Award-winning writer and photographer, Rita Venable,
will talk about and sign copies of her book Butterflies
of Tennessee during a lunchtime lecture at the West Tennessee Delta
Heritage Center Wednesday, April 8. The event will begin
at 11:30 a.m., and is free to the public.
Butterflies
of Tennessee, published in 2014, is a collection of
full color photos and descriptions of all 124 species of butterflies found in
Tennessee. During her talk, Venable will share which butterflies you are seeing,
whether you are walking in the woods or a formal garden. Beyond
identifications, she’ll also show how to invite butterflies into your home
gardens and tips on butterfly-watching.
Venable has published numerous articles and
photographs in literary publications, newspapers and magazines including American Butterflies, American Gardener, Backpacker, Discover the
Outdoors and National Wildlife Online.
She has won awards in writing and photography from the Tennessee Outdoor
Writers Association and Southeastern Outdoor Press Association. Venable also
served as an artist-in-residence in creative writing for five years with the
Tennessee Arts Commission.
As an assistant biologist with the Tennessee Department
of Environment and Conservation, she has conducted biological surveys in state
parks and natural areas across the state. Venable has worked to develop
butterfly checklists for individual parks, led field trips, and conducted
training sessions for naturalists and spoke at wildflower festivals and other
state park events.
She has served as editor of Butterfly Gardener, a
publication of the North American Butterfly Association and founded the Middle
Tennessee Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association. She most enjoys
connecting people with the butterflies that live around them.
For more information about the lunch lecture and
Venable’s visit, contact the Center at 731-779-9000 or info@westtnheritage.com.
Books will be available for $24.95.
For more information
about Venable and Butterflies of
Tennessee, visit ritavenable.com.
