Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History

Forest Hill boasts one of the largestnursery industries in the country, despite its tiny population. In the earlydays, the community was a summer retreat for plantation owners. The lumberindustry rolled into town with the railroad, which eased the transportation ofvirgin timber. By 1901, the nurseries had emerged after Samuel Stokes beganselling a variety of plants from his woods. Today, more than two hundrednurseries are in operation, many by the families who founded them. Author ChereDastugue Coen reveals the deep roots of this horticultural hub.