James' home is on a historic block in Fightingville near Downtown Lafayette. You can't pass without noticing the color and structure of the evolving landscape. Having moved and renovated this raised cottage to this site several years ago, they added many native trees and wildflowers to their yard and the adjacent lots they have acquired. He is aiming to "increase biodiversity through cultivating native species of plants and see how much impact we could have in an urban environment". They have already seen an increase in native bees, moths and butterflies. The nectar plants, including trees, also support their honeybee hives. A tulip poplar tree has done especially well, as has the wildflower patch in the hell strip started with wildflower seed mix and now has beebalms, coneflower, mints, blanket flowers and coreopsis. Throughout the rest of the small yard are native viburnum, buttonbush, beautyberry, red bud, green ash, willow oak, persimmon, paw paws, prickly ash and several hollies, all great for caterpillars and birds. They are making plans now to add diversity to their adjacent lots.
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