A star-studded turnout for Nashville’s new rose garden.

On September 29, 2009 a group of honorees, friends and special guests gathered in downtown Nashville to dedicate Nashville’s newest public garden space, the Nashville Music Garden. I’ve given you most of the specifics in earlier posts, but thought I’d share some photos from dedication day. I had the honor of being invited to the dedication ceremony, as well as to the celebrity luncheon that followed.

Honored guests included Jeff Cook of country music super-group Alabama, newest Country Music Hall of Fame member (and my new gardening buddy) Barbara Mandrell, “Little Miss Dynamite” Brenda Lee and Irlene Mandrell, Barbara’s youngest sister who was part of their incredibly successful television show in the early ’80’s, Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters.


The new garden will include not only roses, but also daylilies. One of the newest daylilies has been named to honor Barbara Mandrell and her contributions to the music world. This is the presentation of the new daylily to Barbara so that she can take it home and plant it in her own garden. Barbara has become a serious gardener in the past few years and gardens with the same passion, enthusiasm and level of perfection that she performed with on stage.

After the dedication ceremony, a private luncheon was held for the celebrities and their families who were in attendance that day. I was honored to be a part of it and just had to have my picture taken with country music legend, Lynn Anderson.