August 04, 2025
One day at the Memphis Fling in early June, the Flingers were invited to have lunch in gardens across the street from each other. I ended up in the garden of Bonnie and David Thornton, where a pretty front entrance greeted us.
A pink-and-lavender hydrangea pairs nicely with a burgundy Japanese maple.
A closer look
An urn planter with caramel-colored heuchera and vine tuteur is elegant at the front door.
These shaggy, weeping Japanese maples are stunning.
A Dale Rogers sculpture color-coordinates with the rusty maples and red-flowering annuals.
‘Rising Sun’ redbud adds a splash of orangey yellow — almost like an orange tree ready for picking.
Those glowing leaves
Butterfly bush and Japanese maple make a lovely color echo.
At the entrance to the back garden, a bike with a garland of flowers on the handlebars adds to a colorful grouping of flowerpots.
Adirondacks surround a fire pit, with a big Rose of Sharon flowering behind.
Under enormous trees, a flagstone path leads through a shade garden between the pool house/guesthouse and back door.
A blackbird totem makes a colorful focal point on the back patio.
Tiered fountains were everywhere in Memphis — a traditional Southern garden ornament.
Two long tables with flowers were set up on a big patio, ready for the Flingers.
We were soon comfortably settled under the trees.
View toward the pool house/guesthouse
I found Jim Martin cooling his heels in the pool.
A bottle tree, another Southern garden tradition, brightens a patch of ferns — and maybe commemorates memories of happy hours in the garden.
Up next: Eclectic Memphis Fling gardens, plus caimans! For a look back at Memphis gardens with a side of architecture, click here.
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Digging Deeper
Want ideas for your yard besides lawn? Sure you do! I’m giving a talk called “Lawn Gone: 8 Great Ideas for Your Yard” on Saturday, September 13, at the Concho Valley Master Gardeners Fall Symposium in San Angelo, Texas. The cost for the all-day symposium with 4 speakers is $30 per person; refreshments and lunch included. Register by 9/10 at this link to attend. I hope to see you there, West Texas homeowners and gardeners!
My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, comes out October 14! It’s available for pre-order now on Amazon and other online book sellers. If you’d like to read it or give it as a holiday gift, please consider pre-ordering. (I’m happy to sign pre-ordered copies at my book events!) Early orders make a big difference in helping new books get noticed. More info about Gardens of Texas here — and thank you for your support!
Come see me on tour! I’ll be speaking and hosting book events across Texas this fall and into next spring to celebrate the release of Gardens of Texas. Join me to learn, get inspired, and say hello!
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Read all about the Season 8 lineup here!
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