You all know how I love tulips, especially pink ones.
So, while I was reading through my Instagram and began to see photos of pink tulips posted by internationally renowned garden and lifestyle expert, P. Allen Smith, I just had to know what was going on. Lucky for us, P. Allen was happy to share about his beautification project. Looks like Little Rock is getting beautified…tulip style! Read on for the details.
green, or in this case pink, areas in urban spaces, especially in my own city.
I love Little Rock, so I’m particularly dedicated to doing help in the revitalization
of downtown. I talked with Mayor Mark Stodola, and we came up with March Tulip
Madness 2013. One of my sponsors, Van Zyverden, supplied the city with the
bulbs and we worked with Sharon Priest of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership
to implement our idea.
For the project, we filled planters around the city with 25,000 bulbs, and
distributed 1,000 Sun Valley cut tulips to restaurants in the downtown area.
I’m committed to beautifying urban
spaces, and I’ve participated in city renewal efforts in other ways as well. I
provided the historic Mt. Holly Cemetery on Broadway in downtown Little Rock
with New Dawn roses, and now the popular climbing white rose has spread all
over the city. I also partnered with the city to provide and plant antique
roses at the Governor’s Mansion in 2007. All the roses that we planted are from
the early 1800s, around the time Arkansas became a state.
partnered with Little Rock for March Tulip Madness. We had worked with North
Little Rock for the past two years, and wanted to work on both sides of the
river.
choose pink tulips?
different types for the planters: Menton, Pink Impression and Negrita, which
when combined created a pleasing pink and purple display. I choose mid and late
bloomers to take full advantage of the season.
Choosing plants for downtown areas is a challenge. You have to consider the
harsh urban landscape— the heat coming from the concrete, the level of sunlight
reflected from surrounding buildings, the water requirements. The planters have
to be hand watered by parks department employees, because the planters lack an
irrigation system. So, it’s important to choose the best and hardiest plants.
we’re planting Double Pink Knockout Roses in Little Rock’s planters.
exuberance of spring, it requires a lot of frenetic energy to manage all the projects—
the planting, getting everything started, managing the farm. I tend to have a
million projects going on during the spring, which, while I choose to do it,
doesn’t leave much spare time. I
actually prefer the fall season. After I’ve completed all my spring projects, I
can really slow down and enjoy the beauty of my work without having to do
anything else!
PPT: You’re hosting a spring garden party at your home….give us all
the details!! Who will you invite? What will you serve? Describe the scene.
PAS: Moonlight and Roses is a spring
garden party focused on antique roses. In Little Rock, the beginning of May is
the sweet spot for roses. They are simply spectacular that time of year. Mike Shoup, a key figure in the renaissance
of old rose varieties and who I’ve known for 25 years, will inspire us with his
knowledge. Guests will be served beer and wine in my traditional English rose
garden, which encompasses about 18,000 square feet and is close to the bank of
the Arkansas River. We’ll eat a meal from one of my cookbooks and listen to
live music—all outside, all under the stars. And we’ll end the night with a
bonfire. There are still tickets available, so I’m inviting all of PPT’s fans
to join me on my farm!
I’ve been very pleased by the amount visitors I’ve had this year. We planted 280,000 bulbs on Daffodil Hill, and as always, people have really enjoyed seeing the bright blooms. I’m also quite excited about the rose season, because we’ve planted almost 1,000 rose bushes.
Wow…thank you, P. Allen for inspiring all of us to beautify our own towns and create a seamless blend between garden and home. I have my sights set on a tour of Moss Mountain Farm one of these days! If you’d like to learn more about P. Allen, check out his website or one of his many books. These are 2 of my personal favorites.
Wishing you all a beautiful weekend! What will be blooming at your home this Spring? You know what will be blooming at mine!
images: courtesy of P. Allen Smith
Good morning, Elizabeth! Excellent interview…and what a gorgeous farm! I hope you have a lovely Easter!! xoxo
Mike Shoup of the Antique Rose Emporium
Thanks for sharing this wonderful initiative. I think we all need to fly down for Moonlight and Roses!! Wishing you and your boys a very Happy Easter!
He's the best! Fun interview Elizabeth, thank you! How amazing would it be to be a guest at his farm?!
Happy Easter!
xxojoan
My in-laws live in Little Rock. Know what I am adding to the agenda next visit there!
Happy Easter E!
xo
Cathy
My in-laws live in Little Rock. Know what I am adding to the agenda next visit there!
Happy Easter E!
xo
Cathy
What a great interview, Elizabeth, and a wonderful cause. We'd so love to join your garden club just to visit the farm! Happy Easter and wishing you a wonderful weekend.
xxoo
C + C
Hi this is a lovely blog honey I think we should follow on GFC and Bloglovin? what do you think?
let me know I'll follow back for sure
New post is up on my blog you should have a look 🙂
oxoxoxo
Marie
Wow, Elizabeth what a wonderful interview and I think we should all go to his farm…it looks spectacular. Wishing you and your precious family a Happy Easter!!
Elizabeth what a great interview! How lucky for Little Rock to have him on board making there town that much more beautiful. Happy Easter weekend and thanks for stopping by my blog today, it was so nice to see your name there,
xo Kathysue
As the daughter of a dutch immigrant, I inherited a love of tulips and gardening in general. You provided wonderful inspiration here!!! 280,000 daffodils…that might take me a while;) LOVE!
You and pink tulips and myself and white tulips! Great interview…we might need to crash that fete.
Happy Easter!
Hi, Elizabeth –
Thanks for this interview with the gracious and talented P. Allen Smith! What a treat it would be to tour his farm! I admire his commitment to beautifying urban spaces with plants and flowers. I'd love to know his favorite plants for tough urban environments.
Cheers,
Loi
Tone on Tone
Great interview and a great cause…
Eggceptional {sorry!} Elizabeth. I love that he is using his tastes and talents to beautify Little Rock. Happy Easter. xo, ebh
Elizabeth,
I've always been a fan of his books and his simple and natural approach to decorating is always so refreshing. It's been a long time since I did a post on him, so this was just wonderful- terrific interview, thank you!
HAPPY EASTER!!!
xo,
~R
Hi Elizabeth and a very happy and blessed Easter to you. Having fun catching up with all my blogging friends. What a wonderful post…oh my that farm is incredible and so confirms my wish that I hope to own one myself one day. How fun, and you can see this talented man really loves what he does. The passion shines through. Thanks for a wonderful read!!
Great post, as always. Hope you had a great Easter. Your blog is an absolute joy to read!
Good afternoon beautiful Pink Tulip lover! Elizabeth! How nice to see you leave a comment and aren't pink tulips, or any tulip for that matter, don't they just make you smile? I got a beautiful bouquet of white ones for my 31st anniversary last month. I think I need to have a bunch of tulips on my dining room table more often!
What a lovely and lively post you have here; we want color NOW, don't we?
I hope your garden shows promise soon, as do I, and may your Easter memories live on! Anita
Elizabeth, I love P. Allen Smith. The March Tulip Madness is a great idea. Thank you for sharing your interview.
xo, Lissy
nike free, longchamp handbags, coach outlet store, burberry outlet online, louboutin, ray ban, prada handbags, chanel handbags, michael kors outlet, true religion, louboutin, polo ralph lauren outlet, true religion outlet, michael kors, kate spade outlet, cheap michael kors, michael kors handbags clearance, air max, prada outlet, nike air max, michael kors outlet online, louis vuitton outlet online, longchamp handbags, oakley sunglasses, toms shoes, longchamp outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, kate spade handbags, true religion jeans, nike air max, gucci outlet, coach outlet, michael kors, ray ban sunglasses, oakley sunglasses, nike shoes, michael kors outlet online, jordan shoes, coach factory, louis vuitton handbags, oakley sunglasses, tory burch outlet, tiffany and co, ray ban sunglasses, coach purses
nike air max, timberland, karen millen, supra shoes, longchamp, michael kors, nike huarache, north face outlet, roshe run, ralph lauren, new balance shoes, hollister, ferragamo shoes, air max, nike free, rolex watches, ray ban pas cher, mac cosmetics, beats by dre, burberry, lululemon, yoga pants, louis vuitton, converse shoes, louis vuitton, hogan, mont blanc, nike roshe, louis vuitton, ralph lauren, hermes, juicy couture outlet, lancel, nike trainers, abercrombie and fitch, mulberry, vans, giuseppe zanotti, nfl jerseys, wedding dresses, oakley pas cher, hollister, instyler ionic styler, birkin bag, montre pas cher, reebok outlet, louboutin, north face jackets, juicy couture outlet, abercrombie and fitch
canada goose, oakley sunglasses outlet, tn pas cher, canada goose, gucci, ugg boots, asics gel, cheap sunglasses, canada goose outlet, moncler outlet, cheap sunglasses, valentino shoes, oakley sunglasses outlet, soccer shoes, oakley vault, ugg, insanity, oakley, soccer jerseys, canada goose, oakley outlet, moncler, ugg boots, ugg boots, marc jacobs, moncler, oakley sunglasses cheap, canada goose, herve leger, louboutin, oakley sunglasses cheap, moncler, celine handbags, mcm handbags, babyliss pro, p90x3, canada goose outlet, oakley outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, oakley vault, ray ban, bottega veneta, ghd, ugg, chi flat iron, uggs on sale, cheap oakley sunglasses, ralph lauren, jimmy choo
canada goose jacket
dolce gabbana handbags
ugg boots uk
genuine ugg boots
toms shoes
cheap basketball shoes
michael kors outlet
nike store
woolrich jackets
mulberry outlet
nike roshe run
manolo blahnik shoes
ugg boots sale
jordan shoes
tory burch shoes
nike roshe run
miu miu handbags
nike roshe run
lebron james shoes
ugg boots for women
uggs on sale
jordan retro 11
ugg boots uk
ugg boots outlet
tory burch handbags
parajumper jackets
cheap uggs
babyliss flat iron
ugg boots clearance
christian louboutin outlet
furla handbags
nike air max 90
nike store
cheap ugg boots