garden – Honey it's Thursday

Garden season blooms in Montgomery County

As the weather starts to get warmer gardeners in zone 7A prepare their gardens for the spring season. Local garden departments place their tempting plants out in a variety of colors and buds start to burst open. Also, local gardeners share tips and there are a few events this season. Spring is officially here as of Mar. 20, 2026.

Images provided by Sarah Hughes Pippen. Square foot planting technique raised garden bed with sprouts in Clarksville, TN. All rights reserved.

January and February may mean garden aficionados have planted seeds for cold weather crops like lettuces and broccoli. Those may be getting established and enjoyed, but with each passing month the varieties shift from greens and foliage. Soon warmer weather plants will be able to be planted and grow bigger.

Images provided by Sarah Hughes Pippen. Metal raised garden bed with violets in Clarksville, TN. All rights reserved.

Some local gardeners swear by waiting till after Tax Day or Mother’s Day for fear of frost, while others attempt to cover or mulch in colder months.

One Middle Tennessee Gardeners Facebook Group Member writes, “I always wait till Mother’s Day (for tender summer plants) – lived here over 18 years now and I’d personally rather save my effort. Found most of my May planting caught up quickly anyway.”

Such groups exist to foster the gardening community and provide local advice. Online resources can be helpful in learning to garden, particular for your region.

metal garden bed with greens — Images provided by Sarah Hughes Pippen. Metal raised garden bed with wildflower blooms in Clarksville, TN. All rights reserved.

In recent years, chaos gardening has been trending, where people toss seeds around and see what comes up. With the humidity in Montgomery County, this approach can work, although a little work to follow planting directions may be better.

Purple wildflowers in a lawn — Images provided by Sarah Hughes Pippen. Wildflower blooms in Clarksville, TN. All rights reserved.

If you aren’t disappointed by a cold snap possibly setting growth back, some cheap seeds may surprise you. The backs of seed packets will tell you what zone and time to plant, as well as depth and conditions. Some local libraris run seed libraries where seeds are shared.

Images provided by Sarah Hughes Pippen. Large Dandelion with hand for scale in Clarksville, TN. All rights reserved.

Also, searchable on Google, there are many gardening or plant related events planned for this season in Clarksville, such as:

Mar. 30 at 5:30 PM – Garden Seeding Program at Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center
Every second Wednesday at 6:30 PM – Native Gardens and Habitat Club at Rotary Park
Apr. 8 at 5 PM – Wildflower Walk at Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Wade Bourne Nature Center 2308 Rotary Park Dr, Clarksville, TN 37043
Apr. 11 at 11:30 AM – Bumble Bee Atlas Workshop at Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Wade Bourne Nature Center 2308 Rotary Park Dr, Clarksville, TN 37043
Apr. 18 at 10 AM – Earth Day Plant Swap, Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Wade Bourne Nature Center 2308 Rotary Park Dr, Clarksville, TN 37043
Apr. 25 at 10 AM – Natural Living Fair at the Tangelwood House, 1601 Madison St. Clarksville, TN 37043
May 17 at 10AM-2PM- The Pollinator and Native Plant Summit at Rotary Park
Radical Mission Jubilee Garden open for visits at 150 Richview Rd, Clarksville

Also, searchable on Google, there are many gardening or plant related events planned for this season in near Nashville, such as:

Mar. 28 at 2PM – Planning your Tennessee Smart Yard in Nashville at Bellevue Public Library
Mar. 28-29 – Middle Tennessee Daffodil Show in Nashville at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
Apr. 11 at 9 AM-1 PM – Native Plant Sale in Nashville at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
Apr. 11 at 12 PM – Growing Roses in Middle Tennessee in Nashville at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
Mar. 7 – Apr. 12 – Various events such as spring blooms and workshops in Nashville at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens

Restaurant Review: Clarksville’s The Looking Glass says “Eat me” “Drink me”

exterior store front — Image by Sarah Hughes. Outside The Looking Glass Café. All rights reserved.

Clarksville’s The Looking Glass is a collection of restaurant, bakery and event space with an Alice in Wonderland charm. Locals and travelers alike should check out this cafe’s unique and whimsical heart.

Image by Sarah Hughes. Café table next to a fountain. All rights reserved.

In addition to candy bar flavored coffees and large beautiful slices of cake, the Looking Glass offers breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner options throughout the day. They are an excellent spot to meet someone for brunch or to sit with a coffee.

Image by Sarah Hughes. Lily pads in a koi pond. All rights reserved.

“I suppose I ought to eat or drink something or other; but the great question is ‘What?’”

—Lewis Carrol, Alice in Wonderland, Chapter 4, The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill

Image by Sarah Hughes. Giant lily pads in a garden pond. All rights reserved.

The decor is sweet and colorful, with homages to Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carrol. Along with meeting a variety of meal or caffeine related needs, the multipurpose layout offers a wide open feeling, providing intimacy for each table’s conversations. Whether you are there for coffee, a meal or just cake, there’s plenty of space to stretch out. Once full, there is a sweet garden out back to admire.

plate of breakfast food — Image by Sarah Hughes. Crab Cake Eggs Benedict with Home fries. All rights reserved.

I found the spot while trying to find a unique eggs benedict that reminded me of granola-cafes back home in San Diego, CA. I enjoyed my crab cake benedict, and my fiance enjoyed a breakfast burrito. We got chunky monkey and oreo mochas in giant teacups. Looking around on my visit, there were many ladies luncheoning. It reminded me of the now sold Claire De Lune Coffee Lounge in Northpark, and an old Hemingway story. Spots like these are a passion of mine and worth our patronage. You can feel the love and history poured into them.

“It is the light of course but it is necessary that the place be clean and pleasant”

― Ernest Hemingway, A Clean Well Lighted Place

Please consider checking this great spot out and supporting a great local small business. I’d rate them four out of five stars.

table in a garden in front of exterior glass doors — Image by Sarah Hughes. Whimsical table in a garden. All rights reserved.

Their hours are as follows:

Mon 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Tue 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Wed 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Thu 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Fri 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Sat 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Sun Closed

Koi pond in a garden with gecko sculptures — Image by Sarah Hughes. Koi pond in a garden. All rights reserved.

The restaurant is located at 329 Warfield Blvd Ste H Clarksville, TN 37043.

Gardening Craze Continues

Americans are gardening more in a post-pandemic world than in the year 2019.

Garden sales jumped from 13.8 billion in 2019 to 104 billion in 2020, according to nurserymag.com and statista.com.

Radishes in a container — Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of radishes in a container garden. All rights reserved.

The trend is expected to grow in 2021 based on projections, according to prnewswire.com.

It’s possible the change is due to people being home and wanting to look at something cheery, while adding curb appeal. According to Ferry-Morse, a popular seed company, ten times more people planted flower seeds than fruit or vegetable seeds, which is a reverse of last year.

Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of strawberry pot. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of raised bed container. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of mailbox garden bed. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a raised garden bed. All rights reserved.

Important Dates for Gardeners
Feb. 6 through June 4 – Last Frost date depending on hardiness planting zone
Apr. 14 – National Gardening Day
May 9 – Mother’s Day – A day that some people wait to plant till to avoid frosts, per folklore
Aug. 25 through Dec. 13 – First Frost date depending on hardiness planting zone

While retailers seem to be bustling, there is a growing trend to sell inventive one-stop bundled kits and better quality items. New plants are being released with novel features and enhancements aimed at making them easier to grow.

New “plantlings” are one of many new options from Ferry-Morse. The product consists of partially grown young plants shipped directly to consumer’s doors.

Whether investing in time-honored gardening methods or newer products, the gardening trend is a great inspiration for expanding your garden.

A Cheekwood Spring and Arbor Day Walk

By Sarah Hughes

As temperatures rise and blossoms cycle through their hues, it would appear Tenn. has entered the Spring season. One way to enjoy it is to visit the Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.

Located at 1200 Forrest Park Drive in Nashville, Tenn. Cheekwood draws residents, members and travelers alike. With 55-acres of botanical gardens there is plenty of space for social distancing in accordance with safety protocols listed in their entirety on Cheekwood’s website.

“Cheekwood, in accordance with CDC guidance, recommends individuals stay 6′ apart and travel in groups no larger than 10. All visitors are required to wear cloth face coverings when entering buildings including the Historic Mansion & Museum, Botanic Hall, and the Frist Learning Center. Cloth face coverings are strongly recommended in outdoor areas except when maintaining a physical distance of at least 6’ from other visitors,” says https://cheekwood.org/knowbeforeyougo_covid19/

Cheekwood features year round activities. Arbor Day, on Apr. 30, 2021 can be celebrated with a walk and an arboretum map available online and from Visitor services.

“The Arboretum at Cheekwood includes well over 2,100 trees, curated to serve Cheekwood’s mission as a collecting institution and offer the community enjoyment and education. Cheekwood has documented 1,267 deciduous trees; 576 evergreens; 16 deciduous conifers; and 238 dogwoods,” says https://cheekwood.org/calendar/arbor-day/

“Our arboretum map, available online and from Visitor Services, presents at least 120 distinct species and cultivated varieties of trees to guide an exploration of the campus canopy.”

Their website blog even has tips for caring for Dogwood Trees, available at https://cheekwood.org/dogwood-tips/

Although Bloom Season for Cheekwood is officially Mar. 6 – Apr. 11, 2021 and National Gardening Day Apr. 14, 2021 there is still a great deal to see at Cheekwood in the lushness of warm months. The grounds are an excellent inspiration for the hobby gardener featuring different gardens every month. Summertime also promises seasonal festivities and beautiful scenes.

Tickets have the option to be purchased for just the grounds or to include the art museum located in the mansion of the historic Cheek estate. The building houses historically furnished rooms, paintings and permanent collection pieces.

“Originally built as the home of Leslie and Mabel Cheek in 1929, Cheekwood is one of the finest examples of an American Country Place Era estate,” says the Cheekwood website.

Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of wooden play structure at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of ornamental structure at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of landscape at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of turtle fountain at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of swan pool at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of pond with sculptures at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

If planning a visit, it is best to reserve a time. Ticket and membership options are available through the museums website at https://cheekwood.org/buy-tickets/