By: Phyllis Giffard
Melissa Dardar celebrates her gold-level
certification in Youngsville.
Melissa and Jerry's residential property is located in a traditional subdivision with large yards several miles south of Youngsville. The couple moved from Houma in 2009. Their 1.5 acre lot had large, old live oaks and pecan trees, and foundation plantings surrounding the house while the rest of the property was maintained as lawn. Melissa is an avid gardener and Jerry is a willing partner, consulting on design ideas and helping with the heavy work. Melissa joined Lafayette Master Gardeners with plans to increase flower beds, plant fruit trees and a vegetable garden. As she learned more about native plants and their benefits to wildlife she decided to join ANPP to learn more. Just last year, Melissa began volunteering Tuesday mornings at the June Walker greenhouse in Arnaudville, bringing home plants, seeds, and ideas to expand her beds.
Melissa wanted to add more beds away from the house where plants requiring full sun would thrive. Jerry agreed but wanted low maintenance and no obstructions to mowing. They came up with the idea of raised oblong metal planters where they could enjoy the blooms and near the garden where the pollinators they attract are a benefit to fruit and vegetable production. The raised beds allow easy maintenance like weeding and pruning, deadheading flowers, and picking cut-flowers. Salt marsh mallow Halberd's leaf mallow, Indian blanket, ashy sunflower, swamp sunflower, aster and Texas Star hibiscus fill these beds with blooms. Native plants such as American beautyberry, Turk's cap, beebalm, tropical sage and mountain mint incorporated into the existing foundation plantings replace invasive or non-productive introduced species over time. She began increasing beds behind the house, surrounding two mature productive citrus trees with pollinator plants. Lining these beds with the flagstone removed from a patio, added a dramatic design element. Perennials such as cut leaf coneflower, obedient plant, rattlesnake master, aquatic milkweed, Indian blanket, little bluestem, Louisiana and rust Iris are mixed with culinary herbs to create a diverse mass of color, scent and texture. Wire re-purposed from an animal pen provides an arch supporting coral honeysuckle. Two large stumps from a water oak accent the ends of the arch and provide seats for Melissa's grandchildren to ponder the garden.
From the July 2022 ANPP Newsletter
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