The Old South Blooms: A visit to Rip Van Winkle gardens
Great, leaning oaks create a canopied tunnel of trees over the one mile road that winds from the main thoroughfare to the property grounds of Rip Van Winkle Gardens; flocks of wild geese soar through the sloping branches, dipping lithely into the ponds near the path. Inside the black iron gates of the property, 25 acres of lush gardens and sultry Louisiana breezes awaits. Meandering gravel paths lead through the colorful, interlocking gardens that surround the meticulously restored Joseph Jefferson mansion, the Bayless Conference Center, Café Jefferson, and other buildings on the grounds.
When Mike Richard bought the property in 2003, he brought the gardens back to life and set about to create a paradise that the public could enjoy. "I began working at Rip Van Winkle Gardens in 1969, and English gardener Geoffrey Wakefield was the landscape designer at the time. Many of the gardens were separated by walls of bamboo; it seemed like they were a series of small rooms in a big house," he says. "This may have worked well for the colder climates in Europe, but in this subtropical climate, it restricted air movement and obscured the view."
Richard revitalized the gardens that had been neglected in the past years under the previous private ownership, and he eliminated many of the bamboo walls that enclosed some garden areas. "I wanted to create larger vistas and allow the breeze to come in off of the water," he says. Jefferson Island, one of five such "islands" near the coast of southern Louisiana, is the home of Lake Peigneur, also known in the past as Lake Simonette. These islands are called such because they lie atop natural subterranean salt domes. "The salt dome that is under Jefferson Island goes 40,000 feet down into the surface of the earth. It is some of the purest salt in the world," Richard says.
Richard and his family run the Rip Van Winkle Gardens. The Bayless Conference Center is a popular site for weddings, fundraisers, and receptions, offering a magical atmosphere for those of all ages to enjoy. A bed and breakfast is open year round, and accommodations are available in several historic buildings throughout the property, including old servants quarters, the 1870s carriage house, the cook's cottage, and the Japanese tea house, which is surrounded by an oriental style garden.
Café Jefferson is a picturesque French style bistro on the grounds, offering lunch only. A grove of ancient live oaks surrounds the restaurant, creating the feeling of dining in an outdoor garden; guests also rave of the magnificent view of Lake Peigneur from the comfort of the coveted tables along the glassed-in porch. Café Jefferson offers a delectable sample of local cuisine such as crabmeat au gratin, chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, and seafood salad.
Guided tours are available of the Jefferson mansion, which well-known actor Joseph Jefferson built to use as his hunting lodge in 1870. Jefferson also owned property in Florida and in the Northeast. "As I understand, Mr. Jefferson was quite a character. He once had an 18th-century lighthouse shipped to Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, to be converted into a personal painting studio," Richard chuckles. "He also performed the role of Rip Van Winkle more than 4,000 times. One of those performances is recorded on one of the oldest silent films owned by the Smithsonian. He had quite a commanding presence on film."
Jefferson also enjoyed painting landscapes; some of his oil paintings are still in the Jefferson mansion, as well as a large collection of rare Louisiana antiques, heirlooms, and period paintings. This elegant southern plantation style home has twenty-two rooms and features architectural accents from various genres, richened throughout the ages by each owner. After Joseph Jefferson died in 1905, his ancestors sold the property to the Bayless family, who put the site on the map as a national landmark and began the Rip Van Winkle Gardens, named for Jefferson's famous role.
J. Lyle Bayless, Jr. cultivated his passion for the camellia flower when he took over the gardens in the late 1950s. He was nationally recognized for his dedicated work with the camellia flower, and his influence is still alive in the gardens today. "We have over 300 species and varieties of camellias in the gardens now," says Richard. Bayless is also credited with planting the live oaks along the two-mile-long avenue that leads up to the Jefferson mansion.
Richard and his family have continued the legacy of horticultural excellence begun by Bayless. Richard was the manager of horticulture and building maintenance for many years at Rip Van Winkle Gardens. The Richard family business, Live Oak Gardens, was a nursery operating next door to the Jefferson estate, and when the opportunity finally arose to buy Rip Van Winkle Gardens, the family rejoiced. Now the family runs the gardens, the adjacent wholesale nursery, and a commercial construction business called Live Oak Earthworks. "We have really expanded over the past few years, and we love our work," Richard says.
Jefferson Island is an enchanting semitropical haven, an ideal day trip or overnight destination for families, couples, and groups of all ages. Tours are on the hour, seven days a week starting at 9:00 am, with the last tour beginning at 4:00 pm. It[S1] is also available for weddings, conferences, functions, and retreats.
The gardens bloom year round and are tenderly maintained by the Richards; this family is passionate about their connection to the earth and full of stories. The soul of the old South blooms here; you can smell it in the magnolias, feel it in the wind sweeping off of Lake Peigneur, and see it in the ancient gestures of the live oaks that dance across the skyline. Don't hesitate to get away from the world for a weekend, or even an afternoon, in this magical place. ✦
