My Big Backyard

The Memphis Botanic Gardens are a lovely respite from city life & hold lots of happy memories for our family. Peter and I had our engagement pictures taken there, and our wedding reception was held in one of the banquet halls. The girls love to feed the greedy koi fish and run through the flowers and among the trees. We'd never really considered getting a membership, though, because there was nothing specifically for kids. That has changed with the opening of My Big Backyard. Local artists were commissioned to build themed playhouses (the biggest is a two-part gigantic treehouse/"birdhouse" connected by a swinging bridge), there's a wading creek and a rain storm simulation (sprinklers), musical instruments made out wood and recycled items, swings, slides, and gardens planted in/on furniture (bed frames planted with flowers instead of a bedspread, plants springing out of a clawfoot tub). The kids had a blast, Papa came along, and, on our way out, we bought a family membership!