American gardens – Susan Rushton

May 30, 2022May 31, 2022

Cooper-Young Annual Garden Walk, 2022, Memphis, Tennessee

Blue bottle tree with red rose

We recently visited Memphis for one of the most eagerly anticipated gardening events in the American South: two days where 90 or so private gardens in the historic Cooper-Young district of Memphis throw open their gates to band-wearing members of the public.

While a suggested route took in many of the highlights, as first-timers, we decided to explore each quadrant as fully as we could. That’s not a light undertaking – Cooper-Young claims to host the largest garden walk in the Mid-South. If there’s one with a better mix of gardens of all styles and skill levels, or a more welcoming one, I want to see it. Continue reading “Cooper-Young Annual Garden Walk, 2022, Memphis, Tennessee”

July 21, 2021

Two From The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden lake with palm trees

The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is one of a select few in the US where tropical plants can be grown outside all year round. The garden is built around a series of lakes and a collection of palm trees and many of its vistas are superb. Continue reading “Two From The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden”

June 17, 2020June 18, 2020

Wordless Wednesday

Lanky succulents growing up wooden railings Continue reading “Wordless Wednesday”

October 30, 2019October 31, 2019

Reflections on Glass: Fräbel in the Garden

Glass clowns in different postures by Fräbel — The Cavorting Clown Fountain

Clowns helter skelter after each other in what, we sense, ought to be an ordered line, but just isn’t. Embodied verbs, they pose, plunge, stumble, balance, strut, slip, bow and clamber, one or other body part defying gravity in that frozen moment to anchor the whole. Straight backs lend them dignity even as they take risks and cavort. We’re in the whimsical world of flamework glass artist, Hans Godo Fräbel, as seen at the Naples Botanical Garden, Florida, earlier this year. Continue reading “Reflections on Glass: Fräbel in the Garden”

March 22, 2019April 29, 2020

Zinging The Blues: Chihuly Art Glass

Gold, blue and clear art glass in a flower garden

Sinuous blue and spiky turquoise Chihuly art glass

Curly and spiky blue art glass by Chihuly

Blue glass orb makes a backdrop for spiky eryngium

I’ve written before about the inspired partnering of plants with art glass at Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle. Here are some more pictures with a blue theme, shared for Becky’s March Squares.

February 13, 2018March 6, 2020

Suzie Cranston’s Birdhouse Garden

Various birdhouses including one like a caravan

When Suzie Cranston’s world was rocked by the death of her son, Peck, a sign saying ‘Peace begins in the garden’ inspired her to create a garden that would celebrate his life.

A painting of Peck Cranston as a boy, holding a tortoise

Beautiful at any time of the year, my sweetheart and I often pause to admire it on walks through our quirky little neighbourhood, Fondren, in Jackson, Mississippi. More than twenty years after starting the garden, Suzie is eager for others to enjoy it as much as she does. She welcomes visitors with a broad smile, pointing out things they may have missed: flowers, garden art, a new birdhouse and, in particular, things that Peck would have loved, such as the tortoises which appear everywhere. Continue reading “Suzie Cranston’s Birdhouse Garden”

October 9, 2017October 9, 2017

Pedestrian Walkway At The Missouri Botanical Garden

Covered path at the Missouri Botanical Garden

I rarely take people pictures. It makes me feel sneaky (when I try to take pictures unobserved) or shy (when I’m spotted). I’d be hard pressed to estimate how long I’ve spent in gardens waiting for people to clear away from my shot and how often I’ve captured a random back or stray bottom by mistake when looking too excitedly at a flower to thoroughly check the periphery. Continue reading “Pedestrian Walkway At The Missouri Botanical Garden”