2021 Aug 10, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens Nashville, Tennessee

Hubby and I traveled the backroads to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville, TN, via Natchez Trace, getting off at the Leipers Fork exit. Hubby parked the car near the entrance and showed the girl at the ticket counter our online tickets.

Pink LEGO Dog 

The first thing we saw as we entered the gardens was a big pink dog made of Lego blocks. We walked down a long, winding sidewalk, down several steps to the Train Exhibit, inspired by the Little Engine That Could.

In front of us was a couple with a very independent little girl, about two or three years old, with a head full of curls. What a magical place, as you enter the land of trains and Fairy mushroom villages. The train exhibit was constructed from rough timbers and featured five train tracks, totaling over 800 feet of track. As we walked through, we saw trains crossing bridges and passing through tunnels. We were in a magical land of trains.

We saw beautiful yellow lilies floating in the lily ponds and pink, orange, white, and red roses bursting with life in the Rose Study Garden.

Roses

We saw art pieces made of musical notes and wire. We also saw many Yellow and Black swallowtails on the butterfly bushes.

Yellow Swallowtail 

We saw a red lion, a zebra, a blue bear, colorful birds, a red turtle, a green lawnmower, and a man working in the garden, all made of Legos. Also, LEGO rabbits were spotted throughout the Bradford Robertson Color Garden. We walked around the Mansion, but not inside. Workers were repairing the pool in front of the Mansion in the Martin Boxwood Gardens.

Cheekwood Mansion 

There were waterfalls, ponds, and creeks running through the gardens. We visited the Art Bark exhibit, which featured crayon sculptures by Nashville artist Herb Williams. Inside the visitor center were restrooms, drink machines, and a beautiful rose LEGO sculpture. We took a break to cool off, drink a soda, and use the restrooms before beginning our journey home; we didn't walk the entire garden, but we had a wonderful time. We traveled home along the backroads, this time taking a different route. We came out in Columbia, TN. We got a late fish lunch at Long John Silver's and brought it home.