Spring Fling

Suzy Askew is an educator and a garden designer. She has lived in Memphis 40 years, but grew up nearby in Corinth, MS. She is involved in horticulture and historic preservation. She has lived in Vollintine Evergreen Neighborhood for 16 years in a 1920 English Cottage. In 2021 her involvement in VECA Historic Committee helped achieve Local Landmarks Status for the largest historic district in the city. She and Larry Rains, her husband enjoy spending time in their 200-year-old one room log cabin in the deep woods of middle Tennessee where four generations of her family settled. Her interest in urban design was fostered at University of Virginia when she went back in her 40’s to get a Masters in Landscape Architecture. She worked with New Urbanist designers on projects throughout the country designing gardens - both public and private, streetscapes and planting design, always emphasizing native plants. She retired in 2018 from Dixon Garden and Gallery. Her previous work experience was at Lichterman Nature Center. She is past president of Memphis Horticultural Society, chairman of the 2018 Cultivate Wild Native Plant Conference sponsored by MHS, and recipient of the Horticultural Excellence Award 2012. She serves on the Board of the Tennessee Native Plant Society. Her most fun job was teaching 12- year-old scholars (all male) at Grizzlies Prep to garden - 4 days a week, on the third floor of the old Federal Reserve Building in Downtown Memphis. She added cooking, sewing, garden design, carpentry and etiquette to their curriculum as well! Suzy is a member of Ikebana, International Memphis Bamboo Chapter #44, Kennedy View Garden Club, and Interpreters’ Study Club. She is author of the book Native Plants of TN: A Book of Lists. She is 1st Vice President of Tennessee Garden Clubs. She is Jr. Warden of Church of the Good Shepard Episcopal on her same block in VECA She is an honorary member of Master Gardeners She is a charter member of Wild Ones Midsouth Chapter and serves as Vice President.