August 16, 2025
At the Memphis Fling in June, Susan Thompson greeted us wearing flowery antlers, on the arm of a gold-lamé Elvis. It was a memorable welcome!
Her and husband Jon’s rosy stucco-and-stone house was memorable too, adorned with antlers, hollyhocks and lilies, and rock and tree-branch art.
Susan has a long history with this property. For her garden description, she wrote:
“I’ve spent nearly my whole life [here]. In 1931, my Papa bought these 50 acres for just $10 — back when it was considered too far from bustling Memphis to matter. Little did he know, the land held deep history beneath its soil. This very spot was once a Chickasaw Indian campground, home to one of Memphis’ only two natural springs. Later, it became the site of a Union Civil War hospital.”
Today the 50 acres contains a small subdivision built around a picturesque manmade lake. This is the view from Susan and Jon’s backyard.
First we were invited to peek inside a stucco greenhouse — more like an actual house for plants — with a pergola-shaded patio out front.
Beyond that, a large courtyard and pond offer plenty to explore between the main house and a detached garage. The pond is dramatically built on a hillside overlooking the courtyard.
Along one wall of the house, a fantastic tree made of stone seems to sprout from the earth.
On Facebook, Susan explained its origin: “We had so many leftover stones after we finished the house that Jon and I drew out what shape we wanted, and the stonemason, Romeo, made it.”
In a living echo, an espaliered pear tree grows against a wall of the garage.
Close-up view
The stucco garage with antique doors and mounted antlers gives Santa Fe vibes.
But pink hydrangeas make it clear this is the South, not the Southwest.
Lilies, hollyhocks, and roses add vibrant color along those dusty-pink walls. Even the doggy door has antlers.
Speaking of
Susan’s walls are hard-working. Here, water spills from a spout hidden by ivy into a sturdy trough fountain.
Side view
Serpentine branches — old espaliers? — get new life as garden art with a coat of purple or blue paint. The branches support matching birdcages.
It’s fun to see repurposing like this.
More birdcages, each a different color, appear throughout the garden.
A different type of bird cage in a bed of coleus
Heading around back, I found a large porch overlooking the lake.
A leggy faux bois table holds collected rocks and slag glass, plus a potted aloe and agave.
The owners clearly appreciate desert plants. A pair of painted chairs features flowering cacti.
More antlers are gathered in a pale blue pot with blue slag glass.
Shade garden behind the house
As I headed out, I grabbed a MoonPie for the road — a Southern childhood treat from a playful Southern garden.
Up next: Memphis garden shopping at Millstone Market and Nursery. For a look back at Pam Beasley’s basket arbor and garden rooms, 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, so join the Garden Spark email list for notification when tickets go on sale: click this link and ask to SUBSCRIBE. Read all about the Season 9 lineup here!
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