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A green thumb has run in the family for several generations, and our
horticultural roots run deep.
Before arriving in America in 1884, my great, great grandfather, Antoine
Alost, was decorated by King Leopold II of Belgium for his work in charge of the King's palace gardens. After arriving in the United
States, he acquired property in what was at the time the outskirts of New Orleans and built a wholesale nursery. |
He and his family sold plants to other nurseries, brokers, and retail outlets. The family operated the nursery property, Rosa Villa, until 1952 when it was sold for the building of the Industrial Canal.
Antoine Alost's civic accomplishments included serving as president of the New Orleans Horticultural society.
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In the tradition of the Victorian gardeners, my great-grandmother,
Beatrice Braud Toups, was a plant collector. In the days before mega garden centers and internet access, mail order catalogs and travel were the only way to find new plants. She bought new and unusual seeds, bulbs, and plants to try out. She continued to add new plants, and flowerbeds, until her health slowed her down. The family still has some of the descendents of her past plant acquisitions. |
My maternal grandfather, Joseph Alfred Alost Jr., continued with the family’s horticultural tradition. For a time he worked at Audubon Park with design, maintenance, and plant production. And later, even though he worked as an administrator in a city office, he still enjoyed plant hybridizing and propagating as a hobby. We have a full grown camellia japonica that he grew from collected seed.
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