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Do it for the ‘Gram – 6 Photo Ops You Can Only Get at Cheekwood

With 55 acres of stunning views, 13 distinct gardens, and 4 seasonal festivals, there’s no shortage of photo opportunities at Cheekwood! Our Digital Marketing Manager, Brandy Ferguson, highlights the most Instagram worthy spots in our gardens.

1. Wisteria Arbor

This is a can’t miss spot at Cheekwood! Although Wisteria Arbor is gorgeous year-round, summer is the best time to see the arbor filled with lush greenery. The sprawling vistas are hard to beat, and if you happen to catch it at the right time (usually around early November) it’s absolutely breathtaking to see the fall foliage in the background!

2. Martin Boxwood Gardens

The Martin Boxwood Gardens are my personal favorite! This enchanting spot features a different view of Cheekwood’s beloved Wisteria Arbor.

3. Howe Garden

The entrance to the Howe Garden looks straight out of a storybook! You’ll find the Howe Garden nestled between the Burr Terrace Garden and the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden.

4. Pumpkin House

This seasonal photo opportunity is always a favorite! Each year during Cheekwood Harvest our garden team builds a house made entirely out of pumpkins, and the past two years we’ve had two different houses to choose from. Catch them in our Pumpkin Village this fall, and be sure to visit during Thursday Night Out to get the perfect lighting for this photo op!

5. Color Garden Arches

The Bradford Robertson Color Garden changes seasonally, so this spot it perfect for year-round photo opportunities! During Cheekwood in Bloom you’ll find a sea of colorful tulips as far as the eye can see. Cheekwood Harvest brings pumpkins and mums for all the fall feels. Don’t sleep on summer — this spot is filled with lush greenery and stunning summer blooms!

6. Entrance Gates

The most popular spot for photos during Holiday LIGHTS is the Glowing Gazebo, but this hidden gem will make you feel like you stepped on the set of a Hallmark movie! Just outside the entrance gates, you’ll find these trees shining bright making the perfect backdrop for a magical holiday photo op.

Share your own favorite photo spots with us by tagging @cheekwood or using #cheekwood on Instagram!

2020 Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for the perfect holiday gift? We have several one-of-a-kind items to choose from in our Mansion Gift Shop, Chihuly Exhibition Gift Shop, and the Cheekwood Holiday Shop! Stop by one of our gift shops when you’re here for Holiday LIGHTS to knock out some of your holiday shopping. Whether you’re looking for unique handmade jewelry or holiday goodies to display this season, we’re open year-round to meet all your gift giving needs. Check out some of our highlights below for our favorite gifts of the 2020 holiday season!

VISIT OUR ONLINE SHOP

Celebrate a special milestone with these hand-blown glass ornaments, designed for each month of the year. The Tree of Enchantment line is one of the most popular from this family-run Canadian hot glass studio. A wide variety of sizes and colors are available.

Image courtesy of kitras.com

Select the perfect memento of your visit to Chihuly at Cheekwood with official Chihuly merchandise complemented by the beloved Cheekwood pineapple logo. Navy unisex t-shirts are available in small, medium, large and extra-large.

© Chihuly Workshop

This is what luxury feels and looks like: the rich colors and designs of Chihuly artwork expressed in 50 percent cashmere and 50 percent silk. Choose from five designs, perfect for any wardrobe or personality. Scarves measure 27” x 79”.

© Chihuly Workshop

The person who is one-of-a-kind deserves one-of-a-kind jewelry. Come in and hear the inspiring story of Erin Basset’s silk wearable art necklaces and earrings. Or unlock the mysteries of Nashville’s Lock & Key jewelry collection, in which each line is named for an historic person with a big secret!

Come shop the Cheekwood Gift Shop library. The large variety includes informative, decorative and how-to volumes. Great gifts for gardeners, explorers and cooks.

Essential oils have become so popular for healing, comfort and stress-relief. Now that natural remedy is portable, with these bracelets and necklaces. Add a drop of oil to the porous stone, and the scent lasts for hours. A wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes is available.

Socks always make great stocking stuffers, and we have socks for every interest and sense of humor. Men’s, women’s and children’s sizes available. Various styles come in knee and crew-length.

The Queen Bee always appreciates a gift of pampering goodness. The Joan’s a Keeper line uses only natural ingredients that smell and feel wonderful. Various sets include travel-size products for hands, lips and body.

Celebrate Cheekwood every holiday with the festive mug and ornament. This is a great way to remember good times and share the beauty and excitement of Cheekwood with others.

Be sure to stop by our gift shops during your next visit! The Mansion Gift Shop and the Chihuly Exhibition Gift Shop are located inside the Historic Mansion & Museum. The Cheekwood Holiday Shop is located in the Frist Learning Center Courtyard, right across from Café 29 and next to the stables. To see our gift shop hours, click here.

National Coffee Day

September 29 is National Coffee Day! Did you know the Cheek family business was the Cheek-Neal Coffee Company, creators and brewers of Maxwell House Coffee and Tea? Learn about the Cheek family’s history with Maxwell House coffee, then try your hand at making Maxwell House Muffins by Café 29. Made with the signature Maxwell House Coffee blend that has such significant meaning to Cheekwood’s story, these muffins, much like the coffee, are good to the last drop…or crumb!

Cheek-Neal Coffee Company

The Cheek-Neal Coffee Company specialty blend was named after and marketed by the best hotel in Nashville, the Maxwell House. The success of the brand launched the local business into nation-wide production and is said to have captured the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt, who exclaimed that it was “good to the last drop!”

Cheek-Neal was created by Joel Cheek, the cousin of Leslie Sr.’s father C.T. Cheek. C.T. had been an early investor, and Leslie Sr. bought stock as well. In 1928, the Postum Company, later renamed General Foods, purchased Cheek-Neal Coffee Company for $45 million. As an investor, Leslie Sr.’s fortune quickly expanded, likely also expanding his plans for Cheekwood.

Maxwell House Muffins

These Maxwell House Muffins are a staff and visitor favorite at our Café 29. Use our recipe to whip up a batch at home this weekend. The mothers in your life will thank you!

Batter

6.5 ounces all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 ounces  butter room temp
6.5 oz white sugar
2 eggs room temp
5 oz  sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions: Mix dry ingredients and set aside. Cream butter & sugar till creamy. Mix eggs 1 at a time then add sour cream & vanilla, mix till blended. Add dry ingredients and lightly blend.  Add 1 scoop of batter (ice cream scoop will work) to buttered (or use liner) muffin pan, sprinkle the “middle” sugar, top w/ 1 scoop of batter then top with the topping. Bake 350* 20-30 minutes till baked thru.

Middle

2 oz brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix set aside.

Topping

2 ounce all purpose flour
2 ounce brown sugar
2 ounce oats dry
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 ounce Maxwell house coffee ground
2 ounce cold butter 1/2″ cube

Mix dry ingredients then mix in butter till it becomes a crumble, set aside.

Meet Cheekwood’s Newest Residents

We are pleased to introduce our permanent residents of the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden. In 2020, 5 turtles were released into the Barbara & Rick Turner Family Turtle Pond, which has been thoughtfully designed in partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). The Turtle Pond allows visitors to safely view these magnificent reptiles in their stunning new habitat. The Turtle Pond serves as a sanctuary for native turtles confiscated from the illegal pet trade and currently homes over 20 turtles.

Through an education and exhibit permit authorized by the TWRA, Cheekwood is allowed to operate as a rehabilitation center to these turtles, ensuring that the animals have every need met by a well-trained and knowledgeable staff with a background in zoological studies. Many of our turtles are still being quarantined and vetted for the safety of the animals and our staff, and we look forward to welcoming them to their new homes very soon.

As we welcome these newest residents to Team Cheekwood, we’re answering some of the most frequently asked questions about our turtles.

What’s the difference between turtles and tortoises? 

Turtles are semi aquatic, which means they spend most of their time in the water. Tortoises are terrestrial and spend most of their time on land. Both are reptiles, which means they are cold blooded and rely on their environment for warmth. This is why the turtles love sunbathing so much!

What kind of turtles are in the Turtle Pond?

We currently host a variety of species, including red-eared slider, yellow-bellied slider, map turtles, false map turtles, and river cooters. The slider turtle species will make up the core of the collection because they are the most plentiful semi-aquatic turtles in the wild and therefore the most frequently illegally rehomed species. As a result, the TWRA confiscates this species the most from illegal ownership. We hope to obtain a wider variety over time, including map, painted, and softshell turtles. Once fully complete, the turtle collection at Cheekwood will feature a diverse group of species that can vary significantly in size and appearance.

Where do they come from?

Our turtles come to us through the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. It is illegal to possess native Tennessee turtles due to the moderately high risk of contracting salmonella from semi-aquatic and terrestrial specimens, and the TWRA works to confiscate turtles from the illegal pet trade. Our education exhibit permit obtained through the TWRA allows us to serve as a rehabilitation center to these turtles that were confiscated from private individuals.

Tennessee waterways contain a great many types of turtles, with large populations in the remaining healthy streams and ponds. The species of turtles that we obtain at Cheekwood will reside in a mainly aquatic environment that will mirror the healthy pond and stream ecosystem in which they originated from.

What do they eat?

Turtles are omnivores who like leafy greens (the darker the better), veggies, small fish, worms, and bugs. Their diet can vary depending on the species and even the individual. A turtle’s dietary tastes can change throughout their lifespan and are largely environmental. Because of this, all of our newly arrived turtles go through a 60-day quarantine process to ensure optimal health, establish their ideal diet and create a template for individual identification. With the help of an experienced reptile veterinarian, we work to maintain a healthy collection of turtles and determine the best diet for each animal.

Our restaurant, Café 29, will be providing a variety of fresh vegetable diet that will serve as a supplement to a specific grain and pellet diet. Although turtles are not usually social towards humans and are rarely friendly, they do respond well to a routine and will gather for feedings as we work to provide a regular feeding schedule.

Can visitors pet or feed the turtles?

Our turtle habitat is designed to contain any risk of zoonotic salmonella contraction by preventing any and all patron contact with turtles and their water habitat. The water sources outside the turtle enclosure are not shared with the turtles and will therefore not contain any salmonella risk from our collection. In order to maintain a safe environment for both our visitors and our turtles, we ask that visitors observe the animals from the viewing bridge or from one of the many other vantage points overlooking the Turtle Pond. This will ensure the safest viewing experience for everyone. We also ask that guests refrain from tossing foreign objects, such as coins, food, or trash, into the turtle habitat.

Fun fact: Females turtles are typically larger, and turtles can live for 30 years in captivity!

Follow along on Cheekwood’s social media channels for more turtle content! For more information about the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, click here.

Member Monday

On Monday, July 20, we opened for a day of celebration exclusively for our members. Cheekwood members have the benefit of unlimited access to the grounds, free parking, priority access to special event tickets and reciprocal admission to nearly 200 botanical gardens, arboreta and conservatories nationwide, and over 60 museums in the Southeast.

What else is there to love about being a Cheekwood member? We asked a few people what they enjoyed most about their memberships.

“I have a Family Membership, and I renew each year because I love all the activities I can bring guests to. Christmas is my all time favorite, and I love the songwriter nights. To be able to live in a big city and come out here and walk these gardens at my whim is a gift from God. We love it!”

– Terry McAlister

“We love coming here! It’s great for the little one. He loves looking at the TRAINS! exhibit and being able to run around down there. We love to get our walks in in such a beautiful setting.”

– Maria Mieling

“We love being able to come out and completely relax for an hour or two. It’s such a blessing to have this place. During the pandemic we spend a lot of time gardening, so coming out here and getting ideas has been really fun.”

– Clay & Susan Sistrunk

These Maxwell House Muffins are a staff and visitor favorite at our Café 29. Use our recipe to whip up a batch at home this weekend. The mothers in your life will thank you!

Batter

6.5 ounces all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 ounces  butter room temp
6.5 oz white sugar
2 eggs room temp
5 oz  sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions: Mix dry ingredients and set aside. Cream butter & sugar till creamy. Mix eggs 1 at a time then add sour cream & vanilla, mix till blended. Add dry ingredients and lightly blend.  Add 1 scoop of batter (ice cream scoop will work) to buttered (or use liner) muffin pan, sprinkle the “middle” sugar, top w/ 1 scoop of batter then top with the topping. Bake 350* 20-30 minutes till baked thru.

Middle

2 oz brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix set aside.

Topping

2 ounce all purpose flour
2 ounce brown sugar
2 ounce oats dry
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 ounce Maxwell house coffee ground
2 ounce cold butter 1/2″ cube

Mix dry ingredients then mix in butter till it becomes a crumble, set aside.This Mother’s Day weekend, we’re missing all of our members, visitors, and volunteers who would normally be enjoying the beautiful weather with a picnic on the Arboretum Lawn, a stroll through the Color Garden or enjoying the sights and sounds of our TRAINS!While you can’t treat mom to a day in the gardens, you can treat her to our delicious Maxwell House Muffins by Café 29. Made with the signature Maxwell House Coffee blend that has such significant meaning to Cheekwood’s story, these muffins, much like the coffee, are good to the last drop… or crumb!

Read about the Cheek family’s history with Maxwell House coffee, and then try your hand at making Maxwell House Muffins for Mom this weekend!Did you know the Cheek family business was the Cheek-Neal Coffee Company, creators and brewers of MAXWELL HOUSE COFFEE and TEA? The specialty blend was named after and marketed by the best hotel in Nashville, the Maxwell House. The success of the brand launched the local business into nation-wide production and is said to have captured the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt, who exclaimed that it was “good to the last drop!”

Cheek-Neal was created by Joel Cheek, the cousin of Leslie Sr.’s father C.T. Cheek. C.T. had been an early investor, and Leslie Sr. bought stock as well. In 1928, the Postum Company, later renamed General Foods, purchased Cheek-Neal Coffee Company for $45 million. As an investor, Leslie Sr.’s fortune quickly expanded, likely also expanding his plans for Cheekwood.