Tag: spring

A Cheekwood Spring and Arbor Day Walk

By Sarah Hughes

  • Tree with many branches
    Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

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.


  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of an iris flower at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a columbine flower at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a large tulip flower at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a daffodil flower at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a tulip flower at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of tulip flower around a tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

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.


  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a fern at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a leaf at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a fern at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

“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/


  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a flower at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a tree label at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a flowering tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a flowering tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a landscape at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.
  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a tree in a maze at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

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.”


  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a flowering dogwood tree at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a flowering dogwood tree label at Cheekwood 2021. All rights reserved.

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.


  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a card table at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a dining room at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of ceramic dishware at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a painting at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of patio room at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.
  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a card table at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of study at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of study at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a dining room at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of a painting at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of patio room at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of entry at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.

  • Photo provided by Sarah Hughes. Picture of entry at Cheekwood Estate 2021. All rights reserved.

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/

DIY Easter egg centerpiece

By Sarah Hughes

Spring is here. Here is a way to get away from obnoxious pastel colors wrapped in plastic pink grass, but still have seasonal decorations.

Materials:

  • Fake paper or ceramic eggs (you could use real eggshells with the egg carefully blown out through small holes – don’t swallow. Or squeeze too hard for that matter).
  • Acrylic paint in desired colors (I prefer Americana brand and drew inspiration from 1960s knickknacks #hipster #didntsoundasannoyinginmyhead).
  • A variety of paintbrushes
  • Paint pens (which make details easier).
  • Water in a cup safe to clean brushes with.
  • Some drop cloths or old newspapers to protect your crafting surface.
  • Somewhere to allow eggs to dry that touches the freshly painted egg minimally. It could be an empty egg cartoon. A cut-up paper towel roll might work well too.
  • A cool vessel to put the eggs in when you’re done (Try a birdcage or a cool dish. Maybe fashion a nest – there’s a cool way to do it with papier-mâché materials and string).
  • A ruler or a stencil if you’d like it to be neat (#nope).
  • You can use masking or artist tape to tape out stripes (just don’t press it down to hard – the goal is for it to be removable later).
  • (Optional) a cute little clip-on creature – butterflies, birds, beetles.

How to:

  1. Decide on a pattern. You can cut it out from a simple picture to make a stencil, or try to free hand. Visualize your pattern on the egg. If you want to do this fast, consider a more abstract or simple design like paint splatters, stripes or dipping/ rolling the paint on.
  2. Apply base coat to the egg. Let it dry. If you are using the paper eggs this will go quickly (perhaps 20 minutes to dry). Check your egg carefully for wet spots.
  3. Apply a second coat of the same color if the first coat looks sheer or uneven. Allow this to dry. It should take approximately the same amount of time as the first coat to dry.
  4. Tape-off or measure out your design on the egg. Just make sure whatever you do is removable (pencil usually shows through paint and tape must be applied gently). In general, the more time you spend laying out or measuring for your pattern, the more professional the end result will look, but the more time it will take for the entire project.
  5. Paint details in a noticeably different color. Allow to dry the same time as before.
  6. Add details and outlines with a paint pen. Dry as before.
  7. Arrange in container of choice. Add optional flying friends.

Bird on birdcage
Add birds to your centerpiece to give more detail. Photo by Sarah Hughes

Now stand back and enjoy your grown-up seasonal centerpiece and stay tuned for more design ideas.