Sunday, July 24, 2016

Hills and Dales

In 1841 Sarah Ferrell expanded her mothers small garden originally planted in 1832. Sarah started planting boxwoods, native and exotic plants and opened her 35 acre garden to the public.

Photo Credit: Callaway Estates
When she died in 1903 the gardens became overgrown and uncared for.
In 1911 Fuller Callaway bought the property he remembered walking through with Sarah as a child.
He built Hills and Dales on the site where Sarah Ferrell house had been and this became the Callaway family home.



Hill and Dales estate is open to the public. The house is interesting to walk through and the tour guides are very knowledgeable but the big draw are the many gardens that surround the house and terraces.

The gardens consist of the Tea Hedge Garden, Magnolia Walk, Boxwood Walk, Fountain Terrace and Lovers Lane to name a few. But the most impressive to me was the Church Garden.
Photo Credit: Whitehaven

The Church Garden was created by Sarah Ferrell. It contains a boxwood hedge shaped like a harp. Other beds represents the pews, organ and offering plate creating a natural  outdoor sanctuary.
The Ray Garden was originally meant for vegetables but was converted into a rose and ornamental flower  garden in 1950.

In 1916 a greenhouse was built on the property and was remodeled in 1949. One section contains orchids, begonias and blooming tropicals. The next part houses ferns. In the third section you’ll find snapdragons, carnations and other flowers meant for cutting.The greenskeeper was happy to answer any questions that we had.

Photo Credit: Deep South Magazine

The house celebrates it’s centennial this year. It’s worth the drive.
1916 Hills and Dales Drive
LaGrange, Georgia