BREAKING NEWS!!

NATIVE GARDEN ESTABLISHING ROOTS LOCALLY

(Thibodaux, LA) A native garden planting demonstration at the Lumen Christi Retreat Catholic Center in Schriever, demonstrated the benefits of native plants with the entire region.

Exotic plants, which originate from other parts of the world, have the potential to become invasive pests, spreading rapidly and destroying the habitat value of the entire ecosystem. However, native plants are generally more attractive to local wildlife and more likely to survive seasonal extremes in rainfall and temperature than non-native plants. These qualities are appealing to those who want a beautiful landscape that is easily maintained.

The native garden included American Beauty Berry, Yaupon Holly, Dwarf Palmetto and many colorful native perennials. Mulch made from bagasse, an alternative to cypress mulch, was used to enrich the landscape.

This is the second native garden planting coordinated by Michael Massimi, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) invasive species coordinator, with the help of native species expert Bill Fontenot. “The site was chosen because the center wanted to improve its wildlife habitat,” said Massimi. “It is a highly visible location that has the potential to show the public the benefits of a native garden,” according to Massimi. The first planting is located at the corner of 3^rd street and Green Street in Thibodaux. BTNEP received financial support from the Gulf of Mexico Program for both plantings.

Members of the community help in the planting, including the LaTerre Master Gardeners. Those who did not attend the planting can request a free copy of BTNEP’s newest publication, “Attracting Wildlife with Native Plants.” This publication is the first in a series of residents’ guides for citizens of the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary.

LOCAL VOLUNTEER EFFORT GOES GLOBAL

(Thibodaux, LA) Volunteers from across the globe lent their green thumbs to help restore Louisiana’s wetlands on June 6, 2007 in Plaquemines Parish. The volunteers planted native grass in damaged areas of coastal marsh. Students from Riverside-Brookfield High School in Illinois and four Nicholls State University Foreign Exchange students from Japan joined the efforts.

The volunteers planted 4,000 plugs of Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora ‘Vermilion’), also known as oystergrass, across a 5,000 linear foot shoreline in two rows. The planting area, which is now adjacent to open water, was suggested by Patty Vogt, Plaquemines Parish Soil and Water Conservation District board member who lives behind the levee. Vogt said she “used to be able to walk out across the land, but now you can catch Redfish here.”

The land loss this area has experienced made it an ideal place for establishing new vegetative growth. The plants will create new habitat for marsh animals, as well as provide shoreline protection from wave induced erosion for a levee that was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina’s storm surge. The hurricane protection levee, in the town of Home Place is being repaired by The Shaw Group. The levee in this area is expected to be repaired by the end of June 2007.

All of the plants were purchased by the Plaquemines Soil and Water Conservation District, and funded through the Department of Natural Resources. Matt Benoit, Coastal Vegetation Program Manager for the  Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, provided logistical and technical guidance for the planting. The volunteer effort was lead by Mel Landry, Volunteer Coordinator for the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP).

BREAKING NEWS: MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS JOIN TO RESTORE MARSH

(Chauvin, LA)  On Thursday May 3^rd approximately 25 volunteers from Pinecrest Middle School  in West Monroe, participated in a community-based habitat restoration project near Chauvin to help restore natural habitat areas damaged by on-going coastal land loss.  Working with many partners and sponsors, volunteers planted a total of 5,000 wetland plants along 6,800 feet of shoreline on the east side of Lake Boudreaux.  The planting stabilized the shoreline, reduced erosion, improved fish and wildlife habitat, and educated volunteers about the region's coastal land loss issues.