Bold Genius

Furlow Gatewood of Americus, Georgia lived to be 101 years old, and even then, his death was sudden and unexpected. That may seem an odd statement to some, but for those who were familiar with his work, the genius of this man transcended such minute details as age. I offer the photograph, above, as proof.

Mere mortals who love hydrangeas would install a few of them in a garden and enjoy. The long entrance drive into Mr. Gatewood’s Georgia estate, however, begs to differ. As with this and everything else that he created here through the years, the statement is one of rare brilliance, delivered with a dose of pure Southern panache designed to casually unfold and take your breath away. And just as you recover, a peacock wanders into view.

The private kingdom that he created for himself evolved across many years of acquiring things that inspired him. In addition to rare antiques and quirky flea market finds, Mr. Gatewood was an astute collector of endangered architecture. Whether that meant rescuing a charming entrance portico, a fine mantelpiece, or an entire house - he was fearless, and the results never failed to stop the show.

All of this was chronicled in a wonderful book entitled One Man’s Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood by Julia Reed. From the opening page onward, I was a smitten fan for life.

My own hydrangeas are a testament. Once infected with Mr. Gatewood’s “leave ‘em gasping for breath” philosophy, I am now the proud caretaker of nearly a dozen of my own. They will be in full bloom soon. On a walk through my garden this morning, I noticed their progress and thought of the man whose bold genius inspired their presence.

God created Furlow Gatewood only once, and I have to believe that Heaven these days holds a gentle pathway lined with blue hydrangeas. One can only imagine where it leads.

Photos of Furlow Gatewood’s estate by Rodney Collins and Paul Costello for Veranda.