trees from two destructive invasive insects: the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) and the emerald ash borer (EAB). Early signs of infestation include needle loss and branch dieback in hemlocks, and thinning canopies along with increased woodpecker activity in ash trees.

Rather than removing affected trees, McCoy focuses on treatment and preservation. Eastern hemlocks and green ash trees provide valuable shade, wildlife habitat, erosion control, and beauty throughout the property. Hemlocks also help keep streams cool, supporting aquatic life and healthy ecosystems.

Have you wondered about the small colorful dots of paint on some of McCoy’s trees? McCoy’s hemlocks were first treated in 2016, again in 2021, and now in 2026 using Imidacloprid 2F, a systemic treatment that protects trees for approximately five years. McCoy’s ash trees have been treated in 2023, 2024, and again this year. The color of the dot represents the year the tree was treated. Regular monitoring and timely treatment have been key to preserving these important trees.

We are grateful to Tom Voychehovski for ensuring our ash trees are treated regularly and to Dan Reynolds for taking the lead on keeping our hemlocks healthy. This year, volunteers with Save Signal Mountain’s Hemlocks, together with McCoy volunteers, treated approximately 220 hemlock trees at McCoy. The group’s mission is to educate homeowners and land managers about identifying and treating hemlock woolly adelgid before significant damage occurs.

The biggest lessons learned at McCoy are the importance of early detection and action. Through stewardship, education, and ongoing treatment efforts, McCoy continues to protect these treasured trees for the benefit of wildlife, waterways, and future generations.

Top: Save Signal Mountain’s Hemlocks founder Dan Reynolds uses a soil injector to provide targeted treatment.

Left: Board member Joe Davis measures imidacloprid in preparation to treat a hemlock.

Right: The white, cotton-like masses visible along the hemlock branches are the ovisacs of the hemlock woolly adelgid. They persist long after the eggs have hatched.

Perhaps no one has played a longer hands-on role in the restoration of McCoy Farm & Gardens than Larry Mick. His involvement began in 2012 when, after retiring, he noticed the property had become overgrown with invasive plants. Determined to make a difference, Larry began clearing the chain-link fence and surrounding areas one pickup-truck load at a time, often removing about six feet of growth during an afternoon of work.

When the then-Mayor Bill Trohanis called for a Memorial Day picnic at McCoy in 2015, Larry joined a volunteer committee that worked for months to prepare the property. Together, volunteers removed years of accumulated debris, invasive vines, and large privet shrubs, helping reclaim the beauty of the grounds. Later that year, the nonprofit that manages the property today was formed.

One of Larry’s favorite discoveries came while working with Joe Davis to move an azalea. The pair uncovered what had once been a garden beside the rock serpentine retaining wall. That garden was outlined with bricks, which had long been covered with dirt and grass. Larry adopted the garden, now referred to as the Serpentine Garden, and began restoring it, uncovering peonies, poppies, larkspur, and other plants believed to be descendants of Martha McCoy’s original plantings. These “legacy plants” continue to bloom each spring and summer, preserving a connection to the property’s history.

Over the years, Larry has added perennials and annuals, including zinnias and his favorite, cleome, which faithfully returns each year. He also maintains the garden near the screened porch, where the SunPatiens provide vibrant color throughout the growing season. Additionally, Larry serves as secretary of McCoy’s board of directors.

Larry says one of the greatest rewards is hearing visitors express their appreciation for the gardens. Thanks to his years of dedication and hard work, countless visitors can enjoy the beauty and history of McCoy Farm & Gardens today.

What’s Coming Up

Newsletter Volunteers Needed

McCoy Farm & Gardens is seeking volunteers to help create our newsletter. Assistance is needed with writing short articles, editing, proofreading, and gathering photos. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please reach out to info@mccoywalden.org for more information.

Volunteers are essential to McCoy Farm & Gardens.

If you have other particular interests, just let us know how you’d like to volunteer. Sign up below to receive information about regular volunteer days and events.

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Contact McCoy Farm & Gardens

at katie@mccoywalden.org

to learn more about renting space at McCoy for your next event.

Donate Today

Or mail your check to

McCoy Farm & Gardens, P.O. Box 443, Signal Mountain, TN 37377.

We are now able to receive your contribution of securities.

If you would like to support McCoy in this tax-advantaged way,

please contact our office at

423-598-1658.

McCoy Farm & Gardens is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. All contributions are charitable and tax deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. 

McCoy Farm & Gardens is grateful to our Annual Sponsors, whose support allows the continued restoration and improvement of the property and buildings, as well as the expansion of McCoy’s programming. If you are interested in more information about becoming an Annual Sponsor, please check out our Partners page on our website or contact the office at 423-598-1658.

McCoy Farm & Gardens encompasses 38 acres and features the Bachman-McCoy House, gardens, and several outbuildings, including the Pavilion, Carriage House, Barn, and Blacksmith Workshop. Our Level 2 Arboretum contains 72 species. With over 2 miles of trails, the grounds also include the site of the former home of artist, poet, and naturalist Emma Bell Miles.