Sunday Highlights at the Memphis Fling

My last day at the Memphis Fling was bright, colorful, and wonderful like the others. (I regrettably didn't stay for the alternate activities on Monday.) Again, I'll keep the words to a minimum, and you can read more on the Fling website and in our social media posts.

Our first stop was at the home of Pam Beasley in the suburb of Germantown. Her garden was welcoming, and full of creative touches throughout (photos above and below):









Great curb appeal, lush walkways, creative arbors covered with flowers and baskets, and comfy seating areas adorned the gardens.

Next, we headed to the eclectic, 50-acre property of Susan and Jon Thompson: 







Beautiful waterways and water features, and colorful planting combinations graced the property.





Artfully arranged rock and brick displays and espalied trees created more magic.

Tatyana and Alex Jankov's property was equally welcoming in their own unique style:



Spans of native plants and pollinator favorites greeted us at the front.







Raised planting beds and a creative and tidy work area caught my eye, as did a water station for wild garden friends. It reminded me to add marbles to my own water bowl at home.



The Jankovs also had an impressive collection of beautiful Dahlias at peak bloom.

Next, Tammy and Jim Hausman's home and gardens:







The pool was a fun element, along with comfy seating and artful planters and birdhouses.

And the special event...floral arranging by John Mark Sharpe:



It was a nifty treat to see him work through the stages of a grand floral display.



One...



Two...



Three! (Admittedly, I think I liked it equally at the earliest stages all the way through to the end.)

For lunch, we visited Bobby Lanier Farm Park:

A working model of a community-based suburban farm, it featured plentiful lush crops and a meeting area for our luncheon.





Artful wreaths and floral arrangements adorned the windows and the tables.

At Millstone Market and Nursery:



I didn't take many photos, but I loved this moss "purse." I think I will make one very soon...

Three more gardens greeted us on Sunday, in the East Memphis/Midtown area. For some reason, at the Andy Williams and John Morris garden, I focused mainly on the plants, including:







White, blue, and pink Hydrangeas of various species and cultivars.



And blooms of mixed colors.



I was also fascinated by the stages of Magnolia (M. grandiflora) development, from bud to bloom to seedhead.

The gardens of Amy Bateson and Sarah Tinkler were contemplative:

Statuaries, floral displays, and water features were calm and relaxing.



This bike-hauling vehicle also captured my imagination.

Our final destination on Sunday was the quaint, sweet property of Bernhard Meck and Dakoda Davis:







A lovely home, colorful garden decorations, and special lyrics greeted us...but then there was a surprise...

A dwarf caiman in an indoor enclosure! To read more about it, check out Bernhard Meck's description.

I'll leave you with a photo of a budding and blooming Rose from the Meck/Davis garden, because so many Roses were at peak bloom and beauty during the Memphis Fling. It was a magical time and a wonderful event!

Visit the Fling website and our social media posts for more coverage. And plan now for next year's Fling in Buffalo, N.Y., July 9-12, 2026.

Saturday's Roundup at the Memphis Fling

We're just about a month past the Garden Fling in Memphis, and it's still replaying pleasantly in my memory. We toured the greatest number of gardens on Saturday, including several in the Lenox neighborhood, with its whimsical, welcoming personality.

Here are a few highlights, in no particular order:



At the Jeff McMillen home, Bigleaf Hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) (first photo), potted plants, and diverse perennials greeted us at the entrance. The soil in most of Memphis seemed to be neutral, as the Hydrangea blooms ranged from bright pink to medium blue.





The gardens of David Babij and Brian Spight offered a warm, tropical, comfortable sitting area, creative plant combinations, and artful statuaries.





Creative facial displays, beautiful water features, and natural elements combined in the gardens of Chip Morrison.





The lovely front gardens and beautiful tile borders at Kathy Ake and Leigh Powell's property were colorful and inspiring.





A comfortably arranged patio area at Ellen and John Hornyak's home was inviting, along with nooks and crannies featuring lovely plants, like this Rough-Leaved Hydrangea (H. aspera).



What a fun welcome greeted us at the home of Michael and Patti McClain, with Rough Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) and directions to the back garden.



Several artfully decorated milk jugs, full of fun plants, graced the garden walls.





Shawna Engel and Seamus Loftus offered comfy seating and a beautifully planted walkway.

Also, this was one of the sweetest highlights of Saturday, and the entire Fling:

Recognition of our group's visit to the Lenox neighborhood along a historical wall.

Our next visits were located in the Central Gardens neighborhood:









Frank Armstrong and Terry Clark welcomed us with their grand, elegant front facade and their warm and welcoming lushly landscaped back garden. Water features and creative bird houses and decorations piqued my interest.





At the garden of Margot McNeely and Gary Backaus, warm lighting and potted plants lined the back stairs and plots filled with Canna Lilies (Canna x) and other colorful blooms greeted us throughout the property.



Their expansive rows of Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) brought many smiles.



And the pool looked inviting, even on a rainy day.

The garden of Dr. Mark Mills and Scott Haynes included many lovely water features, sitting areas, and of course fun plants, like this Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii).

Later, we headed to the suburb of Bartlett:









Linda Pittman's garden featured many cornflower blue elements that matched the blue Hydrangeas, including blue shutters, a shed, pots for plants, and more.

Creativity and beauty greeted us once again at the home of Laurie and Tom Rieman. A rope beehive-style mailbox, Evergreen Wisteria (Wisteriopsis reticulata), and a neighborhood cutting garden welcomed us out front.



Water features and lovely plants adorned the back and side areas.





Beautiful landscaping, statuaries, and whimsical art ruled at the garden of Jean Ward-Jones.



The pollinators were enjoying her Cedarglade St. Johnswort (Hypericom frondosum).



A notable feature of Jean's garden was her colorful collection of leaf-imprinted and decorated garden art.

The final event of the day was our dinner and tour of the Annesdale Mansion property:



The mansion, itself, was fascinating and beautiful.





The gardens were lovely and evolving.

The Memphis team leads the program.

And the gathering with friends was great fun.

It was a full and fabulous day! 

Stay tuned for more coverage of the Memphis Garden Fling here, and on the Fling website.