Story and Photos by Ken Hulsey Yesterday, our family journeyed to New Iberia to spend the afternoon immersed in the captivating Joseph Jefferson House and the surrounding Rip Van Winkle Gardens - undoubtedly one of Louisiana's most beautiful and intriguing destinations. This historic site seamlessly blends the past with breathtaking natural splendor, transporting visitors to a world apart from the remote southern Louisiana setting. Situated on the shores of Lake Peigneur on Jefferson Island, the impeccably manicured gardens brim with lush, vibrant flora, luring the senses and inviting one to lose themselves in the illusion of exploring an exotic foreign locale.