Afton Villa Gardens–Part 2

 

Hello, everyone!  I hope everyone had a Happy Easter!  We did, until about 3 pm when the electricity went out!  It didn’t come back on until 10:30 that night!  A spring storm came though and a small tornado touched down in our little town but, thankfully, there are no injuries that I know of.  We didn’t have any damage but we do have friends that lost quite a few trees!

 

Let’s go back to Afton Villa, shall we?  If you missed Part I and would like to catch up, click here.  This next picture would be on the right side of the home where the turret was.

 

 

 

 

As I walked around the rear of the house and come up the left side, this is the view towards the front lawn so the ruins would be to the left. See all the Spanish moss blowing in the breeze?

 

 

As I stepped onto the brick sidewalk I turned to my right and shot this picture.

 

 

At the top of the lawn, after the hedges, there is a large lawn with a sidewalk leading to sitting area under the large oak trees.  This first time I visited, there were chairs set up in this area for a wedding that was scheduled later that day.  To the left, you can see some large shrubs and this is what is tucked in there.

 

 

The family cemetery!  Since there were workers cutting grass in this area, I just took this shot from the opening.  This area is totally enclosed by these large shrubs, which are a mixture of camellias, Indian hawthorn, and azaleas.

As you stroll down the walkway leaving the boxwoods, you will come to several little small areas accented with flowers and statues.  A big expanse of lawn will open up but to the left leading down a hill is a special treasure!

 

 

Unfortunately we had a few late frost so everything wasn’t blooming!  Usually, at this time of the year, the trees have white blooms on them and there are DOUBLE the amount of daffodils blooming! There is a rustic trail that takes you down the hill and across the bridge.

 

 

I believe there are 100,000 bulbs planted in the gardens and I think the majority of them are in this area.  After you walk down to the bridge, you area at the bottom of a hill, surrounded by hills of flowers on all sides!

 

 

No, I’m not laying down taking this picture!  I’m standing on the trail looking upward which is where the trail will lead.  You can see the pathway in this next picture.

 

 

Here’s a great picture of Hunter heading up the hill.

 

 

At the top of the hill, you can look across to a man made lake that is surrounded by ancient oak trees covered with Spanish moss.  The trail leads to this area which is a perfect place for a picnic!

 

 

As I head back towards the ruins, across the lawn, I see this sugar kettle to the left.  Sugar kettles are very common garden features.  You can see a post here, that I did last year.

 

 

I don’t know how many people they have keeping this spectacular garden looking so beautiful but I was told the head gardener has worked here for 41 years!  As you walk to the back of the property, you can see there work area.

 

 

This beautiful old barn is huge!  Instead of animals, it houses plants!  Now for one last shot that I couldn’t pass up….

 

 

The ruins are on the top of a slight rise.  Once again, the Spanish moss provides a perfect back drop for this shot!

 

I hope you enjoyed the tour and if you are ever in this area, you MUST go here!  You will not be disappointed!  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Spring Thing Linky Party @ Simply Klassic Home

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Working With What You Have @ Emily A Clark
Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

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!

 

Sharing with:

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Spring Thing Linky Party @ Simply Klassic Home

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Working With What You Have @ Emily A Clark
Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Winter Blues Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style