The garden at the Mayfair House figures in the series for several reasons. Obviously,
the most important reason is that it is the location of Lasher's grave along with that of Emaleth, his daughter by Rowan
Mayfair.
Other events occur in the garden and on the grounds that are prominent in the
story:
1. Mary Beth Mayfair had the garden laid out for her fifteenth birthday
in the very design that was restored a century later by Michael Curry.
2. Stella Mayfair's parties often spilled out onto the grounds.
For one party, she filled the swimming pool (her addition to the grounds) with champagne.
3. Antha Mayfair was pushed to her death on the flagstone patio by Carlotta
Mayfair.
4. Deirdre Mayfair is the namesake of "Deirdre's Oak" and it was she who
carved "Lasher" into its trunk.
5. Sightings of Deirdre Mayfair on the porch had her positioned to view
the garden, and the activity in the garden gave atmosphere to the setting at the beginning of The Witching Hour.
6. Michael Curry always saw Lasher standing in the garden at First Street
when he was a child. When he returned to New Orleans, he went straight to the house and saw that thirty years later,
Lasher was still in the garden.
7. Michael had a vision when he decided to take a dip in the newly restored
pool. He saw a ghostly replay of Stella's last party and the shade of Arthur Langtry was warning him by urging
him to "come away from there, man!" Later, Michael nearly drowned in the pool after his fight with the newly reincarnated
Lasher, who meant to drown him completely this time.
8. Rowan and Michael's wedding reception at the house was also spread
into the garden.
9. Julien Mayfair appeared to Quinn Blackwood when he came to visit Mona,
and it was in the garden that Julien warned Quinn that he and Mona could never marry. The interview with Julien took
place in the very location in the garden where Lasher and Emaleth were interred. Their scent was still there, and
Quinn noted it, though he did not know the source of it until Julien told him.
10. It was in the garden that Lestat joined Rowan, Michael, Dolly Jean
Mayfair, Quinn and Mona to hear Rowan's recounting of the events that led up to her despair and Mona's death - the events
in the three Mayfair books. It was here also that she told Lestat that she was more than aware of the existence
of Merrick Mayfair and described their meeting one another. Rowan also told Lestat that she had seen Louis and had even
followed him. Lestat in turn told her that Louis was no doubt aware of her though she did not think he was at the time.
I decided to put some photos here of what species of plants and shrubs can be found in the
Mayfair garden. One of my passions has always been gardens so this is a good excuse to devote a page on this
site to them. Over time, I will provide the Latin names of each plant as well as their common names
as we know them.
What is amazing is that this is a garden flourishing in New Orleans and though I live in
Oregon, many of the same species of plants thrive here as well. Then again, it is often the amount of light and
watering (whether natural from rain or done with a sprinkler system) that determines if a plant will live or not.
The light is a critical part of photosynthesis and whether it's New Orleans or it's Oregon, light is light.
The two images of the garden at 1239 First Street appeared in the cookbook,
Lee Bailey's New Orleans. Click the book above to see it listed on Amazon.com
The animated blooms on this page come from Best Animations.com
A Witch's Garden...
The original Garden Gallery had both the English and Latin names of each plant, and I've restored them here as best I could.
These plants are ones you would see in the Mayfair garden, or something close to it.
I've reordered the plants listed here so they are grouped together rather than scattered across the gallery. I've also added
subsections to navigate this gallery more easily. If you are familiar with some or all of these plants or have suggestions
or corrections, please do let me know!
Flowering Plants
Trachelospermum
jasminoides Confederate Jasmine
Trachelospermum
jasminoides Confederate Jasmine
Trachelospermum
jasminoides Confederate Jasmine
Trachelospermum
jasminoides Confederate Jasmine
Rhododendron fastigiatum Azaleas
Rhododendron fastigiatum Azaleas
Azalea Indicum Azaleas
Bougainvillea Spectabilis Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea Spectabilis Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea Spectabilis Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea Spectabilis Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea Spectabilis Bougainvillea
Centifolia Antique
Roses
Centifolia Antique
Roses
Centifolia Antique
Rose
Camellia Japonica Japanese
Camellia
Camellia Japonica Japanese
Camellia
Camellia Japonica Japanese
Camellia
Quisqualis Indica Double
Rangoon Creeper
Quisqualis Indica Double
Rangoon Creeper
Quisqualis Indica Double
Rangoon Creeper
Callistemon perth Pink
Bottle Brush
Callistemon Bottle Brush
Callistemon Bottle Brush
Justicia brandegeeana Shrimp
Plant
Justicia brandegeeana Shrimp
Plant
Lagerstroemia Crepe Myrtle
Lagerstroemia Crepe Myrtle
Lagerstroemia Crepe Myrtle
Berberis vulgaris L Barberries
Berberis vulgaris L Barberries
Berberis vulgaris L Barberries
Szobal Szobal
Classique Classique
Spiraea Thunbergi Thunberg's
Meadowsweet
Back to
Garden Guide
Fruit Producing Plants
Cocculus carolinus Carolina
Coralbead
Eriobotrya japonica Loquat
Eriobotrya japonica Loquat
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~ ~
Back to
Garden Guide
Shrubs and Plants
Prunus laurocerasus Cherry
Laurel
Buxus Boxwood
Colocasia Elephant Ear Plant
Colocasia Elephant Ear Plant
Colocasia Elephant Ear Plant
Back to
Garden Guide
Shrubs or Plants...or Trees?
Prunus laurocerasus Cherry
Laurel
Viburnum dentatum Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum Viburnum
~ ~
~ ~
Back to
Garden Guide
Trees
Musa spp Banana Tree
Musa spp Banana Tree
Cocculus Laurifolius Laurel-Leaved
Snail Tree
Laurus nobilis Bay Tree
Podocarpus Sycamore
Taxus canadensis American
Yew
Taxus canadensis American
& Spreading Yew
Olea europaea Olive Tree
Olea europaea Olive Tree
Live or Water Oak Deirdre's
Oak
Back to
Garden Guide
No Name
The Mayfair Garden
No Name
No Name
No Name
No Name
Back to
Garden Guide
A Witch's Garden
Azalea Indicum Azaleas
Callistemon perth Pink
Bottle Brush
Bougainvillea
Spectabilis Bougainvillea
Bridal Wreath
Spirea Bridal Wreath
Zantedeschia Calla
Lily
Camellia Japonica Japanese
Camellias
Classique Classique
Lagerstroemia Crepe
Myrtle
Mirabilis jalapa Four-O'Clocks
Jasminum Jasmine
Lantana camara Lantana
Rhododendron fastigiatum Rhododendron
Justicia brandegeeana Shrimp
Plant
Szobal Szobal
Spiraea
Thunbergi Thunberg's Meadowsweet
One of these has the little flowers Michael Curry showed to Rowan Mayfair, explaining
that as a child growing up in New Orleans, the flowers were often called "bacon 'n eggs" because of their appearance. Can
you find it here?
As I've created these with AI, the females being added by the generator, I've gotten some
interesting results. One result that might "jump" out is unusually long necks. Another is that they appear to have a recurring
theme--women from Ancient Rome or possibly Greece. Or could they be...Tessa?
The correct scientific names for each flower, plant, shrub, and tree is something I'm reviewing as many species of plants
can look similar while being completely different. Or, like azaleas and rhododendrons, they can be so closely related and
similar in appearance that it's hard to tell the difference merely from photographs.
As the garden survey becomes more detailed, I hope to update entries, correct any mistakes, and add more useful information
about the garden of the Mayfair Witches.
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