About Us

No other gardening program brings nationally renowned speakers to historic settings quite like the Southern Garden Symposium does.

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The Southern Garden Symposium seeks to preserve and commemorate gardening in the Deep South through lectures, workshops, and tours of historic Afton Villa gardens and Rosedown gardens.

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While the symposium’s workshops and lectures provide ideas and inspiration for the gardener, social activities showcase classic southern elegance at its finest. From home-baked breakfast breads served each morning, to sumptuous evening gala fare, not a detail is overlooked.

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Located about 45 minutes north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, St. Francisville was established in 1809.  Occupying high ground on the east bank of the Mississippi River and often described as a town “two miles long and two yards wide,” the beloved destination keeps visitors coming back with carefully preserved historic architecture, breathtaking scenery, eclectic shopping, and a warm, close-knit community spirit.  Symposium events open the doors to various historic and picturesque locations including Oakley House, Afton Villa Gardens, Rosedown State Historic Site, and Grace Episcopal Church.