When I stopped by the hotel information desk to inquire directions to Longue Vue House and Gardens, I received a surprise. “I’m a New Orleans native,” she explained, “but I have never heard of it.” Directions were procured and we were on our way to a hidden gem located in the heart of the city. Due to closed roads and construction, we had a difficult time finding the correct road to take, but it was worth the frustration when we saw the gardens.
Longue Vue’s story begins and ends with the gardens. Wealthy businessman Edgar Stern moved his wife, Edith, to New Orleans after their marriage. Edith, an avid horticulturist, wanted beautiful gardens. When they began to design their gardens they realized they were not visible from the windows of their house. Instead of moving their gardens, they decided to rebuild their house, allowing the gardens to surround the house and be visible from every side. Construction began on Longue Vue in 1939 and was completed in 1942. The house was filled with gadgets and gizmos invented by Edgar and collections by Edith, making the home interesting in its own right, but Edith’s passion lay in her gardens.
I love wandering though gardens and have plans someday to design my own (on a much smaller scale) so I had no qualms about beginning my day snapping pictures in the Discovery Garden with the hot Louisiana sun beating down on me. These gardens are designed for children to explore and “get their hands dirty.” The motto, with the giant sculptures, kid sized hoes, rakes, and activity cards, seemed to be “please touch.” Visitors to the garden are encouraged to feel the plants and learn more about the surroundings. There were ten gardens to explore, but I found myself drawn to the lovely Spanish Court. The design is based on the 14th Century Generalife Gardens of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, these garden center around a beautiful fountain and pool. A loggia with cushioned chairs beckoned to me. “Sit down, Bryan,” I told my husband, “and we can pretend these gardens are ours.”
The Canal Garden, inspired by the Quinto do Cabo near Lisbon, Portugal, was designed at the same time the Spanish Court was being developed, between the years of 1954-1957. Seasonal containers of plants line the canal to accent the camellias, azaleas and loquat trees that surround the narrow canal.
I suggest visiting Longue Vue early in the day to be able to spend plenty of time exploring the gardens. While the house tour may not be suitable for younger children with short attention spans, the Discovery garden could easily keep them entertained for hours. Garden enthusiasts will be fascinated with the garden designs by Ellen Biddle Shipman, known as “the dean of American women landscape architects” and the beautiful designs. Inspired by our trip, I already making plans to recreate my own gardens, which has earned me several “looks” from my husband and eye rolls from the kids. Longue Vue is located at 7 Bamboo Road, New Orleans.
How beautiful and serene!
very interesting,,been to NO but haven’t had the pleasure of going to this place yet
This place is really something very pretty but gotta say i’d be a little scared that at night looks a little/lot haunted.
This looks absolutely beautiful! I would love to visit and see the pretty greenery! What a peaceful place!
I would love to go to #NOLA this looks like a great place to visit. I almost got to visit once, but didn’t and I have so regretted that until now!
This place sounds really neat. My mom is a big time gardener and would LOVE to take the kids to this place. I wish we lived closer.
Beautiful sights:) have always wanted to go to New Orleans. Never have made it yet. thanks for sharing
What a beautiful place to visit and what a huge garden they have in there! Would like to see it myself, too!
what a “view” 🙂
Wow, what a beautiful gem! Those gardens are stunning
I’m so pleased you discovered it and shared with us xx
That fountain is really cool! My boys love fountains, I can never get them away from them, haha!
Oh my goodness – this place is just absolutely beautiful!!
Wow what a beautiful villa.
gorgeous. i want to go too. or live there. the fountains in front look like a movie scene!
Look how beautiful! All of these posts about New Orleans is making me want to move up my travel plans.
This looks like such a delightful place to escape for a day! Wouldn’t it be nice to have the luxury of rebuilding your house to fit the garden?
Can I live there? Wowzers, that’s a massive place such pretty land. See that’s all I see, the landscaping haha . I’m a land lover first house second 🙂
That’s a beautiful place. Love the water fountain, and I would love to just relax here with a good book. Thanks for sharing.
The brick work, especially around the fountains is beautiful.
Wow another beautiful place in New Orleans. I have learned so much about the different attractions from you blog. I haven’t considered every going there on vacation until I followed your blog. You have certainly inspired me to go there. I love all the gardens, they are so beautiful and look so relaxing.
This looks like such a beautiful place. The architecture and details from the past have been carefully preserved and it really brings you back in time.
Those gardens are so lovely. I could easily spend a whole day there.
I love all the water features. They’re so pretty. What a beautiful landscape. I bet the inside of the house is just as amazing.
Very beautiful. What a lovely place to have a wedding or party too. I wonder if they do that?
What a very beautiful place to visit! I wonder if the native decided to go check it out. 🙂
Oh my goodness, gardening is my passion as well! I would so love to see these old gardens. I have never been to the South, I can only imagine what beautiful gardens are there to explore!
wow i am in love with these sights
Beautiful! I would love to pop in if I was nearby I have to say! x
So beautiful! I would love to visit there-I love big old homes.
OMG fabulous!!!!
What a gorgeous place – so so beautiful! I would LOVE to stay there, it looks like something out of a movie!
What a beautiful and priceless place! The fountains, the greenery, everything is ah-mazing!
The Longue Vue House is gorgeous. I could get lost in the beautiful gardens. Lucky you to get to visit such a beautiful place. 🙂
Oh wow. I love these amazing places built by a man’s love for a woman. It’s almost Taj Majal-esque. It’s so beautiful! Those gardens are FANTASTIC!
I love this and so often kids get bored touring things that interest adults but to have gardens designed for children to explore and “get their hands dirty is a great way to keep everyone happy.
Jealous! What a beautiful place. I can tell you, I’d love to sit in the gardens all day. So restful and relaxing. Simply gorgeous.
How breathtaking! That place is just gorgeous!! I love that fountain.
Wow… beautiful sights! The green is so green!