August 5, 2025
Take a peek into the private gardens and see an annual meetup and tour for social media gardeners, held in another city every year. We visited so many gardens in June at Memphis Fling, so we share them in multiple posts. Check out my Fling Memphis categories and see all of them.
Today’s post provides eclectic sampling and fantastic Caiman habitat from multiple gardens visited over 3-1/2 days.
Jackie Distributor Garden
The rare willow oaks in the distribution gardens were upright, finger-like limbs, each captivating me, a mini tree in its own right. The utility line seems to have passed through the canopy and at one point the trees were placed on a hard plan from the line. As it recovered, the water buds rose vertically from the limbs, eventually growing into the shape of today’s dreams.
Someone – I can’t remember who – told me it reminded them of the practice of ancient Japanese trees called dizzy. that’s right! I’ve never heard of it, but here’s an article about how Daisugi is done and why.
Also, the shaded garden under the trees is the perfect texture.
And in the formal garden, the front yard. For me, this is done correctly for the lawn: departing in small, geometric, and lush garden beds.
Mary and Jeff Sexton Garden
Deck-out and floral cars were parked in the driveway of Sexton Garden. What is the story?
In a park-like backyard, tiered fountains and circular pools offer views of the traditional southern garden.
Blooms and gives more southern vibes
Karen and Alexwellford Garden
At Welford Garden, the details of this cute urn planter stood out.
And the castle! It was said that this was once a characteristic of water. I draw a moat…
After all, yes! The garden is archived by the Smithsonian for its importance (wow!), and the entry explains more.
“The Formal Garden serves as the second room, a rusty Corten steel castle by Leonard Delonga, which surrounds the sculpture. The goldfish reside in the lily pond, which serves as the castle’s moat.
It’s a shame that the pond no longer exists, but the water features require regular repairs. Hopefully it will be backed up and run immediately.
Another cute planter…
…and garden sculptures.
Suzanne and Walter Allengarden
At Allen Garden, the cheating oakleaf hydrangea caught my eye.
Also, slag glass frame grid
This will make for a beautiful gate window, right?
Cheeky bird sculpture
Ellen and John Hornac Garden
At Hornac Garden, augers create rusty sculptures.
Modern gardens only feature black pots and furniture along with green plants…
…and a green bottle tree.
Kathy Ake and Lee Powell Garden
At Ake-Powell Garden, we found two hilarious Dale Rogers sculptures (the artist is also featured in Thornton Garden).
Red flowers are adjusted with red birds.
David Babizi and Brian Speight Garden
Purple fountain plant gush from Babij-Sight Garden, Terracotta Pot.
Metal flamingos introduce more purple leaves.
Lennox Nearby Signs
In the Lennox area, where we have done walking tours of several gardens, we recommend checking out the fences with numerous signs commemorating the neighborhood event.
And look at it – here is the Memphis flight, already commemorating it! Read:
“On June 5th, 2025, International Garden Fling visitors will tour 9 Gardens as part of the 16th Garden Fling Tour. Lennox Gardens will “show off” on its annual Experience Memphis Gardens tour for the second consecutive year. ”
If you’re wondering, the Experience Memphis Gardens Tour is an annual city-wide tour, open to the public and designed to nurture pride in the spirit and beauty of Memphis’ walkable urban neighbourhoods. Inspired by Garden Walk Buffalo, Kim Haryak founded a similar tour of Memphis in 2016. She also led the Memphis Fling Planning Committee. What a dynamo, community builder, and visionary booster for Memphis! This is a podcast in which she speaks eloquently about the power of garden walks to change her community.
Check out the tour and see Memphis Garden one day.
Bernhardmeck Garden
It’s wrapped in the last garden I saw in Memphis Fling, a stupid garden. This is the garden of Bernhardmech, who built the Goddess of Trees in Morrison Garden, previously seen on tours. Here, like in the Indiana Jones films, the walls of the “collapsing” temple were invited to explore.
Bernhard is an environmental sculptor who created the installation for the Memphis Zoo. He creatively carves concrete so that it looks like a stone or a trunk of wood, or something he can dream of.
Like this “stone” fireplace, there is a Totemic head above, which expels smoke when the fire is lit.
But the biggest surprise was waiting for us in the house. A large fakestone aquarium occupies one wall in Bernhard’s living room…
…And there’s a pair of Caimans! Yes, Crocodilians (not crocodiles, don’t worry) inside the house. Meet Sméagol and Gollum. Well, this is Gollum. Smegol was hidden in a corner.
After yelling out the Caiman Peep Show, I parked at the door and saw them step inside and were surprised to see each one of them winding up and had the best time.
Bernhard’s fantastic home is featured on YouTube on HGTV’s “Look What I Did” episode. Check it out and be surprised.
Next: Asian style Laurie and Tom Leemann garden. Click here to look back at Bonnie and David Thornton’s elegant shaded gardens.
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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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