In 2020, Arie and Taylor Desormeaux purchased a 75-year-old home on nearly 2 acres in the heart of Lafayette. Although the home and property were well-cared for, vast open areas needed a lot of mowing. Groundcover jasmine was choking out several areas, including property lines and around the house, and it was climbing up into the trees. They were happy to find some volunteer palmettos on the property, which became their keystone plant and inspired them. They began removing all the Asian species from the original landscape and replaced them with natives, such as dwarf palmettos, river ferns, gauras, beautyberries, and more. They've removed and replaced about 60% of the original landscape, but still have a long way to go. Beginning in Fall 2022, they took the next step--breaking up with their weekly mowing guy and shrinking their lawn to an 800-square-foot area in front of the house. This was a tipping point. Now the sides and back of the property are in the very early stages of returning to thickets and meadows. The process has taken a life of its own as volunteer elderberries, asters, false garlic, and goldenrods shoot up to help the process along. When asked what her favorite part of the yard is, Arie and Tyler's daughter replied "The bugs!" We would agree--on our visit, the yard was teeming with insects. The Desormeaux's yard is at the beginning of a magical transformation & we can't wait to see how it progresses!
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