Austin's garden, located near UL's campus, is a great example of getting creative with plants in a small space. Austin's rental home is in the midst of an urban area, but that hasn't stopped him from fostering a diverse ecosystem with the intent to support local and migratory wildlife populations. His front yard boasts swaths of clover that can usually be found teeming with pollinators. His wetland ditch showcases several native mallows as well as irises, ready to help mitigate rainwater during Lafayette's infamous rain events.
The woodland environment in the backyard is packed with natives--echinacea, black-eyed Susans, coreopsis, gaillardia, and Turk's cap are nestled beneath the shaded understory and just beginning to burst. Shield, sensitive, lady, river, and resurrection ferns happily reside alongside the house and pathways. Austin has collected seeds and plants from other native plant enthusiasts as well as in the wild. Austin's garden is a wonderful example of responsive and attentive gardening!
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