Things I Love About "things i love"

It was a fast four days. Franklin is a quaint small town south of Nashville, TN. My visit with my only sister, Marmee, was fully loaded with all the things that make for a great trip and a very fun girly- time visit.

The winding country road Marmee lives on is bordered with acres and acres of open fields and lined with trees in the midst of seasonal changes. It's a scenic drive in any direction and she is the kind to take the time to soak it all in even on a busy day.

Before I publish a post of our visit to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, I just had to share another glimpse of a few of the "things i love" about Marmee's farmhouse and gardens.

Green Osage oranges litter the ground beneath branches heavy laden with many more of these wonderfully textured green orbs. A perfect addition to the autumn ambience seen throughout the gardens this time of year.

Nandina bushes drooping with deep reddish-orange berries flank the entryway to the picket fence that leads to the front door.

Even though three nights in a row temps dipped to the freezing point this week, there are a few flowers defying the early frosts and determinedly hanging on.

Yet others gave way under the frosty layer after delighting the gardener for several weeks with Cosmos blooms on lanky stalks of delicate greenery.

The gentle rocking of old iron chairs provided us with relaxing hours of endless conversation under the trees at day's end. The weather was better than anyone could have ordered up... abundant sunshine with cold temps to start and end each day but totally comfortable all the hours in between.
There are so many nooks and crannies in a sprawling garden on acres of land. Some more developed and finished than others. Each though with its own delights and special welcome.

Interesting lighting and unique decorations make each area useful for its own purposes.

To the west the summer vegetable garden and wildflower garden now spent for the most part lie waiting for spring's tilling project. Still, the sunflowers remain standing sentinel above the garden supplying the abundance of wildlife from their massive droopy heads of seeds. Silhouetted against the pink and purple sunsets (we ooooed and aahhhhed over every evening) they serve as another reminder of the changing season that is upon us.

One of my favorite things was sitting around the outdoor fire pit behind the barn. The crystal clear sky, full of bright stars, along with the crisp and cold air drew us as close as possible to the flames while family and friends told stories late into the night.

It's always fun to photograph someone else's garden areas. This one was especially exciting as I strolled around to take it in more than once not wanting to miss a single thing.

Thanks for coming along and stayed tuned for more on Cheekwood Gardens.