August 1, 2025
During my Memphis Fling Garden tour in early June, I didn’t expect any very interesting architecture. From private property to real estate gardens to downtown buildings, Memphis has many spectacular old buildings. This is a sample of the structure that caught my eye along with the garden.
Art Modern – Charles Kissler Garden
When I found Charles Kistler’s house, I cried out its curvy stone facade (see photo above) and the Art Deco style gold door. This is a 1949 modern art exhibit designed by architect George Ausambe. (Check out this link for a Memphis magazine story about houses with interior photos.)
Behind you will find a large swimming pool with a fountain dominating the garden.
The backdoor is interesting with sky blue holes.
I have noticed them in other gardens ever since I praised the distinctive Kosanti original windbell in Lisa Negri’s Summer Home Garden. There is also one at Kissler Garden.
The owner is an art collector, and several archaic sculptures adorn the garden.
I found more rude art through the glass block windows.
The same art modern style backhouse has another eye-catching door…
…It is set to be a verdigris, arch-shaped, and stone echo arch.
Pilar Hernandez rests under a pot in the tall Lea area
Frank Eddie enjoys the tints of crepe myrtle
Indo Brown surprised everyone by surrendering herself to the float and paddling the pool of street clothing. Now, that’s a way to keep you cool!
Steel pipe planter like Sun Rays
Italian Renaissance – Mills Haynes House
The rain had fallen into Dr. Mark Mills and Dr. Scott Haynes’ gardens, but I paused under an umbrella and took a photo of the historic Joseph M. Flyhouse, an Italian Renaissance mansion.
On a exploration of the flooded garden, I found a secret cave in the side yard.
Behind the elegant tile shop pool house provided a little shelter from the rain.
However, the garden was still a beckoning, so I went.
Lilies and tall verbena
Giant coneflower, its green leaves echoing through the powder blue bench pillow
Giant cornflower corn
Fountains and Lawns – Formal Gardens for Your Home
Mediterranean Revival – Armstrong Clark House
A thunderstorm was being brewed when we arrived at Frank Armstrong and Terry Clark’s Buttercream Yellow Mediterranean Revival Home. I dashed past the recessed entrance…
…and quickly ran the backyard. There, an elevated pergola overlooks the fountain surrounded by “Sunshine” Rigastram.
As the sky darkened, the pillared back terrace provided a warm glow.
India Brown and Jill Noony were all smiling.
Georgian – Dixon Gallery & Garden
On another day we toured the Dixon Gallery & Gardens. This is a 17-acre public garden and museum founded in the Georgian home of late philanthropists Hugo and Margaret Dixon.
Statues…
…Arbor Tunnel…
…and elegant pavement defines a formal garden.
Pink hydrangeas were in bloom.
The same was true for Cosmos…
…and the “Purple Kiss” by Anne Queen Anne.
Caster beans and Tall Verbena made quite a combo.
The caster beans are backlit in the sun.
A bigger coneflower
Brian Russell’s Stamina #3 adds modern notes.
In the courtyard, a cast of gloomy sculptures by Auguste Rodin greets you.
The three shades are part of Rodin’s The Gates of Hell, depicting scenes from Dante’s Inferno.
In the light notes, Venus of Memphis by Wheeler Williams.
Italian – Ansdale Mansion
We arrived at the elegant Annesdale Mansion for a Saturday evening Fling Banquet dinner. Originally a Victorian farmer in 1855, it was transformed into an Italian villa in 1913. New owner Bill Townsend has grand plans to “reclaim the mansion to the wonders of 1913 and revive the gardens that may appear in the early 1930s.”
On this warm summer day, the grounds were peaceful.
Loli Jewellery and Connie Cottingham enjoyed the view in a cool, charming upper pouch.
Inside, Art Deco moment
The fugitive enjoyed a buffet dinner on the large patio under the festive string lights…
…And Memphis Fling organizers Kim Haryak, Sharon Johnson and John Simi were greeted with the brilliance of a successful and extremely enjoyable escape!
Group shot of feathers in memphis
Incidentally, if you want to publish your gardening on your blog, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, X, podcasts, or other social media outlets, you are invited to join Fling’s annual meetup and tour. It takes place every year in another city and escapes to Buffalo, New York in 2026. Mark your calendar from July 9th to 12th, and check out the Fling website, Facebook and Instagram for news about when your subscription will open. The space is limited and it’s a fun time with fellow garden enthusiasts and online sharers!
Next: Bonnie and David Thornton’s kind Memphis garden. Click here to look back at McLain Garden’s upcycling art.
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Do you want any ideas for your garden besides the lawn? Certainly I will! On Saturday, September 13th, he gave a lecture called “Lawn Gone: 8 Great Ideas for Your Yourd” at the Concho Valley Master Gardens Fall Symposium held in San Angelo, Texas. The cost of the all-day symposium with four speakers is $30 per person. Snacks and lunch are included. Please register by September 10th using this link. I want to meet homeowners and gardeners in West Texas!
My new book, Gardens in Texas: A vision of resilience from Lone Star State, is coming on October 14th! You can now pre-order on Amazon and other online book sellers. If you read it or want to give it as a holiday gift, consider pre-ordering. (I’m glad I signed a pre-order copy at my book event!) Early ordering makes a huge difference in helping new books get attention. For more information about Texas Gardens, click here – Thank you for your support.
Come and see me on the tour! I will be talking about book events in Texas this fall and next spring, and celebrating the release of Texas Gardens. Join me, learn, inspire, and say hello!
Learn about gardening and design at Garden Sparks! I organize face-to-face talks in Austin several times a year, inspire designers, landscape architects, authors and gardeners to inspire and inspire designers, landscape architects. These are events with limited attendance that sold out quickly, so join our Garden Spark Mealment List and notify us in advance. Simply click on this link and ask them to add it. Find out all about the Season 8 lineup here!
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