In 1929, Emory Smith, a Baton Rouge postal worker, and his wife, Annette, purchased 14 acres of land on a hilltop off Highland Road. Together they would farm and use the land as a country retreat, eventually building a house on the property during World War II.
Smith planted under a canopy of trees he called “The Cathedral” on the corner of Hilltop and began a legacy still remembered today. Thirty-four years have passed since Smith donated the property to LSU, a decision inspired by his longtime friendship with LSU School of Landscape Architecture then-Director Robert Reich.
Hundreds of thunderstorms and a multitude of hurricanes later, “The Cathedral” no longer has the shade from the canopies of towering trees, but LSU Hilltop Arboretum Executive Director Peggy Coates has made an effort to reform the canopy. Coates, a native of Morgan City, Louisiana, has been the executive director for eight years and has master’s degrees in landscape architecture and urban forestry. Under her direction, with the help of community volunteers, her administrative assistant and a site manager, the arboretum has gained considerable national attention.
In early July, BestCollegesOnline.org named the LSU Hilltop Arboretum among the “50 Most Amazing University Botanical Gardens and Arboretums in the U.S.”
The scoring system determined rank by looking at Hilltop’s different awards and recognitions, types of species, conservation programs and work with University degree programs.
“What a fabulous surprise it was,” Coates said. “When I read what they were looking for, to me, it couldn’t be more perfect for Hilltop because it talked about how these botanical gardens and arboretums are not only beautiful places, but they serve as classroom opportunities for universities and students, links them to the larger community with a place that is beautifully maintained and has interesting plant collections.”
Hilltop is home to more than 200 Louisiana plant species, including aquatic plants surrounding the pond and large cypress trees edging upon the four ravines located on the property.
Coates can name almost all the plants, explain their blooming patterns and provide the history of how they arrived at Hilltop.
“The Silver Spring is one of my favorite trees, but if you listen to me long enough, they’re all my favorite,” she said.
The arboretum maintains a healthy relationship with the University by offering internships to landscape architecture students and encouraging classes to come out and use the facilities for studies. The complex is home to the University’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certified building.
With the help of The Friends of Hilltop Arboretum, a nonprofit organization that helps preserve Hilltop, the arboretum has raised $2.8 million in the past two decades to build its state of the art complex, built by world renowned architects at Lake|Flato.
On top of private donations, Hilltop brings in nearly $35,000 annually from the Hodge Podge Nursery, selling rare Louisiana plants throughout the year but making most of its income during Plant Fest in October.
Hilltop will bring in more than 600 species of plants from around the South, along with landscape architects, contractors, designers, arborists and horticultural specialists to aid customers in plant selections and keep-up questions.
Coates said she believes Emory would look proudly upon the growth of Hilltop and its involvement with the Baton Rouge community.
“He wanted a place where people could come and be in nature, could experience the beauty of nature, the spiritual connection to nature and a place where people could come and learn and share information about plants,” she said.

Gallery • 15 Photos

Javier Fernández

LSU’s Hilltop Arboretum was recently named among the “50 Most Amazing University Botanical Gardens and Arboretums in the U.S.” by Best Colleges online.