<P> Some of earliest plantation architecture occurred in southern Louisiana by the French . Using styles and building concepts they had learned in the Caribbean, the French created many of the grand plantation homes around New Orleans . French Creole architecture began around 1699, and lasted well into the 1800s . In the Lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia, the Dogtrot style house was built with a large center breezeway running through the house to mitigate the subtropical heat . The wealthiest planters in colonial Virginia constructed their manor houses in the Georgian style, e.g. the mansion of Shirley Plantation . In the 19th century, Greek Revival architecture also became popular on some of the plantation homes of the deep south . </P> <P> Common plants and trees incorporated in the landscape of Southern plantation manors included Southern live oak and Southern magnolia . Both of these large trees are native to the Southern United States and were classic symbols of the old south . Southern live oaks, classically draped in Spanish moss, were planted along long paths or walkways leading to the plantation to create a grand, imposing, and majestic theme . Plantation landscapes were very well maintained and trimmed, usually, the landscape work was managed by the planter, with assistance from slaves or workers . Planters themselves also usually maintained a small flower or vegetable garden . Cash crops were not grown in these small garden plots, but rather garden plants and vegetables for enjoyment . </P>

A typical large plantation in the chesapeake region