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Arkansas, Arkansas Govenor's Mansion, Arkansas Govenor's Mansion gardens, city space, community, first lady of Arkansas, intimate spaces, landscape design, P Allen Smith, P Allen Smith genius, quiet elegance, silk purse, The Original City Garden Home
Ever heard the expression, make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear?
During P Allen Smith’s G2B13 event this month, attendees were invited to stroll Allen’s original garden home gardens—his city home—a former derelict structure.
Allen purchased this “fixer-upper” for one dollar then relocated to its current location.
There are photos on Allen’s Facebook page showing this sad structure when it was slated for demolition. Indeed, only a person with broad vision could see its potential.
The following images convey the simple, yet quiet elegance created within this city space. Please enjoy.
Enjoy Allen’s design concept in his own words at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1surUk0qRWg
Not far away, another of Allen’s masterpieces awaited on a slightly larger scale—the Arkansas governor’s mansion gardens

The first lady of Arkansas welcomes G2B13 garden bloggers and sings praises of Allen’s contribution to the mansion’s grounds
Throughout this city tour, I was continuously reminded how Allen is a problem solver and an artist. Often these two abilities escape the same individual.
Whether the challenge is a modest residential city lot or a grand swath of landscape, Allen’s ability to perceive the entire project’s scope, deal with endless details, while transporting human scale and unending beauty, is inspiring if not downright genius.
Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
I’ve been transported! Wonderful memories of a splendid time together…..
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Chris, I do hope we are invited in 2015! I could then relax into the delightful time. 😉
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What a great blessing that would be. To sit and chat under the peaceful tranquilty of an old oak tree….
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Ahhhh doesn’t that sound most delightful!!
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Diane, I thought you should know that I return to enjoy this post of yours again and again (well and many others too… you have so many gems in here!). This is so well done, and it brings me right there! His raised gardens are really inspiring. And he seems like such a nice gentleman, and your post conveys that as well. So glad you got to meet him. Cheers, Gina
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Thank you Gina!
So glad that you enjoy this and other posts of mine! Blogging is a labor of love and hearing from my followers with kind comments makes it all the more sweet.
Allen is a dear soul who works very hard to get his message across to all. I get breathless just thinking about his weekly schedule, yet he truly adores his work.
You should try and go visit Moss Mountain sometime.
I was very lucky to be invited by him to share his world for two days, as apparently he is a fan of my writing…Diane
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I saw a house in the South — in NC that Id like to try and save. I admire him so very much as a gardener, but also how he did that house! Will retweet! He’s just fab…
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Lord, he is talented! Wish my yard looked like this!
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Wonderfully done! I feel like I am back there again! Your photos are amazing.
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