Bolduc House Museum.

Making French Colonial American History Fun

Left– a view of the herb cottage in the Bolduc Garden; Center– grapes in the early spring behind the Bolduc House; Right– Sainte Genevieve boxwoods form an allée from the garden to the Bolduc House.

Eighteenth century French Colonial American homes were surrounded by a wooden palisade fence to keep the roaming animals out. The fence enclosed the gardens as well. Usually these gardens were filled with the vegetables, kitchen and medicinal herbs, as well as the plants that were needed for other housekeeping tasks. A small orchard and vineyard could also be found within the stockade. The French cooperated in farming a much larger community field where they grew grain. Each land-owner was assigned  their own narrow strips, called arpents,  in the Grand Champ. The Grand Champ is just east of St. Mary’s Road.
Text Box: Bolduc House Museum Gardens Text Box: Enjoy the colorful blooming beds in the Bolduc-LeMeilleur yard just inside the gate. The first three garden beds are dedicated in loving memory to Vergie Stange and in honor of her daughter, Lorraine Stange, who succeeded her mother as director of the Museum until she retired in 2009. All of the plants in these beds are the favorites of Vergie and Lorraine Stange. Notice the blue, yellow, and white flowers in the fourth triangular garden bed. These are the colors in the flag of The National Society of the Colonial Dames in America. The small orchard contains several apple trees and a chestnut tree as well as a small grape arbor within the Bolduc stockade. Sainte Genevieve boxwood forms allée from the back porch of the Bolduc-LeMeilleur House. More native boxwood grows in the Bolduc garden as well as in a grove behind the Linden House Look for signs announcing the next scheduled garden tour when you come. Then enjoy the smell, taste, and feel of our herbs, flowers, and vegetables. Ask for a list of the American plants that were unknown in Europe and Colonial America before the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Then try to find each one in our Linden Yard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We had our wedding reception at the Bolduc House, 3 building French Colonial museum with authentic and inspiring architecture. Everything was better than we could have ever wished. There was plenty of space for all of our 60+ guest (even when the rain started). The gardens and landscape are beautiful and make a gorgeous back drop for photographs! The staff was more than accommodating and were able to handle the transition from outdoors to indoors (due to weather) with ease. A great place for a reception and outdoor ceremony”

- Audrey and Dave Deuel
Text Box: The Bolduc House Museum is owned and operated by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Missouri, a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Photographs of our collection are by Bruce Pendleton unless otherwise noted. © 2010 by the Bolduc House Museum Text Box: Arrange your next out-door event at The Bolduc House Museum. The gardens are the perfect venue for your next outdoor event, wedding, reception, or formal photographs. Call 573-883-3105 for details