Reflecting Pool
Pontederia cordata / Pickerel Weed
Pickerel weed is native to eastern North America and the Caribbean. It has soft blue blooms, resembling hyacinth, punctuated with yellow spots on each petal. A freshwater-aquatic plant, it will thrive in your rain garden or backyard pond, and, much like horsetail plant (Equisetum), it can spread rapidly. With its dense root system, it does an amazing job of controlling erosion by keeping sediment it place. Grow in containers, either out of water or in, if spread is a concern.
The leaves of Pontederiaare shaped like arrowheads and, when young, can be used in salads. Its seeds are also edible, and tastes best when roasted, though waterfowl will eat them raw. Butterflies are big fans of this perennial; dragonflies and damselflies commonly lay their eggs on plant stems near the water’s surface. Fish, reptiles, and other water creatures seek shelter in the clumps of these plants. It is often seen in the same habitats as the pickerel fish, hence the common name.Looking for that perfect holiday gift? We have plenty of one-of-a-kind items to choose from in our Cheekwood Mansion Gift Shop and our brand new Garden Gift Shop! Stop by one of our gift shops when you’re here for Holiday LIGHTS to knock out some of your holiday shopping. Whether you’re looking for unique handmade jewelry or holiday goodies to display this season, we’re open year round to meet all your gift giving needs. Check out some of our highlights below for our favorite gifts of the 2018 holiday season!
Shop on Museum Store Sunday!
On Sunday, November 25, over 1000 Museum Stores across the world will offer inspired shopping inside your favorite museums and cultural institutions. Shop knowing you are supporting the missions and programs of each participating museum and cultural organization.
This Sunday in our Gift Shop:
Cheekwood members can enjoy 20% off purchase, and not-yet members can enjoy 10% off.Robinson Family Water Garden
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Tardiva’ / Panicle Hydrangea
One of the most winter hardy of all hydrangeas, ‘Tardiva’ is very similar to ‘Floribunda’, although the sepals surrounding the base of the blooms are mostly in sets of four and not five. The panicles of showy white flowers become tinged with rose and lavender coloration as they age. The leaves of panicle hydrangeas are handsomely ovate and dark green. There is excellent cut and dried flower potential with this shrub which will grow up to 10 feet tall if conditions are right. Use in a mass hedge or back border for the grandest effect. If larger flowers are desired, prune shrub to 5-10 primary shoots in late winter or early spring. H. paniculatais native to China and Japan.Wills Perennial Garden
Cortaderia selloana‘Pumila’ (Ivory Feathers®) / Pampas Grass
A dwarf form of pampas grass with creamy white flowers, the plumes of ‘Pumila’ reach about 3-4’ above the evergreen foliage. The panicles of flowers first appear in August and they remain not only intact, but very attractive throughout much of the winter. This dwarf form is perfect for small spaces and, of all available cultivars, this is one of the most floriferous. This tough ornamental grass is easy to grow and maintain.Petite Swan Lawn
Picea abies‘Pumila Nigra’ / Dwarf Norway Spruce
This dwarf Norway Spruce is of unknown origin, but it can be traced back to the late 1800’s when it was first documented in large collections and arboretums. The needles are darker than those of the species, hence the name ‘Pumila Nigra’. Ruby-red colored female flowers can be seen spreading on the crowns of the tree in May. Moderately moist, well-drained soil is the best condition for a happy Picea. They do prefer colder climates (hardiness zone of 2-7) and full sun is much appreciated. Though a small amount of shade is tolerated, it will become very thin and raggedy in too much shade.
This cultivar is the perfect addition to rock gardens, fairy-themed gardens, and front borders. It will grow to an average of 3-4 feet wide and high and is deer resistant.Turner Season’s Garden: Fall section
Acer palmatum ‘Willow Leaf’/ Japanese Maple
With a similar branching habit to that of flowering dogwood, Japanese maples can present a similar attractively layered architecture. Grown as either a tree or shrub according to personal preference, more of its ornamental attributes can be seen when grown as a shrub. A very versatile plant, Acer palmatumcan be used as a shrub border, container element, specimen planting, and bonsai. With bright orange-red leaves that turn deep purple-red in summer, ‘Willow Leaf’ is perfectly placed among the beautyberries in the Fall section of Turner Seasons Garden. The upright, rounded, small tree can grow up to 8′ tall with semi-pendulous branches.Howe Garden
Ilex verticillata ‘Golden Verboom’/ Winterberry
When many of us think fall color, it’s usually that of foliage that first comes to mind. Depending on the time of flower, fruit of many plants appear in the fall, some in the form of berries or drupes, as with the common winterberry, Ilex verticillata.‘Golden Vebroom’ was created for the cut branch industry, originates from Verboom Nursery in Holland, and features yellow fruit that can persist until December or January, depending on the whether it is on the local (and migratory) birds’ radar.
Ilex verticillata withstands wet soils very well. With a deep dark green foliage color that can have a purple tinge in fall, the best effect of this shrub is seen when planted as a mass among red fruit varieties of the same. Full sun to part shade is the recommended sun exposure, though it well set more fruit when given more sun. It appreciates acidic soil and it is open to a variety of soil tilths. It is crucial to plant at least 2 winterberries for pollination to take effect.Be sure to stop by one of our Cheekwood Mansion Gift Shops during your next visit! Both shops are open daily, and will be open each night during this year’s Holiday LIGHTS event starting November 23! Our mansion gift shop is located on the ground floor of the Cheekwood Mansion, and our Garden Gift Shop is located in the Frist Learning Center Courtyard, right across from Café 29 and next to the stables. From gardening gloves to wearable art, there’s something for everyone in the shop!
Holiday LIGHTS is Presented By
With special thanks for the installation to Outdoor Lighting Perspectives.
We also offer plenty of themed items to get you into the holiday spirit! You can never go wrong with a scented candle. For all the chefs in your life, we have plenty of kitchen items available in store. Check out our gleaming glass Christmas trees that will make the perfect addition to any holiday traditions!Our Lock and Key collection at Cheekwood has pieces you won’t find anywhere else! Tony Perrin, founder of Lock and Key, learned the art of bead weaving from an old family friend, and now brings a sense of modern eclecticism to a traditional form of artistry. Each piece is hand beaded, and many of his designs are loomed with the ball-and-chain interweaving technique. Additionally, Perrin uses a metal clay kiln to sculpt pieces specifically for Cheekwood. Many of our Cheekwood collection pieces use embossings of leaves found on property. Our Cheekwood exclusive Lock and Key collection would be the perfect gift for Cheekwood and nature lovers alike! Looking for more than just jewelry? Our shop offers key chains, cuff links, and tie clips too!If metal is more your style, Sarah Cavender Metalworks has plenty of intricately formed pieces available. Sarah Cavendar uses a technique she developed that begins with screening brass, then treating and forming the mesh into beautiful creations. Each handmade item is plated or oxidized, finished by a process of hand painting with bronze powders in a base of lacquer, and then sealed. Our shop has a variety of Sarah’s pieces to choose from ranging from colorful floral necklaces to complex insect sculptures.Award winning textile artist, Erin Bassett, has transcended the art of jewelry making with her wearable silk accessories. Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Erin Bassett Artistry sculpts, designs, and creates textile art for the home and body. In store you’ll find necklaces and lapel pins made with the finest colored silk. These gorgeous creations are made by boiling the silk to form permanent designs. The necklaces are made for style and comfort, and there are a multitude of options to choose from in our shop.