Courtesy of David Parker
The gardens at Rosedown in St. Francisville
“There’s nothing like spring in St. Francisville,” says David Parker, professional florist and chairman of St. Francisville Beautiful.
To celebrate the small town’s historic place as a pinnacle of Louisiana garden-making, Parker and the Feliciana Master Gardeners are expanding St. Francisville’s annual Spring Garden Tour event with a new partnership.
“When you’ve got beautiful homes, beautiful gardens, and you’ve got passionate groups [like St. Francisville Beautiful and the Master Gardeners], it’s kind of a win-win for the community,” said Parker.
[Read more about St. Francisville Beautiful in our March 2024 issue.]
The longstanding tradition will continue—opening the front doors and garden gates to some of the town’s most opulent homes and gardens. But this year, the celebration extends into the afternoon, where guests can take advantage of an exclusive plant sale, lectures from master gardeners on topics like “Year-Round Color in Your Garden,” and hands-on workshops. Parker himself will host a lesson in building bouquets “from the grocery store to your dining room table.”
“I want to show people how to easily bring flowers back into the home, which I think has become a dying art,” he said.
Courtesy of David Parker
And it all culminates in a grand, Bridgerton-style coursed feast at the newly renovated home of St. Francisville’s hosts-with-the-most, Brandon Branch and Jim Johnson—owners of the St. Francisville Inn.
“Brandon is known for his beautiful gardens and his décor,” said Parker. “This will be an open house, with a special garden tour leading up to the dinner,” which will be prepared by newly returned St. Francisville Inn chef, Michael Dardenne. “There will be candles, flowers, a quartet playing pop songs with the strings. It’s going to be a great party.”
“The town is really becoming a destination for good restaurants and shopping. But we don’t want to forget what put us on the map, our homes and gardens.”
—David Parker
Taking place on Mother’s Day weekend, the day-long event is also expanding its philanthropic reach—funding not one scholarship for West Feliciana High students this year, but three. “I think if we plant these seeds with them at a young age, that’s something they’ll carry on for a lifetime,” said Parker. Proceeds will also benefit local school gardens, the 4-H club, and beautification projects around town.
Courtesy of David Parker
Hanging flower baskets in St. Francisville, Louisiana
“We in St. Francisville love having people up in town,” said Parker. “The town is really becoming a destination for good restaurants and shopping. But we don’t want to forget what put us on the map, our homes and gardens.”
The St. Francisville Home & Garden Stroll will take place May 10. The open house & garden tour will take place from 8 am–1 pm ($40); lectures, workshops, and plant sale will take place from 1 pm–5 pm ($40); and the private dinner from 6 pm–9 pm ($250). Purchase your tickets at bontempstix.com.
