Tally Ho to Tuckahoe!

I love the opportunities that come my way for speaking engagements and book signings. Travelling to fun places, meeting new folks and eating – especially eating! Earlier this winter, I had the opportunity to speak to a fantastic group of ladies in Richmond, Virginia. Virginia’s history is so wonderfully preserved and truly old by American standards. For those of us in the Deep South who lost much of their antebellum history to Sherman’s fires and “the war” itself, getting to visit places throughout Virginia is such a treat!

Having been a Thomas Jefferson buff for as long as I can remember, I was thrilled when some dear friends invited me to their home for a luncheon. Their home, mind you, just happens to be Tuckahoe Plantation – Thomas Jefferson’s boyhood home!

For ol’ Jimmy T here, the chance to visit Tommy J’s childhood home was a true treat; but, to be in the home with friends, having a farm to table lunch and learning more about this real American idol of a man was simply amazing! A lifetime chance for yours truly!

Tuckahoe is perhaps the oldest frame residence west of Richmond proper and has seen its share of noteworthy houseguests. When Jefferson moved their as a young boy, he began his studies in a schoolhouse near the main house – complete with domed ceiling. I couldn’t help but make the correlation between this epicenter and genesis of learning for Thomas Jefferson and his touches on American architecture. From the dome of the US Capitol to UVA’s library and his personal residence, Monticello, the young Thomas Jefferson kept with his elementary inspirations and saw them through into adulthood.

A working farm then and now, Tuckahoe proper was a community in and of itself. My friends are still growing greens, raising hens for poultry and eggs, free ranging pork and keeping a kitchen garden that could feed the thirteen colonies! For my luncheon, we feasted on a salad of winter greens, quiches of leeks and country ham (we were in Virginia of course!) and almond cake – all with a tie somehow to Tuckahoe!  Seeing the footprint of the landscape and gardens was akin to a 20/20 view into history and agrarian heritage.

The James River runs across the “rear” side of Tuckahoe, but during the heyday of river travel rather than road travel, the James would have been like an interstate of sorts, thus Tuckahoe’s, like so many river homes, front façade is now their rear elevation and vice versa. I adore outbuildings and garden follies, and Tuckahoe has it plethora of them. From kitchens to the schoolhouse to old slave cabins and garden ornaments, this plantation is truly a harkening reminder of antebellum life – all lined up and orientated with the river.

JT and TJ I feel would have been buddies. We love gardening, architecture, food, flora and fauna of our homeland and, well, land itself. This bond I feel with Thomas Jefferson inspired me to create a space in his liking for the St. Philip’s Antique Show this year. Their “Inspiration Avenue” gave this Farmer the opportunity to fashion a dining room I feel Mr. Jefferson would feel right as rain being a guest. Stay tuned for that post!

As I drove down the long cedar lined drive away from Tuckahoe and back to Richmond – back to the twenty-first century for that matter – I couldn’t help but feel the tugging of history, heritage, tradition and even the spirit of our American forefathers. I turned off my engine and silenced my iPhone, and I could almost hear the ballyhoo of a fox hunt whispering through the trees. Tallyho to Tuckahoe, y’all!

Walking in Memphis…

One of my favorite things is to speak to garden clubs. These ladies are a treasure trove for garnering a fine education on Southern culture, fine entertaining, fabulous cooking, and, of course, honing one’s gardening prowess. Many of the groups are a part of the Garden Club of America which is an amazing organization.

I started speaking to garden clubs when I was at Auburn, and I attribute my career’s start to my garden club patrons. The ink was hardly dry on my diploma before my garden club contacts began hiring me for garden and interior projects – that’s my kind of social networking!

 

Often, the groups meet in a member’s home. If the group is larger, then a country club, community center or church becomes the venue, but I relish the opportunities to speak in someone’s home.

As a lover of beauty, lovely homes and gardens, and nostalgic nods to Southern entertaining, these garden club visits are quite a perk. And, being surrounded and doted on by fine ladies is not bad either!

Primarily, I have spoken to garden clubs in the Deep South, but also in St. Louis, Missouri such as The Ladue Garden Club - and groups in Virginia. These Down Home Dixie groups are such a treat for me to visit and give a lesson on flower arranging, gardening trends, tablescapes and even cooking. From small towns to Southern cities, these ladies ask me to speak to them and teach them, but I’m the one learning! I relish in learning how these ladies (who often are a tad older than my junior) garden, cook and entertain. My latest trip was of no exception!

I have had the pleasure and honor of speaking to garden clubs in Memphis three separate occasions. First, to the Memphis Garden Club and most recently to The Little Garden Club of Memphis. The second time was a combination of the two groups. This latest trip proved to be a delightful time of food, flowers, book signings, food, garden lectures, fellowship, food and some more food. Let me tell you, Memphis doesn’t play around when it comes to food – this Farmer was extremely well fed and probably gained some serious poundage on this trip. Memphis is more than ribs and bbq, ya’ll!
I have to state the old adage that “it sure is a small world.” Yes, any Southerner worth their grits is going to make their familial and social connection in other Southern towns, but Memphis proved to be a delightfully small world!

First connection was Alpine. Alpine Camp for Boys in Mentone, Alabama, proved to be a summer job to garner a lifetime of connections. Many Memphis boys have camped and worked at Alpine. The host home where I stayed was the home of one of my campers. That’s Alpine for you - connections! I saw a picture of the now grown camper and asked my my hostess, “How do you know…as she exclaimed ‘He’s my son!’” What a time!

Secondly, Auburn came into play. Whether it was seeing friends from school, meeting friends’ parents or sharing Auburn memories, Auburn always paves the way in making the world a bit smaller.

But another amazing connection came into play while in Memphis – Bainbridge. My Mimi’s hometown is always finding some way into the conversation and this time proved notwithstanding. Another one of my hostesses was from Tallahassee, Florida, and her sister married a boy from Bainbridge –and they are dear friends with my Aunt Sally there. 
That, my friends, is what I love about the South – we share this tightly knitted culture and form ever-lasting bonds with one another over great-aunts, fried chicken, silver patterns and flowers!

From a dinner party of chicken curry surrounded by friends, to garden and floral arranging lectures, to a luncheon of fried chicken and amazing peach ice cream with pecan shortbread, to memorable moments with new and old friends alike – my latest walking in Memphis truly felt “ten feet over Beale” and I cannot wait to visit again.

Hope to see ya’ll at Garden Club soon!