Dr. Mary Ball

Meet Mary Ball - The Nature Lady

Mary Ball inspects the huge hemlock trees in front of her building on the campus of Carson-Newman College.

So far, they show no signs of being infested with the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.

Mary Ball remembers the tiny white dogwood tree her father planted in their front yard in San Antonio. (Cars actually “caravanned” past their yard to see it in bloom each Spring!) She remembers watching ant lions build pits and capture ants. (Other members of the high school marching band were talking with friends during a break. Mary thought the ant lions were more interesting.) And she remembers the first time she visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (It was love at first sight! She still cries when she recalls how gigantic and how beautiful the trees seemed to a “Texas girl”.)

Mary moved to East Tennessee 21 years ago to teach at Carson-Newman College. She plans to live here forever. She relishes Tennessee’s natural beauty – but she is concerned. Her beloved Great Smoky Mountains National Park has problems. Some days, hikers must be warned that the air pollution could damage their lungs. The majestic hemlock trees may not survive the attack by an insect smaller than a sesame seed.

But Mary is hopeful. People are responsible for the Park’s problems and people can solve them. Even students like you and you and you can help!

If you have a question for the Nature Lady, you can send it to her at: naturelady@cn.edu

Not all emails can be answered, but some will be posted on a special page on this website.

Last modified on: July 7, 2006