In Search of Yesterday's Gardens

Renowned for its live oaks, Spanish moss, camellias and azaleas (though only the first two are native species), it's not surprising that New Orleans (Zone 9 in the USDA map), a city famous for its Garden District, is proud of its horticultural heritage. Writer/producer Karen Snyder's In Search of Yesterday's Gardens combines contemporary video footage and archival images with interviews to recreate the historic gardens of yesteryear. Viewers will learn that in the 18th century, the gardens of New Orleans were primarily functional, with citrus fruit and vegetables being prominently mentioned in early diaries. Courtyards in the French Quarter were functional spaces for washing and drying laundry, raising chickens, and growing vegetables and herbs. Eventually, houses started being built in the center of their lots, with the "new" (for the 19th century) fad of a lawn around them. The Garden District isn't New Orleans' only gift to itself, and the program also covers the founding of beautiful Audubon Park in the late 1880s. An enjoyable and very well-done production, this is highly recommended for public libraries, nursing homes, and of course, schools in Louisiana parishes. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Reagan)