Southern Living

WHAT WE’RE LOVING, SHARING, AND CELEBRATING DIXON GALLERY & Gardens is small but mighty. It may not be the state’s largest botanical garden, but the cultural spot in the heart of Memphis delivers well beyond its mere 17 acres. It is home to not only hundreds of unique plants—native azaleas, tulips, woodland wildflowers, heirloom roses, daffodils, and trilliums—but also a permanent art collection with works by Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, and more. “The synergy between the gardens and the museum is where we shine,” explains director of horticulture Dale Skaggs, who has worked there since 2007. “The Dixon is small by public-garden standards, and the museum and collections are not large either, but when you put the two together, it’s really special.” The land was originally home to…

CHRISTINA BROCKMAN’S fondness for Easter may very well be genetic. “My grandmother Caroline loves it so much, and I think that rubbed off on me,” says the Birmingham creative, recounting family occasions punctuated by brightly wrapped Russell Stover chocolates. Now that she holds her own annual brunch—a tradition that began after the arrival of her first daughter (she now has two)—Brockman pulls from her grandmother’s entertaining playbook, setting the table with handmade sugar eggs and stirring together her trusty punch—a retro refresher that helped spark this scene’s citrusy palette. Here’s how the self-proclaimed “more is more” host marks the happy morning. Bring the Good Stuff Outside While it may be tempting to stick to melamine or paper plates for dining on the patio, you won’t find those gracing this table, which she…

COME APRIL, everyone’s eyes are on Augusta for the Masters, the esteemed golf tournament shrouded in lore and tradition that’s been played there since 1934. But few people peel back the layers to see the city beyond its brilliant azaleas and pristine course. In between the mesmerizing green—from those iconic jackets to the well-groomed links—Georgia’s second-biggest and second-oldest city has much more to offer. Authentic Augusta Experiences is a new series of curated happenings that give you the chance to do everything from becoming a bartender for a day to learning about the legendary Black caddies who shaped Augusta National’s golf legacy. With a growing downtown, a scenic river walk, and lots of energy, there’s never been a better time to visit the area. Admire the Azaleas at Pendleton King Park It…

Brown Sugar Shortcakes with Roasted Rhubarb ACTIVE 15 MIN. - TOTAL 35 MIN. - SERVES 4 Preheat oven to 450°F. Whisk together ¾ cup heavy whipping cream, 2 Tbsp. light brown sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla paste or extract, and 2 tsp. grated lemon zest in a medium bowl until smooth. Stir in 1 ¼ cups self-rising flour just until a shaggy dough forms. Use a ¼-cup measuring cup to scoop dough into 4 rounds; place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Lightly brush tops with additional heavy whipping cream. Bake until lightly golden, 10 to 12 minutes; let cool 10 minutes. Whisk ¾ cup heavy whipping cream, 3 Tbsp. light brown sugar, and 2 tsp. vanilla paste or extract in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Slice shortcakes in half crosswise. Spoon…

IN THE SOUTH, we use the term “salad” quite liberally. If you’ve never attended a potluck with folding tables laden with cut-crystal platters bearing mysterious fruit-studded fluffs or shiny, gelatin-set “delights,” I can see how these concoctions might cause you to raise an eyebrow. But as a Southerner, I know to expect far more than lettuce when salad is on the menu. Of all the traditional dishes from the luncheons, get-togethers, and picnics of my childhood, there’s one that reigns supreme. The recipe is simple: Open a can of pear halves (there’s no place for fresh here), set them on your serving piece of choice (in my family, this means a deviled egg plate), dollop each with a hefty glob of mayonnaise (don’t be shy!), and top with a generous sprinkle…

BEAUTIFUL SPACES FOR A BETTER LIFE THE NAPIERS are no strangers to tackling a project, but the greenhouse and garden Ben built for his wife, Erin, and their young daughters, Helen and Mae, was especially personal. “We both want our kids to grow up with a love of gardening,” he says. “We want them to know how to do all the stuff our parents and the generations before them did. It was a big part of growing up and feels like something that has been lost in the last couple of decades.” The inspiration for the structure (which was revealed as a Mother’s Day surprise on the Napiers’ HGTV show Home Town last spring) first struck when the couple renovated the property’s barn a few years ago. “We had to replace the…