Stunning Tennessee scenery

Some of the most impressive elements of Frances' garden, however, don't have roots at all. She peppers her property with garden decorations and large sculptures. One of her favorites is a kinetic sculpture called "Giovanni" by artist Evan Lewis of Chicago. The artwork adds another dimension to the natural landscaping.

"It's just like a sculpture garden," Frances says.

Not content with leaving the artwork to the professionals, the homeowner decided to try her hand at making her own. She created her own whimsical sculpture -- a giant mosquito -- from found objects such as old door springs and an aluminum pipe. Her children get a chuckle out of the 4-foot sculpture when they see it, she says.

"They always laugh and say I needed to make a big arm to come down like it's swatting the mosquito," she says.

Nature also does its part to add more permanent beauty to the home. The property boasts sandstone formations, whose weathered appearance helps inspire Frances' garden design. The bluffs on her land not only give way to the spectacular view, but also possess aesthetic value of their own.

Protecting a natural treasure

It's no wonder that Frances wants to protect the land that inspires her for future generations. Frances says that development has been occurring on property near hers, making her more appreciative of the river habitat. "I wanted to try to preserve this property," she says. "I'd hate to see mansions put on it."

That's why she joined the board of directors for the Tennessee River Gorge trust, a group that is trying to keep the area around the river free of development. The gorge includes 27,000 acres along 26 miles of the Tennessee River.

"They're preserving the natural flora and fauna, plus the views," Frances says.

The land that the group is trying to preserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife. On her property, Frances sees much of the wildlife that calls the area home, including deer, fox, and possum.

One way that the group protects the land - and wildlife - is by securing conservation easements. Conservation easements are legally binding agreements that restrict development on pieces of land. The easements are permanent, which means that future owners must also protect the property. The group also purchases some of the land outright, using funds from donations.

So far, the group has helped protect more than 16,000 acres.

Although she credits her mother and grandmother for her love of plants, Frances says the land she loves provided the inspiration to make her acreage a home. "My ideas just come from the landscape and these beautiful views," she says. "That inspires me."