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.
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).
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.
And the gathering with friends was great fun.
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.
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 mansion, itself, was fascinating and beautiful.
The gardens were lovely and evolving.
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| The Memphis team leads the program. |
And the gathering with friends was great fun.
It was a full and fabulous day!
Hi Beth, thank you for sharing. It all is just lovely. I like the community herb garden ... help yourself and to have clippers ready for those who want a snip of basil, how fun. :-)
ReplyDeleteCarla
Yes, it was a wonderful Fling, for so many reasons. So many sweet little touches, including the community garden and the neighborhood gardens. Memphis is a great garden touring destination: It certainly exceeded my expectations.
DeleteThe areas you visited were very different but all looked inviting. The playful touches in so many of the gardens are wonderful. Like Carla, I admire the inclusion of a community cutting garden.
ReplyDeleteYes, the gardens were quite diverse in design and plantings and personalities. But in some way I can't really describe, there was a Memphis "feel" to the entire Fling. It's a great place to garden!
DeleteYou've chosen a nice variety of garden styles and vignettes to profile. While the plants are great, I'm also impressed with the garden art: classical to whimsical and everything in between. What a nice visit and thanks for sharing, I see why this Fling is still resonates with you! Tina
ReplyDeleteHi Tina: Yes, the garden art and the landscaping really impressed me at this Fling. The plants were incredible, as always, but all the gardens were so artfully arranged and conceived. I'd love to meet you at a future Fling!
DeleteExcellent, informative post. Looks like it was a wonderful time--many great gardens to admire and experience in your excellent photos. Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes, it was a delightful event--both visiting the amazing gardens and reconnecting and comparing notes with new and old friends, alike! I'm looking forward to next year in Buffalo, N.Y.!
DeleteSo many beautiful gardens - and it’s a joy to be able to see them. The one image that caught my eye above all else, wasn’t a a garden view or a particular plant, it was the fabulous, colourful outbuilding in Linda Pittman's garden!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, I agree that Linda's cute outbuilding was very special. That shade of blue is one of my favorites, too, so it was fun to see touches of it throughout the property. :)
DeleteHow wonderful, looks like a great Fling! I'm happy you got to go enjoy it all. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of it. The mansion is incredible.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great event, for sure! I always love the Flings, for so many reasons. And each one is unique. :)
DeleteStunning photos. Looks like you had a great visit and enjoyed it all so much.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yes, it was a wonderful event. The gardens were amazing, and it's always great to visit with gardening friends. :)
DeleteI am so sad that I had to miss the Memphis Fling. I was so looking forward to it, but things were just too unstable financially on my end to commit. So lovely to see these gardens through your eyes. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Jerry: You would have loved it; it really was a great Fling. But they're all fabulous. I hope you can join the group next year in Buffalo. :)
DeleteThat's my intention. Saving up my $ now. I used to live in upstate NY near Ithaca. Would love to revisit my old stomping grounds. One of the most beautiful places I've ever lived.
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