Although concrete, broken brick, and abandoned buildings proliferate in just about any city (Knoxville, too!), springtime brings out the best in this East Tennesse (formerly scruffy) city.  Early morning walks rewarded me with glimpses of PRETTY at its best — right here — Downtown!

Pink, white, green — it’s Dogwood Time in Tennessee!

Although the Dogwoods came and went prior to our visit, Mother Nature is still lavishing broad strokes of beauty in pockets all over the city.  PRETTY is everywhere  –from Blount Mansion to Old City.

First stop, early morning: The office of Mack Gentry on the 23rd floor of Riverview Towers for a panorama of the city guided by the friendliest lady a front desk could have — Donna.

Coming together to form the Tennessee River

Seeing the green of the Howard F. Baker, Jr., U. S. Courthouse!

The spire of First Baptist Church in a cityscape foreground

 Just at the edge of downtown stands Blount Mansion, Knoxville’s only national historic structure. A quiet, mostly structured garden sits at the far edge of the property — boxwoods framing perennials, garden spire for height.  Brick pathways lined with lenten roses and shoulder-high boxwoods wind from the kitchen patio to the fence separating the property from Fort Loudon Lake.  The Knoxville Garden Club maintains this quiet garden with the goal of preserving the look and feel of the past.

 St. John’s Cathedral offers not only climbing trumpet vines, verdant shrubs, and azaleas but also a labyrinth in the courtyard

All around town, spring shows her colors!

An iron fence forms the backdrop for the last show of azaleas.

Flowerboxes at the Jig & Reel in the Old City

A full burst of hostas near O. P. Jenkins Furniture Store

Well-landscaped hillside at the base of the TVA Towers

Spritely purple pansies on Gay Street

Angel wing begonias in a sidewalk container

Just planted by the City Horticulture Department: summer annuals!

A stately glimpse of Krutch Park

Elegant mixed pot of flowers at Kendrick Place

It doesn’t take long to see that Knoxville does PRETTY, especially at Dogwood Time!