James Fox-Smith
The St. Francisville Beautiful watering truck, which residents and visitors might see ambling around town to ensure the hanging baskets are always well watered and thriving. Pictured from left to right are St. Francisville Mayor Robert "Bobee" Leake, Tyrone "Popeye" Davis, and Mike Snowden.
“There’s a psychology to flowers,” said David Parker, a floral designer in St. Francisville and owner of Stems Boutique Florist on Commerce Street. “Just seeing flowers, it has been established, can reduce stress and bring joy.”
It’s a philosophy that inspires Parker’s work as a florist, but also his vision for his community. As Chairman of the nonprofit organization St. Francisville Beautiful, Parker joins a cadre of other invested St. Francisville residents and business owners in the project of adorning the charmed, historic town with a “supergarden”.
The concept originally came from Mayor Robert “Bobee” Leake back in 2021. At the time, St. Francisville was experiencing an uptick in tourism driven by the pandemic-era demand for travel experiences in less-crowded locales. “People were looking to experience something, but do it safely,” said Parker. St. Francisville’s distinct small-town character and historic intrigue—offering a small selection of boutique overnight accommodations, chef-driven restaurants, and high-end shopping—rose in profile overnight.
Leake approached Parker and four other business owners in hopes of forming a committee dedicated to polishing up the town’s public spaces—“bring some blooms into view, just add to our existing charm,” said Parker. The group started by hanging twenty baskets in the center of town. Since then, the project has expanded to include a dozen town flower beds, ten town planters, tree plantings, new town signage, and almost sixty hanging baskets. In 2023, they formalized the effort by forming the nonprofit.
[Read James Fox-Smith's story about the many new developments in St. Francisville, here.]
“It just kept growing and growing,” said Parker. “People wanted to be a part of it. And what we have now is really an organization that truly belongs to the community. The response has been wonderful because this is a community that really sees the value every single day—to the parish, to the tourists who visit, and of course to the residents.”
Ongoing projects such as bi-annual basket plantings, regular upkeep of beds, and tree plantings demonstrate the collective aspirations of the organization—drawing out volunteers and supporters from all corners of town. The local garden club regularly lends a hand, as do youth organizations such as the West Feliciana Junior High Beta Club, who recently assisted in replanting beds damaged by the recent January freeze. The Baton Rouge landscaping company EdgeForm has donated materials, and local business-owners such as Don and Susan Charlet of the Corbel have stepped up as community partners, assisting in funding various landscaping projects. “The town itself is a partner,” emphasized Parker. “All of these people come together to make it happen.”
“People wanted to be a part of it. And what we have now is really an organization that truly belongs to the community. The response has been wonderful because this is a community that really sees the value every single day—to the parish, to the tourists who visit, and of course to the residents.” —David Parker
The stunning result showcases the impact something as simple as flowers and greenery can bring to public spaces, emphasizing the town’s existing beauty. “As you go through town, exploring its history and architecture, you’ll have the high visuals of the hanging baskets, the historic canopy of the live oak trees, our town beds on the ground level,” said Parker. “Even if you’re just skirting on the edge of town, we’ve got wildflower gardens planted along the highway. We’re really trying to create this garden throughout town, with all of these different visual levels.” The goal, Parker added, is to continue expanding: more flowers, all around town.
In a town recognized nationwide for its historic gardens and ancient oaks; and regionally for its volunteerism and tight-knit community—such a collective project as beautification through gardening couldn’t make more sense. “This is the perfect community merger,” said Parker. “And we’re just getting started.”
