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16
Back Porch
St. Mary's by the River, the home and gardens of Mr. And Mrs. John P. Stephens overlooking the Pascagoula River, was commissioned in 1925 by Sister Anne Abercrombie of the community of St. Mary, a monastic order within the Episcopal Church. The Italian Romanesque chapel features a hand carved altar from Germany and chapel windows by Tiffany. An indoor fountain, designed with Christian symbols, was imported from Italy. The library contains the Sister's collection of 400 signed books, many more than 100 years old.
Historic Biloxi is featured on March 18 when the George E. Ohr Arts and Culture Center, The Old Brick House, Tullis-Toledano Manor, Beauvoir, the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, Father Ryan House and the Brielmaier House (Visitor's Center - Headquarters on Town Green) will all be open for complimentary tours. There will also be a self-guided walking tour to the Magnolia Hotel, Creole Cottage and City Hall, each an historic place in Biloxi, which was the site of the French landing in 1699. A special art exhibit by local artists entitled Flowers
March 20. Maps, brochures, trolley, and coffee will be available at the Bay-Waveland Garden Club, 114 Leonhard Avenue in Bay St. Louis. Many lovely, historic homes are on tour this year, but one in particular stands out, mainly because it was included in the very first Pilgrimage fifty years ago. Le Marin, the home of Carter Church and Yancy Pogue on North Beach Boulevard overlooks the Mississippi Sound at the mouth of the Bay of St. Louis and was part of the 1817 Necaise Land Grant. This home with its gardens underwent an extensive renovation/restoration by the
Home of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Stephens. Built in 1925, known as SL Mary’s by the River, placed on National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
St. Patrick's Day, March 17, is set aside to celebrate the parks and green spaces on the coast. The brochure lists numerous such places one is encouraged to visit and features special guided tours and refreshments at the Clower-Thomton Nature Area and Coffee Creek Woodlands. The Clower-Thomton Nature Area was donated to the Garden Clubs of MS, Inc. in 1986 by Mrs. Alda Clower Yates in memory of her parents, J. C. and Mary Thornton Clower. In 1994 Coffee Creek Woodlands was donated by Mrs. and Mrs. A. C. Hutto, Jr. in memory of the A. C. Hutto, Sr. family. Members of the Gulfport Garden Club will guide visitors on trails leading to wetland habitats, crossing over a picturesque foot bridge which spans a dry creek bed, a natural habitat within the busding city of Gulfport.
by the Sea in honor of the 50tfi Anniversary Pilgrimage will be featured at the George E. Ohr Ars & Culture Cerier. A phoiographic exhfck of the Coast will be featured a the Library, located in the sane building There will be a special muucal performance at the SarTpr*- Theatre, a classic structure buih to house vaudeville and the first alkie films.
The Diamondhead Garden Oi> win host the Pilgrimage or. March 19. Maps, brochures and coffee *•_. .. available at their headquarvn ‘ n Diamondhead Community Ccrtex t* particular interest are the carxfcns Capt. and Mrs. Henry Lange or. K r- i Court. Theirs is a four-seasons canir. with a wide variety of plane mr-jdir^ many "natives", especially those wn*± attract birds and butterflies.
Bay St. Louis-Waveland GarJer Club members will be the hose or.
Home of Carter Church and Yancy Pogue. Home and gardens were on the original Pilgrimage fifty years ago.
current owners and was used by the Hancock County Historical Society as IB 1995 Decorator Show House.
On March 21, the garden clubs of Gulfport will host the Pilgrimage. Maps, brochures, coffee and trolleys are available at The Blow Fly Inn, 1201 Washington Street in the Old \ iand« • area of Gulfport during i.‘- x*nirc. The gardens of the LV home in Old Handsboro are - * (he morning tour and feature iT" » rr.vdy two acres of parklike w*h laree Gulf Coast .water «=>' -nd numerous beds of native r -	. cameilias, red buds, Japanese
'.v I las. nandinas and a sweet olive
Graasiawn, 720 Beach Blvd., is rw* owned by the City of Gulf]port rales as a museum and will be " y touring in the afternoon. A • • - nip garden south of the fence