I have been to New Orleans a few times. The food, the drinks, the music and the art -- it is all fabulous, but I admit to a strong urge to peek behind fences and through gates to glimpse the gardens.
So, imagine my excitement when I learned of a New Orleans-inspired garden just a few miles away. Thanks for the tip, Steve. I quickly reached out and asked if I could come visit.
This corner lot is one I have slowly driven by several times, but this time I wasn’t peeking over the gate; I was walking through it.
Before reaching the gate, visitors are met with a variety of blooming plants.
A brick pathway leads guests through the front garden. Baptista bushes edge the garden. I missed the pink blooms, but they are heavy with seeds. Hyacinth Bean Vines climb wire trellises framing the front windows and prove the perfect backdrop for a generous display of black-eyed Susans and hydrangea.
The zinnias were planted by grandchildren and add the perfect touch of bright color.
A baby grand piano was the catalyst for a remodel that centered the front door and created a hidden front porch perfect for bridge or cozy conversations. Inside Dan and Kathy Foster’s house is colorful, friendly, and warm -- just as you would expect.
It’s the glass door off the family area that I'm eager to pass through, as it leads to the courtyard. This is where you realize the Fosters have New Orleans roots, meeting and marrying there years ago. The space is very comfortable for entertaining their family and friends. I believe it has hosted several groups and even a wedding reception.
Of course, this southern garden has a fountain that holds court in the front corner. The garden walls are built of stone that complements the red brick floor. Ferns and caladiums anchor the space.
The middle seating area is centered around a fire pit, a favorite gathering spot when the family visits. I once took a ghost tour in New Orleans and think of the city as haunted with mischievous spirits. Maybe, like in America’s most-haunted city, this firepit beckons the telling of ghost stories late into the night.
Closer to the kitchen is the dinner spot. From here you see the towering magnolia tree full of buds. Oak leaf hydrangea adds color and interesting foliage. Containers of caladiums continue throughout the space. Dahlias and marigolds bring color. Basil and other herbs are growing here for a quick snip and harvest while cooking. An added bonus is the aroma of the herbs as you enjoy this seating area.
It wouldn’t be a tropical garden with a banana tree. A very big banana tree. This plant’s broad leaves provide a bit of shade for an equally large split leaf philodendron. They are gorgeous! Both are in containers and moved inside before frost. Moving these plants must take an army and a bit of rearranging inside.
Following the ferns and both black and green liriope, I’m led to a gate surrounded by a delicate, purple clematis climbing up a lattice. So pretty. Bird feeders are sprinkled through the walkway where they can be easily seen from inside.
What originally started as a birthday gift and a single plant are now many hibiscus that fill the side garden with huge, deep-red blooms. Show stoppers on their own, but also right at home among the anemones, azaleas, camelias, and coneflower that are shared with a neighbor. The dwarf crepe myrtle adds height among the ferns and greenery.
Over the 20-plus years Dan and Kathy have cultivated this garden, there has been many gifts of metal art which now are showcased in various spots of the garden. They add a touch of whimsy, art, and memories to the space.
As they say in New Orleans, “Laissez les bons temps rouler" (Let the good times roll) is the feeling of this cultivated, yet welcoming garden. The lush greenery, the consistency of the caladiums, and the surprise of color -- this tropically inspired garden and courtyard are the perfect addition to the West Virginia hills.
