April 2022 - Cheekwood
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Historic Profile: Spring, 1929—The Furniture Imperative for Cheekwood

Poet T. S. Eliot called April “the cruelest month” but his 1922 decree was beside the point to Nashville’s Cheek family seven years later, when Leslie, his wife, Mabel, and their children, Leslie, Jr., and daughter Huldah visited English country estates with their architect, Bryant Fleming.  The resplendent art and antiquities of great manor houses met them at every turn in the spring of 1929, but Mr. and Mrs. Cheek toured with purpose, mindful of the calendar.  The stone walls of their new country estate just outside Nashville, Tennessee, were soon to rise, and the public rooms and family bedroom suites were to be furnished with British and American Antiques of the 18th and early 19th centuries.  Time was of the essence.  The Cheeks were on a spree.

London beckoned for purchases and inspired by their tours of the English country estates, the Cheeks hastened to the galleries where available furnishings were shown to them.  Several of the Art galleries that they worked with continue to this day, including Robersons of Knightsbridge, The Grafton Galleries, and H. L. Vetch, Ltd. The Cheekwood estate would eventually include antiques from dealers in New Orleans, Atlanta, and New York.

Photo: Mr. Leslie Cheek Sr., Mrs. Mabel Cheek, and their daughter Huldah on the SS Leviathan in 1929. From the Cheekwood Estate & Gardens Archives.

Mr. Leslie Cheek Sr., Mrs. Mabel Cheek, and their daughter Huldah on the SS Leviathan in 1929. From the Cheekwood Estate & Gardens Archives.

If connoisseurship might be in doubt, heritage was reliable, and the Cheeks’ choices harkened to periods and styles of the 18th century, in chronological order— William and Mary, Queen Anne, Chippendale, from the lathe to the quarry, the foundry to the loom, their favored  styles were from centuries earlier —the Chippendale “walnut armchairs with “carved ball and claw feet”; the Queen Anne side chair with “ cabriole legs”; the Chippendale in “gilt wood” with “fluted legs” and a “green marble top.” For the library, a William and Mary sofa, 84” long with “loose seat cushions,” its “tapestry fabric” a “woodland landscape pattern.” Accessories were useful as well as ornamental, so the library must have inkwells, a silver embossed desk set, and Chinese bronze bookends, in addition to draperies to hang on brass rods and a Tabriz oriental rug measuring 11’ by 13,’ give or take a few inches.

Photo: Cheek Mansion, Library, 2018. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.

Cheek Mansion, Library, 2018. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.

Antique furnishings saw the Cheekwood dining room become harmonious as Mr. and Mrs. Cheek chose a mahogany a late Classical Boston table with a pedestal on a “scroll base,” while the Klismos chairs, also mahogany, were covered in a “dark blue silk.” The couple could not resist a Chippendale mirror of “gilt wood, ornately carved in scroll panels of foliage and flowers…with a floral basket and a falcon at each side.”

The Cheekwood country estate would have up-to-date modern comforts, it goes without saying, from the kitchen and bathroom appliances. The overarching idea for furnishings, however, blended and culture, which one historian defines as “shorthand for the cultivated world view of educated, genteel, and cosmopolitan people.”

Years later, Huldah Cheek (Mrs. Walter Sharp), was asked by an interviewer, “How many actual ‘buying trips’ did your parents go on to furnish Cheekwood?”

The three-word reply, without hesitation: “One big one.”

Photo: Cheek Mansion, Dining Room, 2018. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.

Cheek Mansion, Dining Room, 2018. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.

Blog post provided by Cheekwood’s Writer-in-Residence, Cecelia Tichi, Ph.D.

Cecelia Tichi is an award-winning author and Professor of English and American Studies Emerita at Vanderbilt University. Her books span American literature and culture from colonial days to modern times, but her recent work draws upon the Gilded Age (post-1870) that prompted her book on Jack London and another on seven activists in that tumultuous era.

Cecelia’s research and teaching inspired What Would Mrs. Astor Do? The Essential Guide to the Manners and Mores of the Gilded Age, followed by Gilded Age Cocktails and Jazz Age Cocktails , which set the stage for her mystery crime novels that boast “Gilded” in each title.

Cecelia can be followed on her website: https://cecebooks.com/

Portrait Photo of Cecelia Tichi
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Volunteer Spotlight: Geri Franske

Volunteer Spotlight: Geri Franske

Today is the start of National Volunteer Week!  Cheekwood has wonderful volunteers, and this week we want to spotlight our incredible docent and volunteer, Geri Franske.

Geri serves tirelessly in many roles at Cheekwood. She does extensive research on art, history and our gardens, to conduct informed educational tours as a docent and for school groups. Geri is very involved with an education program that sees 12,000 youth each year. Geri helps children enjoy hands on art experiences and exposes them to varied types of art and media. And she inspires many in the gardens to learn about design and beauty. She is the first one to sign up to support special exhibitions and events which reach a wide and diverse audience. Geri has taken on leadership responsibilities as Event Captain for special events and projects and is an important area lead on our Volunteers Committee. She expands these roles by helping with fundraising, membership events and community engagement initiatives. So many visitors take away more knowledge and understanding of area history and with greater appreciation for art and values represented at Cheekwood, but they are always impressed by her indelible quality of graciousness and warmth which enhances their whole experience.

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Tell us a little about yourself.

I am retired from San Bernardino, California fire department where I had a job that allowed me to embrace each day with joy that I could be there. As a fire safety specialist with the Fire Marshal’s office, I was a plans examiner and inspector for new construction and development. I also taught Code classes at Norco College. I’ve been retired for 10 years and moved to Nashville about 9 years ago to combine households with my sister.

What are your favorite hobbies, activities, or interests?

I’m a lifelong learner and have always been an avid reader, and lover of gardens and nature, art, history, and travel. The love of art involves making art in several mediums, taking classes, visiting art museums, and buying all kinds of art supplies. I am also a docent at the Frist Art Museum.

What is your favorite garden or area at Cheekwood and why?

Since the first time I came to Cheekwood as a visitor, I have loved the Howe Garden since it invokes memories of my grandmother. She was a farmwife with numerous responsibilities but still made time to create flower gardens. I think she and Cora Howe would have had much in common.

What is your favorite room or area in the Historic Mansion & Museum, Frist Learning Center, or Botanic Hall? Why?

While I like the library very much, I love the morning room in the mansion because of the wonderful light and view. I could picture spending time reading in the morning room and often setting up an easel to paint. I would love to have tea with Ms. Mabel in that room.

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Do you have a favorite art piece at Cheekwood, or, if not, a favorite exhibition that Cheekwood has hosted? Is there a reason you like it?

The sculpture Silent Music II by Jaume Plensa is amazing and “sings” to me. Through Cheekwood, I have developed an appreciation for the artists “The Eight or Ashcan painters”. I have appreciated their work at many museums.

In what ways have you been involved as a volunteer with Cheekwood so far?

My original involvement was a need to keep busy and become engaged with the community since I was new to Nashville. I like to interact with people and thrive when I am doing purposeful activities. My sister introduced me to Cheekwood several times while I was visiting. I always thought it might be a cool place to be involved.

Why did you become a volunteer?

I enjoy docent tours but also like activities with children. As a (new) member of the Herb Society of Nashville too, we help maintain the herb gardens at Cheekwood (and Centennial Park), so that means “fingers in the dirt.” The special events are always fun and it’s interesting to be introduced to many cultural activities. Dog days (nights) are the best. Holiday LIGHTS is still enchanting after seven years.

What have you enjoyed the most about your volunteer experience?

Pre-pandemic, many times I did school tours of the gardens at Cheekwood in the morning and then school tours of the exhibits at the Frist in the afternoon. Call me crazy but I found that very invigorating. Two years later, I’m not so sure but will be willing to try.

Is there a funny or inspirational story you can briefly tell about your volunteer experience?

One of the most memorable garden tours was with kindergarteners. I was pointing at a tree, and there in the branch, two feet from my hand was a large black snake. I’m not fond of snakes, but since I had to be the adult in this scenario it was necessary to quell the desire to run screaming down the path and still make it a learning experience.

Do you have any advice for individuals considering volunteering with Cheekwood?

Anyone considering volunteering should just do it. They should try different assignments and put joy and their unique abilities into them. It’s a great way to meet interesting people from all over. And it’s great working for Ms. Amy.

Are you interested in volunteering at Cheekwood? Click here to learn more!

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Top Plant Picks April 2022

Top Plant Picks April 2022

Spring has sprung, and our gardens are in full bloom here at Cheekwood! Cheekwood’s Plant Collections Manager, Shanna Jones, shares her top plant picks for April.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Bloom Time: April – May

Sun Requirement: Part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Birds & butterflies

Tolerates: Deer & clay soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 5 – 9

Other: Grows to a height of 15 to 25 feet tall.

Location: Carell Dogwood Garden

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Bearded Iris (Iris ‘Natchez’)

Bloom Time: April – May

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Bees

Tolerates: Drought, once established

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 – 8

Other: Bred by iris hybridizer, Jesse Wills, for whom the Wills Perennial Garden is named for.

Location: Wills Perennial Garden

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Doublefile Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum ‘Mariesii’)

Bloom Time: April – May

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Bees, birds, & butterflies

Tolerates: Full sun, if roots are kept moist

Native to North America: No

Zones: 5 – 8

Other: Native to China & Japan. Multi-seasonal interest.

Location: Weaver Walk

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Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum)

Bloom Time: April – May

Sun Requirement: Part shade – full shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Bees, flies, beetles, and butterflies

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 – 8

Other: Clump-forming perennial. Polemonium caeruleum is intolerant of heat and humidity.

Location: Carell Dogwood Garden

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Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire’)

Bloom Time: May – June

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium – wet

Wildlife: Bees visit flowers for nectar. Birds enjoy the fruit.

Tolerates: Clay soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 – 9

Other: A lowland species. Amazing color on new leaves in spring as well as in the fall

Location: Howe Garden

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Native Azalea (Rhododendon ‘Knap Hll’)

Bloom Time: April – May

Sun Requirement: Part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Provides nectar for bees, hummingbirds, & butterflies.

Tolerates: Rabbits; can also tolerate more sun exposure in northern climates

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 5 – 8

Other: Slightly fragrant

Location: Weaver Walk

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Bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata)

Bloom Time: April – May

Sun Requirement: Full shade

Water Requirement: Medium – wet

Wildlife: Bees

Tolerates: Cold temperatures

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 – 8

Other: The leaves and young shoots are edible and taste similar to asparagus after being cooked.

Location: Howe Garden

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Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)

Bloom Time: April – May

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Provides nectar for hummingbirds & butterflies; squirrels enjoy the nuts.

Tolerates: Clay soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 – 8

Other: Hummingbirds will flock to the blooms!

Location: Carell Dogwood Garden

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