Secret Gardens of the Vieux Carré Tour
About the Event
We hope you enjoy your self-guided tour through these magnificent gardens and enjoy conversations with the homeowners.
This event is one of our major fundraisers for Caroling in Jackson Square which is scheduled for December 19, 2021, at 7:00pm. Please join us for our French Quarter Holiday Home Tour, December 19th, prior to Caroling. Watch for our social media announcements for the online ticket sale event. Thank you for your support and we hope to see you again soon!
Learn about the gardens on this year's tour
In the rear of the property, there is a one-story Maisonette (built in 1835). The townhouse was built in 1849 based on a building contract replacing an earlier cottage. The physical layout of garden rooms and patio areas was designed by a previous long-time owner, Fred LeBlanc, who owned the property from 1938 until 1982. There are actually four (4) separate garden rooms which include a raise patio area, ponds and fountains and a circular brick bench. Some of the plantings which date to the ownership by Mr. LeBlanc include large rice paper plants, a very large variegated pittaspora and banana trees. Those plants were very traditional in French Quarter gardens.
The other plantings were added by the current owners. As you enter the patio from the alley gate, along the narrow brick bed are begonias, espaliered pyracanthea and jasmine vines. As you enter the first garden room there, in the triangular garden bed, are some various plantings and potted plants such as a rare large leaf Ficus Bengal Audrey, Sago Palms, and red fire spikes. To the right of the first garden room is the raised pond and fountain surrounded by the brick semi-circle bench with a large Rutledge Minnox Camelia, bromeliads, ferns and potted walking irises. As you proceed down the brick path (the second garden room) to the Garconniere and the Maisonnette, you can view a large assortment and variety of crotons, potted shrimp plants, potted butterfly bush and other flowering plants. In the raised bed (the third garden room) with a pea gravel path are banana trees, a palm tree, an olive tree, a large bay leaf tree, variegated ginger and other plantings. You will note hanging from the bay leaf tree and the variegated pittaspora are assorted varieties of orchids, other hanging plants and herbs.
Many of the small trees in large containers include citrus trees (Key Lime, Persian Lime, Kumquat, Variegated Lemon, Lisbon Lemon and Blood Orange), grapefruit and fig trees. Some rare trees in the garden include potted olive trees and potted orchid trees. The rear garden (the fourth garden room) a white scented garden with such plants as Star Jasmine, Gardenia, Fleur D’ Amour (Rose of India), Night Blooming Jasmine, Stephanotis, Night Blooming Cereus, Variegated Hostas along with potted herbs of various kinds. A new addition is a red Day Blooming Cereus (an interloper in an otherwise white scented flower garden).
The lot upon which this home stands was originally granted to Frenchman Francois Xavier in 1738. It was part of the 1722 Plan de la Nouvelle Orleans. It is unclear if a building existed prior to the current, circa 1840 pretty-in-pink Creole Cottage. While it was one of a pair of cottages, it is the third oldest house along the banquette on this block of Bourbon Street. One and 1Ž2 stories, it is constructed of masonry with four bays (two doors and two windows) and the typical four room layout with cabinets in the back. A kitchen and bathroom were added removing the cabinets. Batten shutters covered the bays until replaced by louvered shutters providing privacy but allowing for a breeze through the cottage. The steep pitched roof was designed to provide protection from sun and rain with its overhang in the front and the back. The courtyard with a cane kettle (fiberglass though not wrought iron) water fountain is surrounded by a lush garden including a loquat tree, avocado tree, staghorn ferns and annuals and perennials, which is perfect for neighborhood gatherings. Today this Creole Cottage is home to Mac and Susan Magee.
The Victorian cottage features a large front porch perfect for rocking chairs to sit and enjoy the day greeting neighbors and tourists walking on Bourbon St. The front courtyard has a lion head water fountain and a sugar kettle fountain and a gnome to watch over the garden. The rear courtyard is perfect for entertaining and the focal point is the beautiful one of a kind mermaid water fountain. Lions adorn the upper privacy wall and various plantings and works of art adorn the walls.
The second phase added the side sitting wall beds, screen for the air units and the broken concrete on the sides and in the front was replaced with the same brick pattern as the back. The brick is primarily New Orleans hard tan reclaimed brick with some other bricks here and there for interest. The plants in the courtyard are intended to display color throughout the year and the citrus is newly planted last year. The tall trees in the back are Carolina Cherry Laurels and there are newly planted Japanese Magnolias in the protruding front beds that seem to be blooming here and there all year. Other plants include Ruby Red, Blood Orange, Sunburst Tangerine and Washing Navel Oranges. There are azaleas, camellias, sasanquas, gardenias, and in the back corners are the Mojito Elephant ears. The trees in the middle large pots are Orchid Trees and make blooms that resemble orchids in the winter and early spring. The courtyard was the feature home and was highlighted in several online publications.
The courtyard fountain is surrounded by a large collection of plants, including holly ferns, redbud, brake ferns and the colorful plumeria, Ixora, Ardisia, African iris, paper palm and night-blooming cereus. Be sure to notice the staghorn ferns, sweet olives, Savannah holly and chocolate plants. Sweet olive trees have been found in New Orleans courtyards since 1859. Of ver special note is the slipper orchid in the patio. The owner brought it from Haiti while on a Caribbean cruise over 50 years ago and it is still blooming!
The current homeowners enjoy maintaining the integrity of this historic property so it was quite fitting when designing the garden to include some of the historically favored plantings of the Quarter with a sweet olive, night blooming star jasmine, hydrangeas, hibiscus, begonias, canna lily, fuchsia four o’clocks and the star of the raised bed, the brugmansia (Angel trumpet.) And in typical star fashion, she has impeccable timing, and is now blooming for your viewing pleasure! Be sure to get up close and personal and enjoy her lovely fragrance.
These highly aromatic flowers/trees were commonly planted in the original courtyards so the owners would be able to enjoy the outdoors as a respite from the not so pleasant streets of the Quarter. Not only were the plants beautiful, but they were used to mask the not so pleasant odors of the French Quarter streets, which during the era when these homes were built, were basically dirt roads and when wet , (if you have been here for at least a few days, you are very familiar with our downpours) leaving the roads to become a muddy and smelly mess. Then add the carriages led by horses and donkeys as their mode of transportation, a few cows, chickens, dogs, rodents, and cats wandering the streets leaving behind, well you get the idea. But you have to admit, they were extremely clever in designing the homes and courtyards in such a way to have their own little piece of aromatic heaven tucked behind the beautiful facades .
This courtyard happens to feature a few nontraditional plantings as well, specifically the Tibouchina heteromalla (Silver leafed princess flower.) This plant has a very interesting leaf texture and usually begins blooming in July with clusters of petite deep purple flowers and they typically will last through the fall.
The unique antique water fountain has just enough water trickling down the tiered levels to help you relax while sitting and enjoying the peacefulness of the courtyard while being just a few steps away from the notorious Bourbon Street.
This home’s courtyard also features the historically fragrant flowers of the French Quarter such as azalea, sasquana, the popular camilla and lemon trees. The main fountain and smaller perimeter fountains are highlights of this home’s beautiful garden.
A great way to learn more about this magnificent home, which just underwent a major historical renovation, would be to take a personal guided tour Monday to Saturday 10AM-3PM. We highly recommend!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The tours on Saturday and Sunday are completely different and we absolutely recommend buying tickets for both days to see a wide mix of courtyards throughout the French Quarter.
No, this is a self-guided tour. When you pickup your tickets, you will be given a map to all the courtyards that you can visit in any order you like and at your leisure.
Yes, we will have Sunday’s tickets available for pickup on Saturday from 11:00 until 3:00 and Sunday from 11:00 until 3:00 at 533 St. Ann Street. Please note that tickets cannot be picked up at any other time.
Yes, although we cannot guarantee that tickets will still be available. We only sell a limited amount of tickets to minimize human impact in the courtyards. Buying tickets online guarantees access. Online ticket sales will end on Friday October 12 at 10:00 PM. In-person ticket purchases can be made at Creole Delicacies, 533 St. Ann Street (at Jackson Square) (cash, check, or credit), and at French Quarter Gem & Lapidary, 527 St. Philip Street (near Decatur).
None at all. Children are welcome to attend and those age 12 and under are admitted at no cost. Please be aware that strollers may be difficult to maneuver in some courtyards due to space limitations.
There are several parking options for the French Quarter, including street parking, pay lots, and various shuttle services.http://www.frenchquarter.com/parking-russian-roulette/
Please feel free to email us at admin@patioplanters.net with any questions.
No. We will have your name and number of tickets at the ticket pickup location (Creole Delicacies in Jackson Square, 533 St. Ann Street, New Orleans, LA 70116). Once we verify your name, we give you the appropriate ticket(s) and a map to the courtyards.
Full refunds are available up to three days prior to the event. The self-guided tour will take place rain or shine.
Restrooms will be available at one of the tour locations each day.
We are sorry but only courtyards will be available during this tour. Join us in December for our Holiday Homes Tour that will encompass home tours.
Feel free to email us at admin@patioplanters.net with any questions.