Garden History & Design

The Garden History and Design Committee fosters an appreciation for America’s gardens and documents today's gardens for tomorrow's gardeners in partnership with the Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens.

- Garden Club of America

Memphis Garden Club Gardens in the Smithsonian Institution’s Archive of American Gardens

Annesdale, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Todd

The country estate was designed by an Italian designer with a screen of dense magnolia, tulip poplars, and oaks outlining the property.

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Black Garden, Dr. and Mrs. William T. Black

A small Victorian cottage and green garden located in Central Gardens was restored by J. Clarence Moody after a devastating storm in 1971.

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Bowlin Price Lewis Garden, Mr. and Mrs. David L. Bowlin

Designed as a winter garden with stark, linear branches against evergreen geometric forms, the garden photograph was selected in 2009 by the Smithsonian for their horticulture division Holiday card.

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Boyle Garden, Mr. and Mrs. J. Bayard Boyle

The colonial home, known as Robinwood, was surrounded by beautiful azaleas and woods. Wildflowers spread throughout the property, making for a wonderful daily horseback ride.

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Boyle Garden, Mr. and Mrs. Snowden Boyle

Banks of azaleas and boxwood border the walk leading to the Williamsburg home. Virgin forest trees surround the home and property.

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Charnwood, Mrs. Warda Stout

From a wishing well to old columns, an old chicken coop, and an irregularly shaped koi pond, the property still has ruins from 1925. The style of the garden was Italian with massive flower gardens of roses, bulbs, and perennials. The beds and gardens eventually were replaced by lawns by several different owners.

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Graham Garden, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Graham

An intimate patio garden reflects their anglophile interest. A plethora of English containers are placed around with plants perfectly selected for the area.

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Lee Garden, Mrs. Mary Ann Lee

The back porch looks out past a pair of Versailles planters. A naturalized woodland area is a showcase of beauty.

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Martin Garden, Mr. and Mrs. David Martin

A few additions the Martins made were a teahouse, koi pond moss garden, and bonsai home for over 200 specimens. "Following Japanese tradition, all of the hard surfaces such as the stone shrine and paved walkways were softened by surrounding plants of ferns and trees.”

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McDonnell Garden, Mr. and Mrs. Mike McDonnell

Bickie McDonnell the main designer and gardener, created a series of gardens that merged one into another forming a vista of woods, flower beds, and open areas with stunning views. Tom Pellett, landscape designer, also assisted Bickie with walkways, stone paths, and a wooden bridge over a dry creek bed.

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Moore Garden, Dr. and Mrs. Moore Moore Jr.

A small Victorian cottage garden is located in Central Garden District. J. Moody re-designed the garden after a storm ravaged the property.

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Williams Garden, Mr. and Mrs. John Sneed Williams

The Williams Garden has been described as an outdoor living space. A fountain feeds the pool and a lovely sculpture of a kneeling girl by New Orleans artist Ricardo Alfreze is the focus at the pool's far end.

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Zanone Garden, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Zanone

Irwin Zanone, owner and the main designer of  the 2.5 area estate, created an orderly, relaxing property with curves, neatly arranged beds, a cottage kitchen, and a woodland area. Sculptures by Roy Tamboli and Larry Young are carefully placed throughout the property.