Genevive Trimble cherishes the memory of her first visit to Afton Villa. "Driving down the half-mile, serpentine avenue with its mysterious drapery of live oaks, rounding a turn suddenly to see the monumental Gothic villa ahead, like a fairy tale castle with its many turrets and towers rising amidst old gardens - all of this impressed me as being one of the most romantic places I had ever seen."

The magnificent chateau that enthralled Trimble was built by Susan Woolfolk Barrow in the 1850s and lovingly restored to its original splendor by Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Percy a hundred years later. Then, in 1963, it was tragically destroyed by fire.

Even though the opulent mansion no longer graces the 250-acre estate, a romantic ambience endures at Afton Villa Gardens. And, by a remarkable twist of fate, it is preserved and enhanced by Trimble and her husband, Morrell.

The Trimbles bought Afton Villa in 1972 when the property was in a pitiful decline. Tangled vines and layers of debris smothered the once beautiful parterre and the park was littered with fallen limbs and tons of leaves. The new owners restored order and engaged Neil G. Oldenwald, a noted landscape architect, to direct the resurrection of Afton Villa Gardens.

Today, white-pillared gates on U.S. 61 north of St. Francisville frame the entrance to the centuries-old alley of live oaks. In the springtime, the sylvan cathedral formed by the entwining limbs of the trees is dappled with dogwood blossoms and embellished with azaleas of every hue, including the orange-red Pride of Afton that originated on the estate.

The roadside azaleas, and hundreds of others that ornament the park, were planted by Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Lewis, Afton Villa proprietors who rejuvenated the gardens between 1915 and 1945.

The Trimbles have left their imprint on Afton Villa Gardens by turning the charred remnants of the historic home into a captivating ruins garden. Heroic statues symbolic of hospitality, hunting and abundance -- earmarks of Afton Villa in its prime -- herald the entrance to this delightful centerpiece. Moss-laden trees shelter ivies, ferns and phlox twining around a brick and stucco framework. Together they form an inviting, outdoor room where wrought iron tables and chairs, complemented by pots of impatiens and other colorful flowers, entice you to linger awhile to enjoy the tranquil setting, and the mesmerizing view of the park. As you gaze out over the shimmering greenery, you see ducks and geese enjoying a pond where water splashes over a fountain. The call of a peacock displaying his feathery beauty for his mate draws your attention to the parterre next to the ruin gardens.

The oldest Pride of Afton azalea on the grounds grows in this terraced garden. It is outlined with cropped hedges that define beds of cool, white pansies coupled with radiant tulips in the spring. Tall salvias and sunny marigolds show off their brilliant colors in the fall. Graveled paths unite these annual beds and give way to a boxwood maze that has delighted young visitors for centuries.

Members of the Barrow family who once tripped laughingly through the hedge puzzle to find the graceful, girlish statue in the center are at rest in a small cemetery on the edge of the parterre.

Here, the graded terrace gives way to the sloping sides of a ravine that glows with thousands of golden daffodils every spring. They form a resplendent backdrop for four marble cherubs fingering instruments that only the contented spirits of Afton Villa can hear.

You will find Afton Villa Gardens on U.S. Highway 61, four miles north of St. Francisville. From Natchez, it is approximately one hour south; from Baton Rouge, approximately 45 minutes north. The hours are 9 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. daily, March 1st - July 1st and October 1st - December 1st. Call (504)635-6330, or write to P.O. Box 993, St. Francisville, LA 70775 for more information.

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Photo Credits:
Mary Fonseca

© 1999 Mary Fonseca. All rights reserved.