August 12, 2025

Even the sanest gardener can enjoy a little basket-case fun. Pam Beasley of Memphis has transformed an arbor into a cascade of woven baskets — one of the most wonderfully quirky garden arches I’ve seen. (The terracotta pot arbor at the Antique Rose Emporium is another.) It made for a memorable moment during the Memphis Fling tour in June, especially beneath towering, pink-flowering crape myrtles.

A tisket, a tasket, she’s filled some of the baskets.

In a cutting garden that Pam describes as the heart of her garden, a rustic arbor announces “Manor Woods Garden” in wire letters, a tribute to her street. Pam says her raised beds supply flowers for arrangements year-round, with the help of tunnel covers in winter to extend the growing season.

Honeysuckle clambers up another arbor, offering its sweet fragrance to passersby.

Painted furniture and exuberant flowers give a cottage garden vibe.

Pam has even extended her colorful garden into a paved area — the end of the driveway, as I recall — by clustering dozens of pots around a bench.

A table nearby held a tray of glasses for refreshments.

It was all very welcoming, including a quiet corner nook with a fire pit, surrounded by hydrangeas and other shade lovers…

…like this lacy-leaved Japanese maple in a blue pot…

…and a glowing philodendron.

In her garage workspace, muted vignettes of lamps and garden ornaments share space with tools and small terracotta pots.

Nested pots, seemingly full of nesting materials

It was a garage any gardener might covet — especially me. My own garage is jammed with not only garden tools and leftover paint cans but old camping equipment (why?), a dusty aquarium (why??), deflated footballs and volleyballs (why???), and tennis rackets we’ll never use again. I’m feeling a purge coming on — just as soon as it cools off outside. No rush while it’s 100F out, right?

Up next: The eclectic and playful Thompson Garden. For a look back at the Asian-inspired garden of Laurie and Tom Rieman, click here.

I welcome your comments. Please scroll to the end of this post to leave one. If you’re reading in an email, click here to visit Digging and find the comment box at the end of each post. And hey, did someone forward this email to you, and you want to subscribe? Click here to get Digging delivered directly to your inbox!

__________________________

Digging Deeper

Want ideas for your yard besides lawn? Sure you do! I’m giving a talk called “Lawn Gone: 8 Great Ideas for Your Yard” on Saturday, September 13, at the Concho Valley Master Gardeners Fall Symposium in San Angelo, Texas. The cost for the all-day symposium with 4 speakers is $30 per person; refreshments and lunch included. Register by 9/10 at this link to attend. I hope to see you there, West Texas homeowners and gardeners!

My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, comes out October 14! It’s available for pre-order now on Amazon and other online book sellers. If you’d like to read it or give it as a holiday gift, please consider pre-ordering. (I’m happy to sign pre-ordered copies at my book events!) Early orders make a big difference in helping new books get noticed. More info about Gardens of Texas here — and thank you for your support!

Come see me on tour! I’ll be speaking and hosting book events across Texas this fall and into next spring to celebrate the release of Gardens of Texas. Join me to learn, get inspired, and say hello!

Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events, so join the Garden Spark email list for notification when tickets go on sale: click this link and ask to SUBSCRIBE. Read all about the Season 9 lineup here!

All material © 2025 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.