Afton Villa Garden Tour–Part I

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Hello, everyone!  Today I’m sharing a fabulous garden tour!  I have lived in this area all my life and a couple of years ago, the husband and I went to the gardens and I was hooked!  I’ve been back every year!  First let me show you what it looked like before…..

 

This photo came from an old book called Ghosts along the Mississippi by Clarence John Laughlin. He was also the photographer. 

 

The history of Afton Villa is entwined with that of the Barrows, one of the richest and most prominent families in antebellum Louisiana. Bartholomew Barrow purchased the land in 1820 from his brother William, and in 1839 he sold it to his son, David. David would eventually carve out a thriving plantation empire of some 2,000 to 3,000 acres, which would make him, according to the 1860 census, the wealthiest planter in West Feliciana Parish. Originally there was a two story home that I was unable to find any pictures of, if any exist.  After the death of his first wife, David married Susan A. Woolfok. Susan wanted a larger and more glamorous home but David did not want to tear down the original home.  He told Susan that she could build another home but the original had to remain intact.  In 1849, work on Afton Villa began.  It was built around the existing small house to create an imposing Gothic Revival villa of some 40 rooms.  It took 8 years to build, as well as the the gardens that covered 25 acres. David Barrow died in 1874 and his wife continued to live at Afton Villa until 1876, when she sold the estate. The house was struck by lightening and destroyed by fire in 1963.

 

Photo from AftonVilla.com  Click on the pic to go to the site where there is also a virtual tour.

 

This is the front view of the gardens today as it faces the driveway.

 

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Instead of the house, you would see the statues lined up down the front.  The driveway is still in the same location.  As you come up the steps….

 

 

you can see piles of bricks and concrete.  Flowers and ground cover have been tucked in open spots.  I was so struck by the textures!  It’s funny how a pile of bricks can make such an impression!  As you walk straight, as if you were going through the front door…

 

 

there is a circular terraced area that is surrounded by overflowing flower beds and shaded by trees draped in Spanish moss.  This is the view from the back.

 

 

 

In the background, behind the butterfly chairs, you can see the ruins of the old kitchen area.

 

 

As you exit the terraced area, to the left is a set of stairs that leads down to the kitchen area, at least I think I remember being told that by a guide on one of my previous trips.

 

 

This MIGHT be my favorite area!

 

 

It is just so beautiful!  Every area is accented with plants.

 

 

This is looking up from the kitchen area to a set of steps that were outside the home leading to the upper floor.

 

 

Even the cracks in concrete have plants tucked it!  And don’t you just love this massive concrete table!

 

 

This is the wall kitchen wall from another angle.  Since this is the back of the house, I’ll share a picture that was taken in 1938 of that area.

 

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It looks different from the front.  Well there were different materials used.  The back appears to be all wood and the front is stucco and cypress.

 

Since I don’t want to overload your brain with too many pics, I’ll finish the tour on Friday.  Thanks for much for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed Part 1 of the Afton Villa tour!

 

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