Don’t Miss the Bus!
~Hilltop Spring Garden Trip~
"Naturally Natchitoches"
April 3-5, 2009
Spring is springing and it’s time for Friends of Hilltop Arboretum to get on the road. Another fun-filled bus trip is planned for April 3-5, 2009 to Cane River country. Reserve a seat by calling 767-6916.
Experience all the beauty of Louisiana native plants at Caroline Dormon’s Briarwood and the Dormon-inspired spring gardens of Natchitoches homes and become familiar with the richness of Creole culture along the Cane River.
Join the group at Hilltop Arboretum, 11855 Highland Road, Friday morning at 7AM April 3, for café-au-lait. The bus will depart promptly at 7:30 AM. Trip participants will get in a mellow Creole mood with snacks inspired by Clementine Hunter’s recipes. After touring Melrose Plantation and viewing the original Clementine Hunter murals, former mayor and local historian, Bobby DeBlieux, will board the bus and give an intimate history of the Cane River plantations and Natchitoches town life as we drive along the Cane River Heritage Trail. Local attorney and author, Payne Williams, will lead a tour of the American Cemetery and its resident characters that evening.
Saturday the group will visit five private gardens including one along the Cane River that has been featured in national publications including Garden Design and Southern Accents. Others include features of a dry creek bed, a Louisiana iris bog garden, native azaleas, Colonial Dutch and Bungalow cottage gardens and old New Orleans-style brick-walled courtyards. There will be time for antique and plant shopping, good food, Happy Hour and even a Jazz and Blues Festival on the riverfront.
Sunday morning the bus travels to the Briarwood Nature Preserve to see one of the broadest collections of Louisiana native plants available anywhere in the state and, according to Marion Drummond, one of the loveliest spots on earth. Jessie and Richard Johnson, curators and protégés of Miss Dormon, will conduct a private tour for our group followed by lunch and a presentation by Dr. Charles Allen on edible wild plants of the Gulf South.
The trip fee includes transportation, hotel, entry fees, honorariums and all meals but two and a tax-deductible donation to the arboretum. Trip cost for current members of Hilltop is $350 per person (double occupancy)/$415 (single occupancy). Non-members should add $35 which includes a 1-year family membership to Hilltop and discounts on future programs. Make your reservation with a 50% deposit space is limited. Final payment is due March 15th.
Be sure you are on our e-mail list for further information: e-mail hilltop@tigers.lsu.edu or give Paula a call at Hilltop (767-6916). As always, it promises to be a trip not-to-be-missed! |