Royal Street Courtyard by Diane Millsap

  After the great fires of Early New Orleans, French Quarter buildings were required to be built right next to each other and close to the street.
  This cut down on the size of yards where flammable foliage could grow. Buildings did have walled courtyards in back where all manners of daily activities took place: laundry, butchering, and cooking.
 Often there were chickens and maybe a hog. This kept some of the messier activities out of the homes which were often very elegant.
  Today these courtyards are beautiful gardens and oases from the heat.

To see more of my New Orleans art, go to
www.dianemillsap.com