wordpress, Author at Cheekwood - Page 6 of 45

test

Top Plant Picks November 2021

Posted on November 1, 2021October 25, 2023 by wordpress

Top Plant Picks November 2021

Fall is the perfect time to check out all the color in the gardens! Cheekwood’s Plant Collections Manager, Shanna Jones, shares her top plant picks for November.

Aster (Aster oblongifolius ‘Raydon’s Favorite’)

Bloom Time: October – November

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Dry – medium

Wildlife: Bees & butterflies

Tolerates: Deer & rabbits

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 – 8

Other: Wonderful selection for late season color; plant in masses for best effect

Location: Howe Garden & Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Aster-oblongifolius-Raydons-Favorite-3-1-1536x1023

Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’)

Bloom Time: March – April

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium – dry

Wildlife: Berries provide winter nourishment for small mammals and birds.

Tolerates: Drought & erosion

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 – 9

Other: Magnificent fall color. Four-season interest.

Location: The Carell Trail (Tree Poem)

Rhus-aromatica-Gro-low-2020-0280-FLC8-1-1536x1405-1

Arkansas Amsonia (Amsonia hubrichtii)

Bloom Time: April – May

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 5 – 8

Other: Golden fall color. Cut back to half after flowering to avoid floppiness.

Location: Carell Dogwood Garden & Howe Garden

amsonia-hubrichtii__97784.1615306478-1-1024x1024

Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba)

Bloom Time: March – April

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 – 8

Other: Exceptional yellow fall color. Female trees produce messy and foul-smelling fruit.

Location: Reflecting Pool & Blevins Japanese Garden

Ginkgo-biloba-1999-1072-JAL-16-1-1-1424x2048

Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)

Bloom Time: June – July

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Birds

Tolerates: Deer, drought, & dry soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 2 – 7

Other: Excellent winter interest; use stems for floral arrangements.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Symphoricarpos-orbiculatus-1-1-1536x1024

Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera)

Bloom Time: June

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium – dry

Wildlife: Some deer & squirrels

Tolerates: Drought & poor soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 – 9

Other: Tough tree! Thrives in poor soil. Wood is orange and resistant to decay. The seeds of the fruit are edible.

Location: Robinson Family Water Garden

Maclura-pomifera-fruit-2018-0260-WA-1-1-1536x1024

Arrowhead Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum ‘Blue Muffin’)

Bloom Time: June – July

Sun Requirement: Part sun – full sun

Water Requirement: Medium – dry

Wildlife: Birds & butterflies

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 – 8

Other: Brilliant fall color. Berries attract birds.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Viburnum-dentatum-Christom-BLUE-MUFFI5-1-1536x1536

Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida)

Bloom Time: July – November

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium – dry

Wildlife: Bees & butterflies

Tolerates: Drought, deer, & some shade

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 – 9

Other: Plant to aid late season pollinators.

Location: Wills Perennial Garden

test

Volunteer Spotlight: Joel Avila

Posted on October 26, 2021October 25, 2023 by wordpress

Volunteer Spotlight: Joel Avila

Weeds don’t stand a chance when Joel is on garden volunteer duty! He’s also a proven pumpkin checker! He carves out time in his busy work/husband/dad life to enjoy our beautiful gardens and finds a real sense of accomplishment after completing his tasks with our horticulture team. It is a great way to learn about our plant collection and what it takes to maintain our display gardens. One of the benefits of our volunteer program is that everyone can select assignments based on their interests and what works with their schedule. Thank you Joel for supporting Cheekwood!

Joel-Avila-Weeding-scaled-e1635282610907

Tell us a little about yourself.

I moved to the Nashville area in 2018 after growing up outside Memphis and then living on Chicago’s South and West Sides for 15 years. My family and I now live in Franklin and we love all the wonderful year-round hiking, biking, and various other outdoors activities that one can enjoy in Middle Tennessee. I’ve been in healthcare consulting for most of my career, and I’ve recently taken a Healthcare Manager position in the consulting division of PwC.

What are your favorite hobbies, activities, or interests?

I love hanging out with my kids outside. Usually this means working in the garden or yard or walking through the trails of Percy Warner Park. I also love sports and music of all sorts, and I love reading old classics, fiction and nonfiction.

What is your favorite garden or area at Cheekwood and why?

I love the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden. And I’m not just saying that because my kids love it. I love it all on my own! I’m so glad my kids and the kids of Cheekwood Members and guests more broadly have a place where they can explore some of the wonder and beauty of nature.

What is your favorite garden or area at Cheekwood and why?

What is your favorite room or area in the Historic Mansion & Museum, Frist Learning Center, or Botanic Hall and why?

It’s probably the observation room in the art gallery on the third floor of the Historic Mansion & Museum. From there you can see downtown and the surrounding countryside. I consider it to be architectural art of the highest caliber.

Do you have a favorite art piece at Cheekwood or, if not, a favorite exhibition that Cheekwood has hosted? Is there a reason you like it?

Chihuly at Cheekwood was a pretty spectacular exhibition. I also really like the outdoor sculptures on The Carell Trail, especially James Turrell’s Blue Pesher. I don’t know much at all about modern sculpture, but I am pretty amazed at the ways in which Chihuly and Turrell use color, shape, and space so dramatically.

In what ways have you been involved as a volunteer with Cheekwood so far?

So far I’ve volunteered only in the gardens. I’ve done most of my work in the Bradford Robertson Color Garden, which is fun because there’s always something new to do.

Why did you become a volunteer?

I love getting to participate in cultivating and preserving Cheekwood’s natural beauty. I spend a lot of time in my home garden, but my space is pretty small. I’m also a fervent believer in Cheekwood’s mission, vision, and values, so the opportunity to become part of its mission is pretty rewarding.

What have you enjoyed the most about your volunteer experience?

I just love the work. It’s dirty, sweaty, and energy-intensive. But the payoff is an even greater experience of the health and beauty of the trees, shrubs, flowers, and lawns.

Is there a funny or inspirational story you can briefly tell about your volunteer experience?

At my most recent volunteer experience I checked pumpkins in the pumpkin patches and removed any rotten ones. It was quite stinky!

Do you have any advice for individuals considering volunteering with Cheekwood?

Just do it! You won’t regret it!

Are you interested in volunteering at Cheekwood? We need volunteers for our El Día de los Muertos celebration on October 30 & 31. Click here to learn more!

test

Top Plant Picks October 2021

Posted on October 1, 2021October 25, 2023 by wordpress

Top Plant Picks October 2021

There’s so much more than mums to see during Cheekwood Harvest! Cheekwood’s Plant Collections Manager, Shanna Jones, shares her top plant picks for October.

Chinese Abelia (Abelia chinensis)

Bloom Time: August – October

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies & bees

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: No

Zones: 7 – 9

Other: Makes an effective hedge when planted in mass.

Location: Bradford Robertson Color Garden

Abelia-chinensis-Color-Garden-1-1-1476x1536

Toadlily (Tricyrtis hirta ‘Miyazaki’)

Bloom Time: August – October

Sun Requirement: Part shade – full shade

Water Requirement: Medium – wet

Wildlife: Butterflies, bees & hummingbirds

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 – 8

Other: Plant where detailed flowers can be appreciated up close. Rabbits enjoy eating the new leaves and flower buds.

Location: Carell Dogwood Garden

Tricyrtis-hirta-Miyazaki-1-1-e1630691566303

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Bloom Time: April – May

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies

Tolerates: Deer & drought

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 – 8

Other: Seed heads provide attractive garden interest in the fall

Location: Wills Perennial Garden

Devil’s Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa)

Bloom Time: July – August

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Birds

Tolerates: Drought

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 – 9

Other: Leaves present a tropical effect. Fruit is an excellent food source for birds.

Location: Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail & Herb Study Garden

Aralia-spinosa-2020-0281-HS5-1-1139x1536

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Bloom Time: May – June

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Dry – medium

Wildlife: Acorns provide fruit for a variety of wildlife

Tolerates: Drought, dry soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 – 9

Other: The white oak is commonly used as a street tree and makes a picturesque shade tree at maturity.

Location: Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden

Fig (Ficus carica ‘Chicago Hardy’)

Bloom Time: Spring – inconspicuous

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Birds

Tolerates: Colder temps than any other F. carica

Native to North America: No

Zones: 6 – 10

Other: Produces fruit in late summer or early fall. ‘Chicago Hardy’ is the most cold-hardy of the species.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Ficus-carica-Chicago-Hardy-2-1-1536x1536

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

Bloom Time: June – July

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium – wet

Wildlife: Birds

Tolerates: Wet soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 – 9

Other: Be sure to plant at least one male in a grouping to ensure berry production occurs.

Location: Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail & Howe Garden

Tartarian Aster (Aster tartaricus ‘Jindai’)

Bloom Time: September – October

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies

Tolerates: Disease and insect damage

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 – 8

Other: This cultivar seldom needs summer pinching to control height as long as it is grown in full sun.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Aster-tataricus-JindaiCH-25-2-1-1536x1065

test

National Coffee Day

Posted on September 29, 2021October 25, 2023 by wordpress

Published: September 29, 2021

September 29 is National Coffee Day! Coffee and the Cheek name are almost synonymous. Leslie Cheek, Sr.’s cousin, Joel Cheek, was a founding member of Cheek-Neal Coffee and the creator of the Maxwell House Coffee Blend. Leslie’s investments in Cheek-Neal coffee provided much of the funding for Cheekwood, once the company was sold to General Foods in 1928.

The legacy of coffee is built into Cheekwood and reflected in the Museum’s collection. Within the collection are several of Leslie Cheek, Sr.’s mustache mugs along with silver and porcelain coffee services. One coffee service of interest is a colonial American silver tea and coffee service made between 1790-1800.

This service (1997.9.2a-e) contains five pieces with the maker’s marks of four separate individuals: Samuel Williamson (1772-1843), James Musgrave (1765-1846), Liberty Browne (1776-1831), and George Aitken (1765-1832).

Aesthetic thought at the time sought to define beauty with acute and objective laws and connect beauty to divinity. It was theorized that if the laws and functions of the world were a divine creation, then so were the laws that defined beauty. Thus, any object with beauty, served a purpose beyond its functionality.

One important and desirable quality was that of smoothness. Creating a smooth silver object is difficult and skilled task. Early American silversmiths used planishing hammers to remove any marks made during the rising and shaping process. Every imperfection was hammered, buffed, and polished away to create the ideal, smooth surface of colonial silver. Through aesthetic thought and expert silversmithing, a smooth coffee pot was a mastered, godly object.

The artistry and technique of colonial American silversmiths is evident in Cheekwood’s silver Coffee Pot (1997.9.2.a) made by Samuel Williamson (1772-1843).

Members can stop by Café 29 on September 29 to receive a FREE cup of Maxwell House coffee in celebration of Member Appreciation Week!

test

Scarecrows at Cheekwood

Posted on September 24, 2021October 25, 2023 by wordpress

Scarecrows at Cheekwood

For over ten years we have invited the community to get in on the fun of Cheekwood Harvest by assembling a group to design their own custom scarecrows. This year’s theme is Visual Artists — check out the list below to see which artists you’ll be able to see on our trail of scarecrows!

Herb-Society-2-1-1-scaled-e1632501187433-1536x1234

2021 Scarecrows

Herb Society of Nashville – Vincent Van Gogh

Norman Binkley Elementary – Louise Nevelson

Tulip Grove Elementary – Louise Nevelson

HCA Healthcare – Bob Ross

Cheekwood Docents – Gustav Klimt

Groove to Include – Al Capp

Eagle View 5th Graders – Kehinde Wiley

Shah-Zuckerman’s – Georgia O’Keefe

Oak Hill Garden Club – Vincent Van Gogh

Rosebank STEAM Elementary Artists – Jackson Pollock

Westmoreland High School FCCLA – Karl Lagerfeld

Chamberlain Realty – Frida Kahlo

Spooky Springfield Scarecrows – Rene Magritte

Cane Ridge High Visual Arts – Roy Lichtenstein

Turnip Green Creative Reuse – Guerra de la Paz

Massey Family – Banksy

Scott’s Tots – Margaret Keane

Bellevue Middle School – Calder Kamin

Gower Elementary Art Club – Nick Cave

Jones Paideia Elementary School – Faith Ringgold

New Horizons Life Skills – Frida Kahlo

Glengarry Elementary School – Jean-Michel Basquiat

Cora Howe School Art Studio – Jeff Lemire

Whitsitt Elementary School – Alexander Calder

Pennington Elementary (4th grade art students) – Todd Parr

Napier Intellectuals – Jacob Lawrence

Harpeth Valley Hound Dogs – Salvador Dali

Congregation Micah – Marc Chagall

Rose Park Middle School Artists – Romare Bearden

Tyne Meade Garden Club – Red Grooms

Three Muskateers – David Hockney

test

2021 Haiku Contest Winners

Posted on September 22, 2021October 25, 2023 by wordpress

2021 Haiku Contest Winners

A traditional Japanese haiku is a three-line poem with seventeen syllables, written in a 5/7/5 syllable count. Often focusing on images from nature, haiku emphasizes simplicity, intensity, and directness of expression. Congratulations to the winners of our 2021 Haiku Contest!

Children Under 10

Fall Life

The trees are blowing
Pumpkins and leaves blooming too
I stare and wonder

Mica Mays

Children 10-18

Morning Walks

Birds chirp, trains rumble
Warm sunshine is the best part
When the world awakes.

Judah Ford

Adult: General Themed

Fireflies flickering
Through a shadowy forest
A bewitching glow

Heidi Holmes

Adult: Harvest Themed

Pollen clings gently
To the bee’s leg in the sun
A golden harvest

Matthew Boyer

Adult: Moon Themed

as white as a ghost
haunting and familiar
watching every night

Amanda Taylor

Consul-General’s Choice: Adult

Land of rising sun
Behold nature’s great bounty
Eve of harvest moon

Stacey Haag

Consul-General’s Choice: Child

Fall

Leaves are colorful
I was sitting in the leaves
I watched the scarecrow.

Leah Pack

test

Top Plant Picks September 2021

Posted on September 7, 2021October 25, 2023 by wordpress

Top Plant Picks September 2021

As the autumn season sets in, our gardens become a canvas for fall florals. From cardinal flowers to the ever-popular chrysanthemums that steal the show, there’s so much to see in our gardens this month. Cheekwood’s Plant Collections Manager, Shanna Jones, shares her top plant picks for September.

Salvia argentea

Bloom Time: May – June

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Dry – Medium

Tolerates: Drought, deer, rabbit

Native to North America: No

Other: Short-lived perennial. Adds fantastic interest to the garden with both texture and color

Location: Herb Study Garden: Blue and Silver

Toad Lily (Tricyrtis hirta ‘Miyazaki’)

Bloom Time: August – September

Sun Requirement: Part shade – full shade

Water Requirement: Medium – wet

Wildlife: Butterflies & bees

Tolerates: Good disease and pest resistance

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 – 8

Other: Plant in front borders where the flowers can be best appreciated. For best performance, plant in moist, organic, rich soil. Will naturalize in optimal conditions.

Location: Carell Dogwood Garden

Shrub Rose (Rosa ‘Quietness’)

Bloom Time: May – October

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies

Native to North America: No

Zones: 5 – 9

Other: Constantly blooming! Little pruning required.

Location: Rose Study Garden

Rosa-Quietness-1-scaled-e1630691759737-1187x1536

Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’)

Bloom Time: September – October

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium – wet

Wildlife: Butterflies & bees

Tolerates: Deer & wet soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 – 8

Other: Graceful habit. No serious insect or disease pressures. DOES NOT cause hay fever. .

Location: Howe Garden

Fortune Tea Olive (Osmanthus xfortunei ‘Fruitlandii’)

Bloom Time: September – October

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Bees

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: No

Zones: 7 – 9

Other: Most cold tolerant species of Osmanthus. Extremely fragrant, similar to the scent of gardenia. A member of the olive family.

Location: Blevins Japanese Garden

Osmanthus-fortuei-Fruitland-JA-4-1-1372x1536

Bur Oak/Mossycup Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

Bloom Time: April

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Dry – medium

Wildlife: The acorns of this oak provide food for wood ducks, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, rabbits, mice, squirrels and other rodents.

Tolerates: Drought & dry soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 – 8

Other: Monoecious. Leaves can be variable in shape. Twigs are sometimes winged. Fruit is fringed.

Location: Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail

Northern Maindenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum)

Sun Requirement: Part shade – shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Provides shelter for lizards and frogs.

Tolerates: Heavy shade

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 – 8

Other: Beautiful, swirled frond arrangement with black stems.

Design tip: Combine with broad-leaved plants such as hostas for best effect.

Location: Howe Garden, Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, and the Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail

Adiantum-pedatum-2012-0090-Howe-8-1-1365x2048

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘SMCOSS’ Sugar Shack®)

Bloom Time: June – July

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium – wet

Wildlife: Butterflies & hummingbirds

Tolerates: Wet soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 – 10

Other: Sugar Shack® is a compact form. Fragrant flowers. Showy fruit.

Location: Robinson Family Water Garden – Weaver Walk