The Oak Alley Plantation is just across the levee for the Mississippi River. I hopped the plantation fence at the end of the Oak Alley and climbed up the levee to be rewarded with a view of the American Queen Riverboat making its way up the river. Maybe someday I will try a riverboat trip on the Mississippi.
Yes, sugarcane is still a popular crop grown in Vacherie, Louisiana. A drive along the Mississippi River provides a view of multiple fields and the machinery that goes along with the harvesting process.
There is a tour of the Big House at Oak Alley Plantation that is extremely informative. All of the tour guides dress up in costumes from the time that the plantation was in operation. The original owners were Jacques and Celina Roman, and they obtained the property and built the house in 1836 with the intention to profit off of the sugarcane crop. They used slaves for labor and relied on the Mississippi River for transporting the crops and cane sugar to market.
The Big House at Oak Alley Plantation is surrounded by columns, patios and balconies. The breezes are wonderful and the views are outstanding. The columns even serve as a lizard play area so they can check out the odd tourists.
I went to visit the Oak Alley Plantation, about an hour outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There is a ton of history here, but you mostly visit for the oak trees. From the brochure, “The Alley of Oaks is a quarter mile alley of 300 year old Virginia Live Oaks. Sometime in the early 1700’s an unknown settler planted an alley of 28 oaks in two equal rows spaced 80 feet apart leading to the river.” Trust me, they are super spectacular.
As you can tell, the Bayou Bend Gardens are full of wonder. My camera was packed with photos when I finally left and continued my drive to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The interior of Ima Hoggs’ house is also beautiful.
I guess it is not cool to zoom around the gardens and try to jump the fountains?
As you tour the Bayou Bend Gardens, you get a 360 view of the house of Ima Hogg and her brothers. If you are like me, you will soon fall in love with her back patio and its sweeping views of the gardens. In 1957, she deeded her estate and its collection to the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.
The Carla Garden was one of my favorites today at the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. There was something new everywhere you looked, and I could just imagine spending an afternoon there with tea and a good book to read.
earthrobert 