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ABOUT CONNIE

Garden Travel Experiences was created to inspire people to discover public gardens and open spaces in their travels – and in their hometowns.


As a home gardener, landscape designer, Lifelong Master Gardener, a garden writer published over 800 times, and years on staff for both a city parks department and a state botanical garden, Connie Cottingham provides insight into each garden’s personality and offers ideas to bring home to your garden. Connie has gardened for two decades in Athens, GA, and returned to her roots in NW Arkansas in Summer 2022.

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Latest Garden & Travel Posts

A green vase filled with flowers is sitting on a table.
By Connie Cottingham May 22, 2025
Note: This post was originally written as a Love Note from the Garden. Sign up for these free, weekly emails at the bottom of this page.
A row of cherokee purple tomato plants in pots
By Connie Cottingham March 28, 2025
It is late March in Northwest Arkansas, with temps in the 70s, sunny skies and spring fever hitting hard. Plants are in front of stores and garden centers are buzzing. Everyone wants to plant NOW. Although I have seen many peppers and tomato plants for sale, I would not buy one or plant it in March. As beautiful it is today, next week will have three mornings at 40 degrees or below. Yes, that is above freezing, but many tropical plants will die at higher temperatures. Tomatoes should be planted when evening temperatures reliably stay above 50 degrees. Studies say even if the tomato plant looks OK, growth can be stunted when planted before the soil warms up. Yes, it is hard to resist. Here are a few things to do instead. Watch for Blackberry Winter. It’s a thing – practically every year. When the blackberries bloom in early spring, a late cold snap or a frost hits. The average last frost date in Benton County, AR, is April 19 and my blackberries have not bloomed yet, so there is a good chance April will have some chilly nights. Be a rebel - buy the tomato anyway and plant it. You are not risking your children’s inheritance and getting your hands dirty is therapy, so if you want to do it, do it. The biggest commitment is the space in your garden, which could be producing greens and vegetables in April instead. Plant cooler season vegetables now and harvest those until you plant the tomatoes (and peppers) later. There are radish seeds that can be harvested in only 24 days, baby spinach that can be harvested in 28 days, and lettuce and spinach plants for sale, so you could get a crop in before planting your tomatoes. Win/win. I must admit, when spring fever hits hard I sometimes buy a six-pack of lettuce for instant gratification. Lettuce in greens, burgundies, and with speckles look so pretty in a freshly prepared garden bed. March is a good time to plant potatoes. onions, or fruit plants like strawberries and blueberries. There’s plenty of food crops you can be planting now. Are you upgrading your big pots on the front porch? Move the old containers to a sunny side yard and plant potatoes, strawberries, or herbs in them. Use this time to build raised planting beds and enrich your soil.
By Connie Cottingham March 24, 2025
Jackson, Mississippi
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My New Book!

Bentonville and Rogers, Arkansas, are seamlessly joined thriving communities with vibrant downtowns, an entrepreneurial spirit, a network of trails, and friendly people. Surrounding natural areas encourage a variety of outdoor recreation on trails, lakes, golf courses, a state park, and more.


Bentonville is known best as the location of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Mountain Bike Capital of the World, and the home offices of Walmart. It is also known for award-winning restaurants, innovative architecture, concerts, and festivals.


Join Connie Cottingham as she introduces you to an area where the past is honored, and the future is wholeheartedlyand energetically embraced.

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