In Full Bloom

In Full Bloom

Join the 2026 St. Francisville Garden Stroll to wander historic gardens, learn from expert horticulturalists, and go home with something green

By Country Roads

On Saturday, May 9, gardening aficionados and novices alike will embark on a spirited tour to visit some of St. Francisville’s most inspired spaces. Co-hosted by the Feliciana Master Gardeners and St. Francisville Beautiful organizations, the 2026 St. Francisville Garden Stroll has assembled a showcase of spectacular local gardens, an inspiring program of educational workshops and lectures, and a curated plant sale that promises to be worth a visit all on its own. That’s not to mention a signature lunch prepared by Chef Michael Dardenne at the beloved St. Francisville Inn. It’s sure to be a day of beauty and wonder, sending strollers home with a head full of new ideas, and maybe a backset filled with flora, too.

“There’s such a great history of gardening in St. Francisville,” said LSU AgCenter Extension Agent Jessie Hoover, who will present a lecture on Southern cottage gardens during the event. “Think about Rosedown, for instance, where Martha Turnbull had one of the most prominent gardens in the whole country. I feel like that history has carried on through the town today. We just have so many citizens that take care of their landscapes and do a really good job with it.”

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site is one of the public gardens that will be featured on this year’s tour, alongside Audubon State Historic Site Gardens and Grace Episcopal Church & Cemetery. Ticketholders will have access to all these sites, plus four private gardens and one private home displaying a verdant collection of floral arrangements. All sites situated in or near St. Francisville’s highly walkable historic district.

“It’s very quaint, this small-town spirit,” said Hoover. “You’re not driving from one end of Baton Rouge to the other trying to view houses and gardens. It makes for a lovely morning, a great day trip.”

After tours conclude at noon, the Michelin-recommended Saint Francisville Inn will serve a specialty garden lunch for attendees, with afternoon lectures to follow in Grace Church’s Jackson Hall. After Hoover’s design talk, Rosedown Site Manager Trish Aleshire will discuss heirloom flowers, herbs, and vegetables found in 19th century Louisiana gardens. Guests will also be treated to a floral design workshop and discussion led by Jim DelPrince of Mississippi State University.

A Special Spring Plant Sale

During the St. Francisville Garden Stroll program, commercial and regional nurseries will set up stations at Parker Park, offering selections of ornamental plants suited to Southern gardens, and advice on planting and care. “Some of these places don’t usually make their plants available to the public,” said Hoover. “It’s something you don’t want to miss.”

Tickets and more information about this year’s St. Francisville Garden Stroll are at bontempstix.com.