Mary's Logo


Introduction Featured Garden About the Book About the Author


Louisiana: Gardens & Getaways




Butterfly


Please direct comments,
questions about the
website, or requests
for speaking engagements
to Mary Fonseca:

mryfon@cox.net






Houmas House Plantation and Gardens are located at 40136 Louisiana 942 near Burnside, Darrow, LA 70725-2302. They are open to the public by admission. Feb.-Oct., 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Nov.-Jan., 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. 1-888-323-8314 or 225-473-7841.

For updated information on Houmas House, visit www.houmashouse.com












FEATURED GARDEN
ARCHIVE

Houmas House Gardens

















by Mary Fonseca




Houmas House's beautiful grounds are shaded by centuries-old live oak trees

Statues portraying the four seasons highlight the plantation's front garden





Two dome-roofed garçonnières (separate
quarters for guests and/or sons
of Creole aristocrats) still stand
amid Houmas House's lush greenery




Dr. George B. Crozat, a New Orleans
orthodontist who owned Houmas House
for many years, rescued the home's
unkempt gardens in 1940. He
often nursed castoff plants back
to health and added them
to his garden beds.


Behind Houmas House, Dr. Crozat
created a boxwood parterre reminiscent
of one he enjoyed in Williamsburg,
Virginia

Brick walkways accented with pillars and urns add to the beauty and accessibility of the gardens





Dr. Crozat's heirs preserved the gardens at Houmas House with the same careful attention he gave them




They have embellished the lawn with a 180-foot wisteria arbor that is so in keeping with its surroundings that many visitors are surprised to learn that it is a recent addition to the grounds





Photo Credits:
Mary Fonseca


© 1999 Mary Fonseca. All rights reserved.