When I tell people that I was born in Louisiana, they usually look at me inquisitively and respond “Oh really?” They either assume I was born in Texas or California, the two states where I have spent most of my life. The truth is I was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. We moved when I was young, and I never really knew much about the town. Last fall I was invited to speak at the Louisiana State Master Gardener Conference in Lafayette. That is when I saw how advanced Lafayette was becoming, with one of the nations largest supercomputers (LITE) and a plan to lay fiber optic lines to all parts of town (I know of few other towns doing this such as Shafter, CA). They were wonderful discoveries in my old home, but the best discovery of all, was made in the little town next door by the name of Breaux Bridge (pronounced “brō-bridge”), LA. Here is the home of Robert Smith, nationally famous antique collector and owner of Au Vieux Paris Antiques (“ah vō pa-ree antiques”).

The event was special in so many ways, as it turned into a personal walk around the grounds and amongst the structures. It became evident that his collection of 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th century of French furniture, decorative and fine arts was not to be matched by many (if any) in the South. In April of 2001 Architectural Digest listed him as one amongst the top one hundred and nine shops and dealers around the world with pieces of quality and excellence. Normally he hosts decorators, dealers, private collectors and museum curators so to spend a couple hours walking and talking about all the pieces in a general way was one of the best experiences of the great fall 2007 bulb speaking circuit.

Scattered in a decorative way around the garden were originals of the famed vases d’Anduze-they also go under vase Anduse. Such vases come from the Anduze region in France and were first created in the 1500’s. Their use continued to increase over the following centuries. One large spike in popularity occurred when the orange tree became popular, and needing to bring them in during the winter, they would plant them in these vases to be easily transported. There are companies attempting to remanufacture them, but I assure you it is hard to compare to Mr. Smith’s originals.

DOORS! Wonderful doors. They lead to so many wonderful places, hiding secrets and opening secrets. Just seeing them all together fills my mind with an explosion of creativity. One day, I think I might build a structure completely around a door. At Au Vieux Paris, many of the doors can be found with original keys! This is even more fascinating, as those keys were carried by people living out their days hundreds of years ago.

From the door collection, we moved to a tour of the garden. It is spectacular and has lived a life of high maintenance and low maintenance. Lately it has transitioned into a low maintenance beauty! The result is the showcasing of the sustainable plants in the most artistic and natural manner. That would include air plants such as Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish Moss) and heirloom bulbs such as Blue Roman Hyacinths. Mr. Smith shared some of the hyacinths with me. His site is a good example of the amazing range of Roman hyacinths, as his location is below Interstate 10!

His personal residence at a nearby lake is apparently spectacular, but unfortunately that will have to be reserved for a future encounter. Bulbs adorn not only the landscape, but also the inside where some beautiful modern selections are forced. Some of the bulbs are forced in his antique French forcing vases. Crinums are not excluded, and the cut flowers of a Crinum asiaticum relative are nicely displayed from the home image.

Thank Robert Smith for a wonderful event and we hope you are enjoying your time in France.