Garden Party at the Mansion
The Rose Long Garden
In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, Mrs. Peggy Martin returned to her parents’ home in New Orleans, Louisiana. Feeling overwhelmed because the storm took her parents, home and gardens, Peggy looked over into the garden, and a feeling of hope overcame her as she noticed some green growing. It became a plant of promise as it grew into beautiful pink roses. Peggy’s story and the roses have been featured in Southern Living and several other major publications. A cutting of this Katrina Survivor Rose was given to the mansion garden in 2016 and grew beautifully over the walkway arches.
Then in 2017, the Governor’s Mansion Rose Garden was named in honor of the First Lady’s dear friend, Rose Long, and Senator Gerald Long\’s wife, who was just as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. In this rose garden, there is a bush to represent all 64 parishes as well as the Katrina Survivor Roses. The parishes that have contributed towards our Governor’s Mansion Preservation Foundation and have a plaque in front of their rose bush are: Ascension Parish, Beauregard Parish, Bienville Parish, Cameron Parish, East Carroll Parish, East Feliciana Parish, Grant Parish, East Carroll Parish, Grant Parish, Jackson Parish, Jeff Davis Parish, Jefferson Parish, Lafayette Parish, Lincoln Parish, East Carroll Parish, Grant Parish, Livingston Parish, Natchitoches Parish, Pointe Coupee Parish, St. Bernard Parish, St. Helena Parish, St. James Parish, St. Landry Parish, St. Mary’s Parish, St. Tammany Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, Terrebonne Parish, Washington Parish, West Feliciana Parish, Winn Parish.
For more information on how your parish can be included in the garden, please contact Sandy McClelland at gmpfinc@gmail.com or (337)578-4063.
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