On our way to Callaway Gardens last weekend, we visited the Hills and Dales Estate. This hidden gem in LaGrange, Georgia was well worth the visit!
Watching a 15 minute film at the visitor’s center, we learned the history of the property – beginning with Sarah Jewell Ferrell in the 1850’s. With her husband Blount, Sarah Ferrell developed the gardens for roughly 70 years until her death in 1904. Fuller Earle Callaway, a prosperous businessman who founded several mills and banks in the LaGrange area had fond memories of Easter Egg hunts at Ferrell Gardens as a young boy and over the years, he and Sarah became friends. After Blount Ferrell’s death in 1909, the property was untended and sat until Fuller purchased it in 1914. Alongside his wife, Ida Cason Callaway, he restored the gardens and infamous boxwood parterres to their former glory and hired renowned Atlanta architect, Neel Reid, to build the mansion at the crest of the hill.
We took an open air tram to the mansion, passing lush, rolling hills and magnolia trees – a somewhat smaller version of travelling to Hurst Castle in San Simeon, California. Our docent led us on a 45 minute tour of the house, but we were not allowed to take pictures. My favorite room on the first floor was the main living area – a wood-panelled room (including the ceilings and columns as well) that was anchored by a curved couch and a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the garden. Behind us were two staircases that flanked the “back” entrance of the house, leading to the porte-cochere. At the landing, the two staircases merged into one. We toured the eight bedrooms and bathrooms on the second level and then went on to the third floor. Although I liked all the bedrooms, I could picture myself in the guest bedroom on the third floor which had massive amounts of sunlight, white furniture and floral fabrics. In the game room next door, the original 1916 pool table, complete with ivory balls and mesh pockets was the focal point.
It was getting late so our docent gave us a quick tour of the gardens. The Central Fountain greeted us at top of the first terrace. As we descended to the Sunken Garden, we paused to see the boxwood bordered alley called Lovers’ Lane. We walked through Florida Lane, showcasing plants from Florida where Blount and Sarah Ferrell were originally from, to the Greenhouse and Herb Garden. The area was so tranquil I wanted to sit and read a book at one of the many garden nooks.
Sadly, it was time to take the shuttle back to the Visitor’s Center and to our next destination. However, I plan to return and explore the gardens at leisure. For more information, visit the Hills and Dales Estate website at http://www.hillsanddales.org/.
