Open House At Bayou Gardens

St. Tammany is beautiful in the spring and the Bayou Gardens in Lacombe is the perfect place to enjoy nature’s beauty. The 10th annual Bayou Gardens Open House centered around camellias but also featured many interesting plants, naturscaping and wildlife.

Thanks to the St. Tammany Master Gardeners who created a naturscape at the gardens, many wildlife that have left the area will hopefully return.

“A naturescape is one whole habitat that includes water, food, shelter and space” for a species, said Rebecca Larkins, supervisory ranger at the site.

How it works? Native plants and plants that attract pollinators are used to create an environment to sustain species.

Sue Wilder, a retired USFWS ecologist, spoke on naturscaping and how it helps boost wildlife by creating a habtitate. Jim Bates, a St. Tammany Master Gardener and beekeeper spoke on growing bee and pollinator friendly gardens and yards.

Bayou Gardens is the headquarters of the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges and has over 400 varieties of 400 varieties of camellias and azaleas in bloom. The gardens is part of the Big Branch Marsh federal wildlife refuge.

The gardens land has been home to many. The gardens were an attraction from 1935 through 1956. Before that, it was the home of Louisiana Gov. Richard Leche, and also a Redemptorist seminary and high school.

The free 10th annual Bayou Gardens Open House was held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the complex, 61389 La. 434 in Lacombe.

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