The Dirt

Gumbo weather makes us think of file’. Sassafras is a small to medium sized deciduous tree or shrub with horizontal branching in tiers....

Robby Maxwell is a fisheries biologist with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and a longtime native plant advocate who...

The central garden at the June Walker Memorial greenhouse in Arnaudville was planted in the summer of 2018. The design focused from the...

By: Phyllis Griffard A small pocket prairie installation makes a big difference. Wondering if gardening a small space for habitat can...

Cherrybark oak is a relatively fast growing, long-lived large deciduous tree with attractive dark bark broken into shallow longitudinal...

Having had the opportunity to listen to a presentation by the two authors (Danesha Seth Carley and Anne M. Spafford) at the Cullowhee...

Yellow is the color of October in my prairie. It seems like every plant with a yellow fower is flowering now: the goldenrods and many...

By: Phyllis Griffard Karen Tyrell celebrates her gold-level Louisiana Certified Habitat located in Lafayette Parish. Karen has lived in...

My first introduction to Louisiana native plants was through a class taught by Dr. William (Bill) Reese in 1977. I was new to Lafayette...

By: Phyllis Griffard Jack and Rose Must celebrate their bronze-level Louisiana Certified Habitat. The Musts moved into their new home...

By: Phyllis Griffard JMB Companies celebrates their second gold Louisiana Certified Habitat. Congratulations to JMB Companies, Inc. for...

By: Phyllis Griffard The Atchafalaya National Heritage Area  has awarded ANPP a Legacy Grant for up to $17,500 to expand our propagation...

By: Phyllis Griffard Blair Begnaud, Assistant Director of Sustainability at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Blair Begnaud is an...

By: Dona Weifenbach Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (Turk's cap) It has been a long, hot, dry summer.  Each morning, when I look...

James' home is on a historic block in Fightingville near Downtown Lafayette.

By: Phyllis Giffard John Dupuis and St. Thomas More Catholic High School celebrate their gold-certified habitat in southwest Louisiana....

By: Phyllis Giffard Diane Baker and Richard Day celebrate their bronze-level Louisiana Certified Habitat in Lafayette Parish. Diane and...

By: Phyllis Giffard Brad Price celebrates his gold-level Louisiana Certified Habitat in Lafayette. Brad's home is located in a...

By: Phyllis Giffard Native plant advocate Steve Nevitt distributes native prarie seeds. Steve is a past president of the Cajun Prairie...

By: Dona Weifenbach Mamou (Erythrina herbacea) displays its showy blooms. Mamou or coral bean is a perennial shrub growing 5-8' high...