Hills & Dales Estate

Hills & Dales Estate Hills & Dales Estate is a home and garden museum with a unique history that spans over 175 years. Fuller E. Beginning in 1936, Fuller E. Callaway, Jr.
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The story begins in 1841 when Sarah Ferrell expanded a small garden begun in 1832 by her mother, Nancy Ferrell. The land had been given to Sarah and her husband Blount by her father, Mickleberry Ferrell. Between 1841 and 1903, Sarah Ferrell developed “Ferrell Gardens” into one of the most widely acclaimed gardens in the Southeastern United States. After the Ferrells died, the property was purchase

d by Fuller E. Callaway and his wife, Ida Cason, who renamed the estate “Hills and Dales”. Callaway, a successful textile manufacturer, commissioned the noted architectural firm of Hentz & Reid of Atlanta to design a new home. The house was built on the site of the old Ferrell home and was completed in 1916. Ida and Fuller also restored the gardens, and added fountains and statuary to enhance the Italianate character of the garden. After Fuller’s death in 1928, Ida continued to live at Hills and Dales and to oversee the gardens until her death in 1936. and his wife, Alice Hand, took over the care of the estate. They continued to preserve the house and historic garden, while adding selected features until his death in 1992 and her passing in 1998. In accordance with the wishes of Alice and Fuller Callaway, Jr. the estate was given to Fuller E. Callaway Foundation and is now open for the enjoyment of visitors.

Alice Callaway had a large collection of terracotta pots that our garden staff continue to use today. These porous clay ...
06/05/2026

Alice Callaway had a large collection of terracotta pots that our garden staff continue to use today. These porous clay pots naturally prevent overwatering and root rot, as they absorb some of the excess moisture after watering, insulate roots against sudden temperature shifts, and allow for good drainage. The heavier weight of the material, as opposed to lighter weight plastic pots, also helps anchor top-heavy plants.

A couple of reminders for those thinking of switching to terracotta pots in your gardens – Plants that prefer moist conditions may need to be watered more frequently in terracotta. These pots can also develop water marks or mineral deposits which give them a nice patina over time, but if you prefer a clean look, a quick wipe with a damp cloth or vinegar-water solution can keep them looking brand new. If you are planning to use traditional terracotta outside, they can crack during freezing weather unless you get high-fired pots. Due to their sturdy and sustainable nature, however, you can even repurpose broken pieces of terracotta pots to use in your garden as drainage or decoration.

📷: Frank Macaulay & staff at Hills & Dales Estate

Home is where the humidity is! 🌿Come check out the greenhouse, there's always something in bloom! 📸: by Two Chics Photog...
06/02/2026

Home is where the humidity is! 🌿
Come check out the greenhouse, there's always something in bloom!
📸: by Two Chics Photography

"God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done." — Author Unknown
05/30/2026

"God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done." — Author Unknown

🌹🪷🌺🎋It's Flower Fri-yay! 🌸🌷🌼🪻The arrangements in the Callaway home this week are stunning! We hope you enjoy them as muc...
05/29/2026

🌹🪷🌺🎋It's Flower Fri-yay! 🌸🌷🌼🪻

The arrangements in the Callaway home this week are stunning! We hope you enjoy them as much as we have.

Despite the weather, everyone had a great time at our annual Picnic in the Garden earlier this month. Thank you to Ryan ...
05/27/2026

Despite the weather, everyone had a great time at our annual Picnic in the Garden earlier this month. Thank you to Ryan Harville Photography for all the great pictures!

‘Memorial Day’ or ‘Remembrance Day’ poppies (aka corn poppies, Papaver rhoeas) are the brilliant red flowers blooming in...
05/25/2026

‘Memorial Day’ or ‘Remembrance Day’ poppies (aka corn poppies, Papaver rhoeas) are the brilliant red flowers blooming in our herb garden. This is the species, growing from Europe's war-torn battlefields in WWI, that was immortalized in Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae's poem which symbolizes the sacrifices of all who were fighting in the First World War and inspired the use of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance.
Shortly after losing a friend, McCrae wrote his now famous poem in the spring of 1915 after seeing poppies growing in battle-scarred fields. Quite surprisingly, in the early years of the 20th century there were hardly any poppies in the fields of Flanders, Belgium. The constant bombardment of battlefield shell craters and burial of fallen soldiers not only churned up the soil and brought seeds to the surface, but the nitrogen of the explosives helped to fertilize the earth and give the poppies enough nutrients to grow and bloom.
“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
between the crosses, row on row...”
Lest we forget.

We are excited to have TWO summer interns working with us this year! Emma Prestridge is an upcoming junior at Auburn Uni...
05/22/2026

We are excited to have TWO summer interns working with us this year!

Emma Prestridge is an upcoming junior at Auburn University studying Landscape Horticulture. She is originally from Chambers County, Alabama, and would like to get a job in Landscape Design after she finishes her degree.

LaGrange native Diego Merida is an upcoming junior at Mars Hill University in North Carolina. He is a Business major with a concentration in Finance and would like to work as a Financial Advisor.

On May 21, 1952, a new chapter in Georgia history began when Callaway Gardens officially opened to the public. Created b...
05/21/2026

On May 21, 1952, a new chapter in Georgia history began when Callaway Gardens officially opened to the public. Created by Cason and Virginia Callaway, the gardens reflected a lifelong appreciation for beauty, hospitality, and nature.

That story began here at Hills & Dales Estate. In 1916, Fuller E. Callaway Sr. purchased the existing land and gardens at auction and completed the Hills & Dales home as a 25th wedding anniversary gift for his wife, Ida Cason Callaway. Although Cason was 19 when the home was built, the gardens that were origionally designed by Sarah Ferrell in the 1830's left a lasting impression on the Callaway children.

Cason would later go on to expand the family’s textile business in LaGrange before he and his wife, Virginia, began a new chapter in Pine Mountain in 1938. Inspired in part by the beauty and stewardship he experienced at Hills & Dales, Cason transformed thousands of acres of worn farmland into what would become Callaway Gardens, a place dedicated to conservation, education, and the enjoyment of nature for generations to come.

A familiar face stopped by last week to lend Greenhouse Manager Elizabeth Smallwood a hand repotting the Phalaenopsis or...
05/20/2026

A familiar face stopped by last week to lend Greenhouse Manager Elizabeth Smallwood a hand repotting the Phalaenopsis orchids in the greenhouse! We're always happy to have David Brown at the estate!

There is currently no air conditioning in the Callaway home. Tours will be first floor only with discounted ticket price...
05/19/2026

There is currently no air conditioning in the Callaway home. Tours will be first floor only with discounted ticket prices until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Address

1916 Hills & Dales Drive
Lagrange, GA
30240

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

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