LSU

March 11

I am thankful for LSU. It seems that my entire pre-college, college and graduate lives, as well as my professional careers, have revolved around LSU. I love the campus; I love the beauty of the live oak trees, the lakes, the architecture, and the sports.

My daughter Beth, who is an LSU student, had only one class to attend on Thursday this past week. She wanted me to give her a ride and wait for her to get out to then bring her home. I obliged, realizing that the beautiful spring-like weather would make it a good day for taking photos on campus. The campus was nearly in full spring bloom (beautiful azaleas, as seen in the photo). This was my favorite photo of the session. I was also fortunate to be able visit my friends at Seaman A. Knapp Hall, the old building that housed my office and lab when I worked at LSU AgCenter.

The current campus of Louisiana State University was originally designed by the Olmsted Brothers in 1921. The Olmsted Brothers firm was the same one that designed Audubon Park in New Orleans. They were replaced by Theodore Link, whose design was true to the Olmsted Brothers' plans. The buildings are of the Italian Renaissance style with prominant red tile roofs, tan stucco walls, archways, and extensive walkways connecting the buildings of the quadrangle. The Memorial Tower, or Campanile, a memorial to Louisianians killed in World War I, seen in this photo, is the landmark of the campus. The tower has Westminster chimes that play every quarter hour, that plays the Alma Mater at noon, and even plays songs at special ocassions such as Christmas. Many of the some 1200 massive live oak trees were planted by Steele Burden, landscape architect for LSU from 1932-1970, who I had the pleasure of meeting before his death in 1995. His home was at what is now the LSU Rural Life Museum, which is an amazing and beautiful place, one that I hope to cover in my blog. He was also instrumental in the landscaping of Avery Island, which I will also intend to cover in a future blog.

lsu

it seems that lsu and i

will be conjoined forever

from birth til death

separation will be never

stately oaks

broad magnolias too

there’s certainly no place

i would rather view.

© rt tulley