Nashville's Cheekwood is good to the last drop

I recently visited Nashville for the first time and, like any avid gardener, made sure I saw its premier public garden while I was there. Without a doubt, that's Cheekwood Garden and Museum, a grand place that exists thanks to Maxwell House coffee money. My regular brand.

On a glorious October day there was still plenty to see plant-wise and even flower-wise, but the fun was in watching kids enjoy this family-friendly place, complete with supersized train set and scarecrows on display (part of a school contest).

Overlooking the Japanese Garden.

Whatever this is, it's fun to play in.

No signs keeping people off the waterfall - lawsuits be damned!

Now for some eye candy, a/k/a garden porn - the best I can do with my $200 camera.

One of the best dwarf conifer collections I've ever seen.

Sometimes formality really hits the spot.