Agaves, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens

Last year in Fall Cheekwood featured gorgeous Agave plants in their Fall Festival. I hope they return this year as they were gorgeous. Here's a few pics to wet your whistle.

These are Blue American Agave plants surrounded by blue flower beds. I'm not sure what that blue flower is, but it's a gorgeous display.

The varigated Agaves were planted next to yellow and orange Chrysanthemums. Wouldn't this look great in a yard for Fall. Notice the pumpkins scattered throughout this particular display.

When I Googled Agaves, including the various varieties featured here, I noticed several images where the Agave plants are planted in long rows in Mexico. No doubt so they can grow big and be exported to America. It's a rainy week here in Tennessee, but at least the high temperatures are gone. Although we still have a fair amount of humidity to contend with. I did some Fall decorating yesterday. I can't hardly wait for the cooler season to come and relieve us of all of this heat and humidity. ENJOY!

The Meaning of a Purple Rose

As I walked around the Atlanta Botanical Gardens recently, I almost walked right past this bush of purple Roses. But I stopped short of passing them by, looked closely and thought how gorgeous they were. If only I had taken more images. There were so many people milling about that I didn't want to disrupt anyone so I snapped a few quick images and moved on.

The purple Rose signifies enchantment. Should you receive a purple Rose from another it supposedly means they have fallen in love with you at first sight. I knew the different colors of Roses had different meanings, but this was one I didn't know until now. How charming is that. Fall is going to pass us by here shortly and the weather is going to move right into Winter, but not quite yet. We do, however, have a hard warning tonight. I hope wherever you are you are enjoying the beautiful Fall colors. ENJOY!

Imaginery Worlds, Atlanta Botanical Gardens

When opportunity knocks, don't let it slip between your fingers. I had traveled to Georgia to visit Gibbs Gardens. However, I realized the day prior that there was a wonderful exhibit at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and it's last day was the day I was to visit Gibbs. So I took a chance and these images are witness to my unexpected stop at the gardens. Gorgeous plant sculptures were created for the gardens by a mosaic company out of Montreal. And these creatures, some 20 feet tall, were magnificent.

The Pegasus

The Peacock in the Conservatory

The Peacock in the Conservatory

The Phoenix in the Japanese Gardens

The Phoenix in the Japanese Gardens

The Dragon in the Great Lawn

The Dragon in the Great Lawn

The Mermaid in the Great Lawn

The Camels in the Rock Garden

The Camels in the Rock Garden

The Sleeping Princess in the Cascades Garden

The Wholly Mammoth in the Kendeda Canopy Walk

My favorite images are probably those taken later in the day when the harsh early afternoon light had faded into the blue hour. My favorite of all of the sculptures would be the Dragon and the Pegasus. The Phoenix is the one image that I captured in early afternoon and late afternoon light, and no doubt, you can see the difference.

I loved walking around the botanical gardens for the first time, but would pick a less busy day. The day I visited was the last day of the Imaginary Worlds exhibit and tons of visitors came to see it before it embarked on a journey elsewhere. Fall is upon us here in full swing in Middle Tennessee. Wherever you are I hope you are enjoying this weekend. ENJOY!

Japanese Gardens, Gibbs Gardens, Kentucky Woman Series

Beautiful Gibbs Gardens, located just to the northeast of Atlanta, has to be one of the most architecturally beautiful botanical gardens I have ever seen. The Japanese Gardens, called Tsukiyama, is the largest Japanese garden in the nation encompassing some 40 acres. The ponds in this particular garden are all spring fed. But I think what really makes this garden are the reflections you find at every twist and turn along the garden path. Come take a walk with me . . .

As I meandered around both sides of the ponds that make up the Japanese Gardens, I couldn't help noticing just how meticulous every morsel of plant and stone and tree was planned and designed to create this breathtaking landscape. Mr. Gibbs my hat goes off to you. Yet, on the afternoon I visited with ample sunlight in tow, I couldn't help but realize one of the reasons for all the planning.

Can you see it, the reflections on the water are simply gorgeous. As I approached one setting after another, it wasn't enough to capture a portrait view, I had to capture a landscape too. Who knew what I would like more when I found myself miles away back home carefully sifting through the images.

Without a doubt, I recall spending an hour or more capturing photographs of the various settings as I walked the many paths and crossed over the ponds and walked around each one. It was an explosion to my senses.

As if the reflections on the water were not enough, I happened upon this scene with a Weeping Willow tree situated next to the largest pond. The foliage around the tree and the huge boulders sitting next to the water's edge was just gorgeous. Oh, how I love Weeping Willows.

Right when you think you can't take in another thing, you happen upon a Japanese lantern sitting idly on top of a large boulder with gorgeous twisted tree branches in the background.

Did you notice how the foreground is a treat to your eyes, but the background is so beautiful of the foliage across the pond on the other side. Tell me someone didn't spend hours planning this. What a genius!

Just to be absolutely certain I didn't miss a thing, I captured a landscape view of this setting.

I wanted to end this post right back where we began. Look at this gorgeous plant with those beautiful sculptures of Swans sitting atop it right in the middle of the largest pond in the Japanese Gardens. The Weeping Willows, the pagodas, the lanterns, the sculpture, oh my goodness, have you ever.

Now I ask you, have you ever seen such a gorgeous garden in your life. This was my first visit to a Japanese Garden, and it won't be my last. I can't even imagine what Gibbs must look like in early Spring and Fall. If you ever find yourself in Atlanta, take a quick drive up to Gibbs. It's virtually in the middle of nowhere in a tiny town called Ball Ground, just south of the north Georgia mountains. You could stay in one of the 'boros northeast of Atlanta and its a quick drive up. I hope you have enjoyed this installment of my Kentucky Woman Series. I simply had the most fun creating it for you. It was as though I had stepped back into the garden for a walk. 
Have a fabulous weekend. ENJOY MY FRIENDS!

Linking to Saturday's Critters and The Scoop

Black Magic of Autumn

No doubt Cheekwood is well known for its magnificent floral displays throughout its gardens. Yet, as I walk under the Arbor in the Robert Ellis Color Garden, my senses were overtaken by the enormous deep purple leaves of the Black Magic Elephant Ears. They were stunning and they attracted me much like bees are attracted to honey. But it isn't just the Elephant Ears, the bright purple Salvia which grows behind the Black Magic is simply gorgeous. The color contrast like no other. And I am certain Cheekwood gardeners planned this combination just for this exact reaction.

With Autumn comes the red, orange and yellow colors that delight us all and bring us out of our houses to tour the woods and forests and countrysides. However, at Cheekwood you can find a setting like none other. Here reside the deep purplish blacks and vibrant, stunning lavenders that emit a warmth that adds a whole new dimension to the term Autumn. I can never walk past the Black Magic Elephant Ears without capturing a few images. These beauties are surrounded by our customary red, yellow and orange Chrysanthemums planted up and down the entire length of the Arbor. Did you know that Black Magic Elephant Ears unfold in bright green, then slowly turn to purple and finally give way to the blackish purple I share with you today. ENJOY!

Ornamental Grasses, Cheekwood

There are areas of Cheekwood where you will find almost anything growing from Elephant Ears to Ornamental Grasses. I captured this image one afternoon while holding a Meetup Group outing.

The reds, pinks and purples that come through from the sun's rays definitely caught my eye. As Winter has taken hold here in middle Tennessee, I will dive into my archives for some images to share. But don't fret, I plan on getting out this Winter to capture new images when the weather allows. As a sidebar, we did have a few consecutive days of sunshine this week which was greatly needed. Now if we can just get Mother Nature to cooperate on the weekends here, that would be even better. Have a great weekend everyone. ENJOY!

Thatched Cabin, Howe Garden

It is late Summer at Cheekwood and there is ample evidence that Fall is slowing creeping in. Inside the botanical gardens there are a variety of different types of gardens. After several visits one quickly becomes fond of particular gardens. I am not surprised that I am becoming quite fond of the Herb Garden and the Wildflower Garden. Both are filled with plants and flowers and fluttering butterflies and busy bees all around.

At the entrance to the Wildflower Garden, officially the Howe Garden which was just renovated in 2012, sits a quaint thatched cabin. On the opposite side of the cabin there is a small woodland like setting with wildflowers growing around the trees. Meander along the garden path and you come to a beautiful arbor. Walking through the arbor, you nudge yourself to turn and look back at the setting. This is the scene that awaits you with the thatched cabin quaintly setting in the background and the plants surrounding the cabin. I hope this sets the stage for a relaxing Labor Day everyone. ENJOY!

Autumn Color

As I venture outdoors to take in the foliage of early Autumn, the beautiful ornamental colors of the season greet me. The familiar reds and oranges and yellows surround me with every twist and turn in my day. Everywhere we are inundated with orange pumpkins, bright yellow mums and maple trees laden with scarlet red leaves. Yet, every once in a while our travels find us face to face with a much warmer, cooler hue of soft purple, almost lavender.



While visiting the artists' shops in Nashville, Indiana, a few weeks ago, I happened upon these beautiful ornamental cabbages growing near a walkway, virtually hidden by the side of a shop. The large leaves, one overlapping the next, was the perfect setting.



The cabbage's soft green and the faintest purple hues spoke to me as I captured their mere existence, while most people passed by not noticing the beauty that lay there. Did you notice the speckles of cream sprayed across each leaf as though an artist had painted a texture on a canvas.



Last Autumn while walking among the gardens at Yew Dell, I captured several images of this feathery bush with its branches moving softly in the cool breeze. The slightest hint of lavender seemed to come forth from the bright sunshine, yet in the shade fluffy branches waif with the palest blush pink, bringing the bush to life and lending it an almost heavenly feel.



Before I left the gardens at Yew Dell, I spotted a cacti growing near a small sculpture. What I really love about this setting wasn't the cacti, but the beautiful deep purple buds. With Autumn winding down, dried leaves had come to rest in the cacti intermingling between the bulbs and the cacti leaves, adding another dimension to the setting.



Finally, before leaving Yew Dell's gardens, I took a stroll near the Arboretum with its many variety of trees. I looked up to see bright purple berries hanging off the branch of a tree, each berry glistening in the bright sun. My Autumn was complete.

Every season I travel to Nashville's artist community in Indiana, and to Yew Dell Gardens in Kentucky, and more frequently, to Bernheim Arboretum near my home. Visiting these gorgeous settings throughout this particular season, I seek to find Autumn's most unusual displays of color in an effort to capture each one and bring it to you in my images for you to lavish in. This weekend is the annual St. James Court Art Fair, one of the largest in the United States. I hope I can get by there and bring back some images to share with you if time allows and the weather cooperates. I HOPE YOU ENJOY!