The Answer To World Peace Could Possibly Be Found In Murfreesboro, Tennessee

You won't be able to find this place. The lady at the garden center that I had been visiting told me three or four times, "You won't find a better place to eat in this city than CLEAR VIEW restaurant." She said it VEEERRRYYY SLLOOOWWLY just in case I didn't catch it the first few times. But she couldn't tell me where it was because, "I've been driving there for so long that I don't even think about what street it's on. If you have one of those smart phones you can just look it up. It's even been in Southern Living Magazine!"

So I got in my car, pulled out my really smart phone, and searched for 10 minutes to find this exemplary restaurant. No Clear View restaurant. No Clearview Restaurant. No Clearview Meat and Three. Relentlessly (and hungry), I start searching for eating venues in the Murfreesboro area and finally come across KLEER-VU Lunchroom. 4.6 Star rating.
Bingo.

So I transversed the city, and pulled up to this icon of eatery.

In the middle of this block of lower income housing sat an humble restaurant filled with garden club ladies, a few guys that could easily pass for gangsta rappers, an elderly caucasian couple, a stunning African American woman who walked in and said hello to everyone (probably some famous Nashville musician that I should know), a random assortment of black and white diners, and me. 

We all stood in line peacefully as we ordered our southern style lunch, smiled and greeted each other as we waited, and peacefully enjoyed a lunch together without a sliver of unpleasant discourse.  

My conclusion is that Pigs Feet, Breaded Okra, Turnip Greens, and Chess Pie - or the like - can bring a diverse world to peaceful cohesion.


If it could be so simple...

Around The Garden World - Day 42 (Leiper's Fork, TN)

Today was Leiper's Fork annual giant Yard Sale on the sprawling lawn of Marty and Bruce Hunt. Lots of folks there selling stuff - everything from homemade ice-cream to great antiques. I was on the hunt for some garden art. This recycled hoe would be a great way to store all my wonderful Corona Tools. I'll pass on buying the tools the vendor was showing with the rake. 

This was a creative way to use those old telephone wire insulators - these racks were welded by the vendor's daughter to transform the glass into a candelabra.

I wish I could have talked hubby into letting me get this little bike rider - this is FUN garden art! 

Year-round sunflowers!

I didn't buy but wish I had. This old cake carrier would have been a really cute way to store  items in my garage that I want keep critters out of. 

This would be the only kind of chickens I would have at my house for now.

Yes, we are a little redneck down here. 

This was the homemade icecream churn! 

Um. yeh. unique stuff

This is event is for all ages.  

I absolutely feel in love with these little retro play kitchens by Jenn Gruber

I guess this is what you call a Farm Table? ;) 

Vintage motor home 

Local guy and TV celebrity Mike Wolfe of American Pickers had a booth there with a few of his treasures and was just being the friendly guy that he is.

And of course, there were a few things a plant nerd like me found very tempting...

My friend Robin Baker and I finished off the day at the International Festival and Beerfest in downtown Franklin - cooling off from the day sampling beer from around the world.

All the local folks were there...

The event  ended with a great performance by Jonell Mosser. http://youtu.be/b_nXmfL9tYM

Around The Garden World - Day 30 (Westhaven, Franklin, Tennessee)

More inspiration for fall container plantings from Westhaven!

Variegated boxwood, black mondo grass, rose blotch pansy, gold ribbon arborvitae

Colorado Blue spruce, Nandina "Sienna Sunset", Rose Blotch pansy, Sedum Angelina

Color Guard Yucca, Golden Child Ivy, Delta Pure Rose Pansy

Around The Garden World - Day 24 (Windstone - Brentwood, TN)

Here's a little inspiration for those planning on changing out their tired summer planters with winter planting. These are two different plantings in the entry planters at the beautiful Windstone neighborhood in Brentwood, Tn. 

I call this a Dr. Seuss planting - a topiary pom-pom juniper underplanted with Acorus Ogon, Euphorbia Rainbow Ascot, Illumination Vinca, and Rose pansy.

Variegated English boxwood, Dianthus 'Firewitch', rose pansy, Sedum Red Carpet, Blue pansy, Red Bor Kale, Chamaecyparis 'Golden Mops'

What are you putting in your fall/winter pots?