Evening star., 1937-01-31

Continued From First Page)
this bush is in flower. it appears as an
enormous bouquet set amidstream, its
pink, lacy lovelinesS reflected in the
surrounding water.
In the vicinity of this Towering
island is the out-of-door theater, with
its background of age-old trees, fes-
tooned with Spanish moss, and
clumped azalea bushes and other
Louisiana shrubs and flowers.
As ONE enters LES Jardins do
= Mouton from the highway one
comes first into the formal gardens.
These are. variously, English, Belgian,
Japanese and tropical, each planted
with flowers and plants characteristics
Of the country it represents.
Like planters palette upon the
dull monotone Of Louisiana's marshes
lie the formal rose gardens, containing
1854 rose bushes. of % different vari.
cites of bloom. Within the garden are
1872 varieties of azaleas and 81 differ.
ent specimens of camellias-the most
extensive individual collection in the
State. Within these formal gardens
stands a beautiful fountain and
further along the sculptured figure Of
a ram. The ram symbolizes the name
of Mouton, in French, sheep, and it
has been chosen by the Representa- tive
as the symbol for his gardens.
Beyond the first formal garden and
is building his home or Summer lodge,
and in this second garden. through
which flow the quiet waters of the
Vermilion, he is having placed figures,
sculptured in granite, representing the
four seasons of the year. Live oaks,
magnolias, cypress and fir trees add
their shade and beauty to this section
as they do throughout the gardens.
On the shore of the river, deep
within these second gardens, will be
built Summer house for entertaining
small groups of friends.
In all, there will be 80 lagoons on
the tract, and these, with winding
drives, will intersperse the gardens
wherever vistas are desired. Upon the
serene surface of each lagoon will
float a rare and lovely specimen OF
water lily. Artificial lakes also are
being built in such q manner that
they will cascade from the highest
slopes to the lowest in series of pools
that will reflect the dogwood trees and
citrus plants of Louisiana, as well as
other trees and shrubs indigenous to
the region.
A natural cypress swamp offers q
picturesque and typical note to the
landscape in one section. This forest
of strangely shaped and twisted trees.
draped in long strands Of gray Spanish
moss, will be the setting Tor the
cypress garden. Men are at work now
in Les Jardins de Mouton," planting
white dogwood. redbud, crabapplS
youpon. magnolia, wild azaleas and
Louisiana iris in this area, leaving the
native palmetto to border the swamp
waters, which will be cleared so that
one may row through them in a skif
when the garden is completed.
Mouton is having constructed on
the grounds lodge for the accom-
mediation OF the group OF young men
who have assisted in carrying on the
actual work of laying out and plant.
ing the gardens. This group Is made
up of students from Southwestern
Louisiana Institute. In employing
them in this capacity. Mouton is as
sisting them through their college
courses. He has a young landscape
artist and horticulturist from Forest
Hill, La, as superintendent Of the
gardens, which he has opened to the
public from am. until S pm. daily.
All buildings on the grounds are to
be in the architectural style of the
French Colonial period, suggestive Of
the Acadian ancestry Of the owner.
These buildings will include Mouton's
own lodge, the lodge for the student
workers, the Summer house, a tav-
ern and a flower and gift shop and
filling station for the convenience Of
visitors.
Upon the walls of his ofiice here
Mouton proudly displays oil paintings
that represent scenes in various sec.
tions Of his gardens. Their vivid
scarlets. bold pinks and bright green's
challenge the eye Of any one not ia.
miliar with the growing things OF
the deep South.
"If you do not know these flowers
in their native state" Mouton points
out, "the paintings will perhaps seem
a bit gaudy."