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Next
on the agenda was another excellent and highly engaging
speaker, Ornamental Horticulture Specialist, Carol Reese, who took the
attendees from weeds and eradication to “Design for the Collector: How
to be a
Collector and Still Look Collected.” With
a plethora of beautiful slides and her
delightfully witty presentation style, attendees were provided an
absolute
bounty of ideas to take gardens from a blank slate to amazing design
possibilities, such as mixing plant color and variety with the use of
different
types of circular art objects, to the strategic placement of a single
beautiful
pot. I am already
incorporating several
of her suggestions.
Lunch
break gave attendees the opportunity to get out into the
warm sunshine and cool breezes as they traveled a short distance to the
historic Dixon Gallery & Gardens for a delicious lunch followed
by a garden
tour. During our
meal, Dale Skaggs,
Director of Horticulture, discussed “The Dixon Garden &
Gallery: Past,
Present, & Future,” providing fascinating details of the
historic Memphis
area once covered by vast old growth hardwood forests. Felled by loggers during the
1800s, this
cleared land and rich soil opened the way for cotton farming.
Some
of the area residents,
including the
Dixon family, allowed second growth hardwoods to repopulate and these
massive
trees are the foundation for the Dixon gardens. Beautifully
landscaped with many garden rooms,
this was an ideal break before beginning an afternoon of garden tours.
Attendees
could have spent hours in Linda Pittman’s garden,
discovering the plethora of ingenious and surprising uses of repurposed
bric-a-brac, from the teacup, to the window in the fence, to the
decking
steps. An absolute
delight of hostas,
many companion plants, Japanese maples, and sun perennials surrounded
the
house, covering the front and back yard. Ideas
for areas in my yard are still swimming
in my head.
Mike
and Lynn Chambers’ awe-inspiring garden reflects both their
love for and addiction to this beautiful plant. Approximately
750 hostas, with over 500
varieties, are showcased in pots of varying
heights,
railroad tie raised
beds, and
10 wheelbarrows full of minis! A
myriad
of companion plants are interspersed among the hostas. Amazing!!
Bickie
and Mike McDonnell’s expansive lawn and beautifully
landscaped gardens were an absolute joy. Along
with the wonderful hosta trails beneath
large oak and hickory trees, you could wander around the rose garden,
the
vegetable garden, and the stunning perennial border. A
truly exquisite experience!
Lunch
was provided at the 96 acre Memphis Botanic Garden,and included a
container arrangement demonstration, and the presentation,
“My
Friends: Small Gardens and Special Places” by noted speaker and the
master of
container arrangements, Rita Randolph. Plenty
of free time was provided after lunch to walk about the many gardens on
this
beautiful acreage. This
is definitely a
place I will visit again!
An
hour in the afternoon was provided for a question and answer session
with
“experts,” Bob Solberg, Rob Mortko, and Tom Micheletti for anyone
seeking help
for many of the concerns facing the hosta enthusiast.
Saturday
night dinner included the presentation, “Slow Gardening – All Seasons,
All
Senses (including Sense of Humor)” by one of Mississippi and the
South’s most
knowledgeable and entertaining horticulturists, Felder Rushing. His presentation was an
excellent respite from
the long day, as he utilized a witty and down to earth style in
encouraging
attendees to “do what they like” in the garden. A
perfect ending to an extraordinary event!
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