Among the Dogwoods: Ashley and JT's Proposal
The local folks of Knoxville are very lucky. Each year, the city hosts its Dogwood Arts Festival, timed to occur during the true sign of Spring for this region: when the dogwood trees show their blooms. In addition to various events, people can drive through certain neighborhoods in our fair city where the trees flourish. Even better, the Baxter estate - the private home of a local family - allow the public to visit their gardens.
And what gardens! These are truly magnificent! Inspired mostly by those found in the finer homes among the English gentry and nobility (if not royalty), the paths meander though a multitude of plants and statuary. If its not the delicate dogwood blossoms then it is colorful azaleas and other vegetation. Wandering paths, streams, ponds - it has it all.
And so it was all the lovelier by . . . love. Ashley had visited the gardens the previous week with her parents and reported back to JT that he just had to see them and wouldn’t it be great to have a picnic there, just the two of them?
JT agreed, of course. And wisely suggested they go a little earlier and scout Baxter Gardens so he could take them in and find the perfect spot for their picnic. At least, that’s what he told her. Because JT had other plans.
and then this happened:
Clever fellow! After saying yes, I took them on a walk through Baxter Gardens for a short post-proposal photo shoot. What a wonderful variety of backgrounds for these two!
Alas, if you did not go out to see Baxter Gardens, you will have to wait for next April when they are opened to the public again. But until then, here is video of the proposal to revisit this unique setting - and unique moment!