"Most of the smaller plants that had things fall on top of them will bounce back," head gardener Leigh Gradiz told NOLA.com in July. "The trees will take longer to recover." That was three weeks after an EF1 tornado from Tropical Storm Arthur passed through the eight acres at 7 Bamboo Road in the early morning of June 18. Longue Vue sits on the edge of Lakewood, a few minutes from Old Metairie. Now the weather has cooled, and this is the season the garden set aside for putting things back.
What June 18 Took From the Garden
Longue Vue posted a full damage accounting on its recovery page. The losses were:
- Five mature trees and 15 young trees
- 20 to 40 more trees that lost branches or much of their foliage
- More than 200 shrubs and plants
- 14 large outdoor pots, now broken
- Fencing, fountains and one set of historic shutters
The one-acre Wild Garden took the worst of it. Large trees and branches fell across its paths, plant beds and seating. The main house came through without structural damage. Its HVAC system did not, and the staff bought three industrial dehumidifiers to protect the decorative arts collection inside. Executive Director Baty Landis was at Longue Vue during Hurricane Ida. She told NOLA.com that "Longue Vue specifically fared worse on June 18."
In its August 17 update, Longue Vue said the gardens were completely open again and cleanup was nearly done. Nine snapped or uprooted trees had been taken out, dozens more had been saved by pruning, and 275 cubic yards of debris had been hauled away. The same update warned visitors to expect more falling debris than usual as damaged limbs die and drop, and more weeds than usual while the staff caught up on extra work.
Why the Planting Waited for Cooler Weather
Longue Vue chose to spend the hot months planning and to do the planting later. The August update said the team wanted to finish planning and preparing every restoration task first, then "activate the plantings themselves later this year, when temperatures cool." The goal is to have the gardens cleaned, stabilized and replanted by early 2027, in time for spring.
The planting follows the site's own records. Longue Vue says its recent investment in its archives lets staff pull historic plans quickly as they work out how to replant under a thinner canopy. Gradiz told NOLA.com she would work with the curators so that every new planting, tree replacements included, fits the garden's history.
The recovery page also prices the work. Beyond whatever insurance pays, Longue Vue estimated a need of $200,000 to $300,000. It listed what individual pieces cost:
| Restoration item | Listed cost |
|---|---|
| Stabilize and replant the Iris Path in the Wild Garden | $2,500 |
| Repair historic shutters | $1,000 per pair |
| Replace HVAC motor | $5,000 |
| Replant a major tree | $10,000 |
| Repair and replace Palmetto Drive fencing | $15,000 |
| Replace historic ceramic pots | $25,000 |
By August 17, more than 60 donors had given $83,758 toward that need. Replanting one major tree costs four times as much as restoring the whole Iris Path. That makes the trees the slow, expensive part, just as Gradiz said in July.
The Iris Path and Saturday's Rhizome Sale
The Iris Path matters because of what grows along it. Longue Vue calls the Wild Garden's collection the area's oldest consistently maintained Louisiana iris collection, with more than 3,500 plants. The Greater New Orleans Iris Society, or GNOIS, helped restock the collection after the 2005 flood and for years sponsored an annual Iris Day at Longue Vue.
On Saturday, October 24, GNOIS holds its annual Louisiana Iris Rhizome Sale at Longue Vue from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission is free, and the sale offers more than 100 varieties of bare-root Louisiana iris while supplies last. NOLA.com's garden calendar says plants start at $5 and the sale ends at noon or when stock runs out. The listing doesn't say the plants come from the Wild Garden's own stock. Still, it is the same society that helped rebuild that collection once before, holding its sale in the same season Longue Vue set aside for replanting.
The Family Garden Walk is the same morning, from 11 to 11:45 a.m. It goes ahead rain or shine and is included with garden admission. At 12:30 p.m., the free Emma Brown Reading Program offers readings with Lady Livingston and live music.
Thursday Mornings and Second Saturdays
The most direct way to join the replanting is to volunteer. Longue Vue runs garden volunteer sessions on Thursdays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and on second Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. The work can include planting, weeding, raking, mulching and trimming. The next sessions are Thursday, October 29, and Saturday, November 14. First-timers fill out an application before registering. Longue Vue also asks anyone who wants to help with recovery outside the regular hours to email or call.
Those are the same weeds and fallen limbs the August update said the staff was struggling to keep up with. In that update, Longue Vue credited volunteer hours alongside donations for getting the recovery this far.
The Rest of the Fall, by Date
Programs kept going through the cleanup, from a sold-out summer camp to house tours. The calendar from here to the end of the year runs alongside the replanting:
| Date | Event | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed., Oct. 28 | Twilight at Longue Vue: Nat & Kat Cajun String Band | 5 to 7 p.m. | $17 |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | Family Garden Walk; Emma Brown Reading Program | 11 a.m.; 12:30 p.m. | Included with admission; free |
| Thu., Nov. 5 | Behind-the-Scenes Tour, attic and basement | 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. | $45, member pricing available |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | Garden Workshop: Wreath Making, ages 12 and up | 1 to 2:30 p.m. | $85 |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Garden Workshop: Wreath Making, ages 12 and up | 1 to 2:30 p.m. | $85 |
The Behind-the-Scenes Tour also runs most Thursdays, but space is limited. Family Garden Walks go on every Saturday through December 26. Inside the house, Pattern and Place: Historic Wall Coverings of Longue Vue is on view through December 31.
The Days Louisiana Residents Get In Free
Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Self-guided garden admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children if you book ahead, or $17 and $12 at the gate. Children 3 and under and members get in free. The calendar has four days with free or reduced admission for Louisiana residents:
- Thanksgiving, November 26, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Louisiana residents get free garden admission and $12 house tours. Out-of-state visitors pay regular prices.
- Sunday, December 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free Merry Market falls on Free Family Sunday, with free garden admission and discounted house tours for Louisiana residents.
- Christmas Eve, December 24, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission.
- New Year's Eve, December 31, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission.
Longue Vue's target is a garden cleaned, stabilized and replanted by early 2027. Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, Louisiana residents have four free days on the grounds, all during the cool-weather window Longue Vue set aside for replanting.
Kara Lashley is a native New Orleanian, and places like Longue Vue are part of what she shares with clients about this corner of the city. If you're thinking about a home within an easy walk or drive of Bamboo Road, Kara Lashley would be glad to show you the streets around it. Let's Connect.
