Wild Ones Greater Baton Rouge

10/15/2026

Thriving Gold Louisiana Certified Habitat In Ponchatoula
By Emily Stich

Not far from Ponchatoula's charming downtown lives a sleek black cat named Fish and a friendly giant tortoise named Jane, both carefully tended and tenderly loved by Camden and Casey. Camden's work as an ichthyologist and research assistant at Southeastern University inspired the cat's name, and the tortoise is Jane Goodall's namesake. Also employed at Southeastern, Casey is a dendrochronologist, a scientist who studies annual growth rings in trees to date past events, environmental changes, and climatic conditions. A talented carpenter, Casey built a versatile greenhouse where he grows hundreds of cypress trees from seed. Jane's large enclosure is Casey's handiwork as well.
This delightful foursome inhabits a three-acre mini-arboretum bordered at the back by the Yellow Water River, where a narrow riparian margin gives way to a baldcypress-tupelo swamp. Magnolias, swamp maples, red mulberries, waxmyrtle, black willow, redbay, pecan, loblolly pine and more thrive on this land along with at least seven species of oaks, three species of ash and four species of gum trees. The property is managed to encourage native habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife, with mowing limited primarily to trails through the herbaceous understory. Native habitat is favored over conventional landscaping, allowing much of the acreage to retain and develop a mosaic of distinct plant communities. The diversity of plants reflects gradual changes in elevation across the terrain.
While Casey and Camden do frequent battle with invasive privet, Chinese tallow and Japanese climbing fern, they love the tiny sundews, hypericum, asters, buttercups, clematis, coreopsis, irises, ferns and so much more that successively brighten the seasons. This talented couple carefully and thoughtfully nurtures their beautiful land to welcome all creatures great and small. Congratulations on achieving a Gold level certification for your ongoing efforts to grow and sustain a thriving native habitat!

10/15/2026

Gold in Ponchatoula
By Emily Stich

Step through an unassuming gate and Vicky Fannaly's wonderfully whimsical garden awaits you. Dominated by a magnificent bald cypress draped with Spanish moss, the compact garden is part of eight acres in Ponchatoula. Once the homesite of one of Ponchatoula’s early developers in the late 1800’s, previous owners cultivated strawberries here, and until recently over 500 antique autos rested beneath its trees. Vicky, who sold antique auto parts for over 50 years, still maintains an eBay store with a small inventory for old times’ sake. Only a very few remain as “yard art.” She has a spot on the Louisiana Quilt Trail Northshore map.

Today, most of the acreage has been restored to its native state. The property boasts four live oaks registered with the Live Oak Society of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc. The oaks are aptly named after four Fannalys: Marion, Ruth, Gerald and Victoria. Vicky is an active member of eight gardening clubs.

Two 1947 automobiles are nestled under an open garage on one side of the garden. The opposite side is defined by her home and an antique school bus, cleverly used for storage as well as parts. Speaking of selling, Vicky has authored 14 (yes, fourteen!) books which are sold on Amazon. Her writings include award-winning books of poetry, short stories "that never happened but could have," and her grandmother's memoirs, the story of a young girl who follows her husband to the Philippines and endures World War II.

I could go on and on about this fascinating woman who has done so much for her community, but let's get back to the garden. The marble bust of an elegant female figure provides a striking focal point in the center of this amazing garden. Trees such as Black cherry, sweet gum, hickory, magnolia, swamp maple, pecan, water oak and more are, of course, in the ground. But almost everything else grows happily in artfully arranged pots. Phlox, petunias, sedges, lilies of all sorts, coreopsis, irises, sunflowers, asters, and a huge host of native plants coexist peacefully in pots situated for their needs: in shallow water, full sun, shade, etc. A gracefully arched metal "garden tunnel" supports a variety of native vines. Her garden sports at least 20 species not found on the almost exhaustive plant list included with the LCH application.

Congratulations, Vicky, on your Gold certification and kudos for protecting and preserving this unique land for human and wildlife refuge.

10/06/2026

Just some happies

10/03/2026

10/02/2026

We’re excited to celebrate a new Louisiana Certified Habitat in Baton Rouge!
by Vilma Fernandez

Verien Schaffer's project began when she learned that her own garden could become a space that supports wildlife. She made room for that vision by expanding her fence and replacing existing non-native plants with Louisiana natives.
When the design project began, Verien explained that one of her goals was to have her garden certified as a Louisiana Native Habitat. In her words, she wanted the garden to feel wild, with plenty of food sources for butterflies and vines growing along the fence. Most importantly, she wanted a garden she could enjoy and learn from.
After the garden was installed and the plants began to establish, she continued tending it with care—going outside every day, watching the flowers bloom, seeing the plants grow, and learning along the way.
And now, that garden is officially a Bronze Louisiana Certified Habitat!
Congratulations, Verien, and welcome to this growing community of people creating spaces that welcome and support our Louisiana wildlife neighbors.

08/25/2026

08/25/2026

Thanks so much to David Breaux, Wild Ones member, East Baton Rouge Master Gardener and volunteer at LSU Burden Botanical Gardens.

He has kept the Wild Ones demonstration native plant container gardens at Burden alive this summer! Yesterday he pruned back some crazy happy primrose and blanket flower.

He and the bees 🐝 think the gardens look great, and I’ve got to agree!

Heather

08/23/2026

Public Garden earns Bronze!

By Emily Stich

The beautiful pollinator garden at Independence Botanical Gardens (IBG) is a collaborative effort between a handful of dedicated volunteers and BREC. The garden is located on BREC land and sponsored by the Baton Rouge Garden Club and Baton Rouge Botanic Garden Foundation. The very knowledgeable plantswoman Cindy Moran was the original impetus for the pollinator garden many years ago. It is now lovingly tended by Kay Radlauer and Mary Ann Atkinson. They greatly appreciate the occasional passerby who offers to help and the many people who thank them for their labors. You can find them pulling w**ds, pruning and planting most Tuesday or Thursday mornings depending upon weather.
Stop by and say “hello.”
BREC provides mulch, soil, trash bags and heavy labor, as well as climbing tall ladders to train the vines on the graceful arch that will soon provide shade for the benches along the central path.
The pollinator garden is unique among the various gardens that make up IBG in that it is quite diverse. It boasts well over 25 species of native plants as well as other non-native plants that attract pollinators with nectar, pollen, shelter and habitat. The other gardens focus mainly on one species or type of flora, such as irises, roses, daylilies, crape myrtles or herbs. Mary Ann and Kay's goal is to provide for both pollinators and people, so they strive to have something in bloom year-round. Despite the torrid heat and recent drought of August, the garden was ablaze with color and alive with happy insects.
This garden was originally planted as a butterfly garden in 2017, but an increasing knowledge of the importance of native plants led Kay and Mary Ann to add more and more natives that form the foundation of our ecosystem. They source the native materials from local growers, including Beaver's Abundance, Greenhand Nursery and Mizell Farms at BREADA's farmers' market, and especially from their own gardens and passalong plants from generous fellow gardeners. Plants include American beautyberry, buttonbush, Virginia sweetspire, asters, Stokes aster, buttercups, purple coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, coreopsis, goldenrods, gaura, native grasses, blue-eyed grasses, ironw**d, rudbeckias, Joe-pye w**d, rain lilies, passion flower vines, Turk's cap, violets, verbenas, spiderworts, thistle, and rattlesnake master. A Ukrainian garden club member planted giant sunflowers, her country's national flower. In Ukrainian culture and folk imagery, the sunflower represents the warmth and power of the sun. Ukraine is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of sunflower seeds and sunflower oil.
And speaking of seeds, the pollinator garden provides seeds for The Seed Library. Next time you're at the Main Library at Goodwood, come admire this marvelous pollinator garden and enjoy the numerous butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. The garden is free and open to the public from 7:00 a.m. to sundown daily.

*special thanks to Dennis Demcheck for additional photos

08/15/2026

Christopher and Selby Grand Transform Property to Earn LCHP Gold Level Certification!

By Peggy Coates

Christoper and Selby Grand purchased a 6-acre portion of a former dairy farm (1940’s-1970’s) in Charter Oaks Subdivision near Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish in 2006. Today, the property consists of a mixture of mature pines and hardwoods, bahaigrass pasture, cultivated areas, and Sisler’s Creek at the rear of the property. The creek empties into the Natalbany River, a primary drainage basin for the western edge of the Hammond-Ponchatoula area. Like a green ribbon along Sisler’s Creek, a riparian small stream forest hosts a blend of wetland and upland plant species.

The Grand’s philosophy is that their habitat “.… should feel like nature, naturalized as much as possible.” When they purchased the land, they saw no insects and bees! The riparian forest had a large population of invasive Chinese tallow and privet. It is a long- term ongoing project to eradicate these plants. As Christopher explored the forest, he discovered a large diversity of native plant species that have become a source for salvaging and replanting. He pointed out a particularly attractive post oak tree during our walkabout, also magnolias, elms, swamp red maples, American beautyberry, St. John’s wort, dog fennel, poke w**d, aster, goldenrod, ironw**d, boneset, and leafy elephant’s foot. Vines were also growing prolifically, including maypop, hempvine, poison ivy, and Virginia creeper, which he encourages to grow up and then down tree trunks to create ground covers. He also has learned that planting native trees along the clay ridge that runs along the creek transforms the soil due to the shade and decomposing leaf litter, and this creates a conducive environment for fireflies. His advice is to “.… keep leaves in place where they fall.”

Initially, the bahaigrass pasture was dominated by over thirty mature water oak trees that have been lost due to decades of storms and aging. As the trees were removed, the stumps were kept in place. As they begin to decay, the stumps become an anchor to build circular native habitat. The physical and biological changes that occurred, as the wood rotted, transformed the stump into a source of hydration and nutrients. Christopher uses succession planting to establish native plant communities around the stumps. He staggers plant species so that, as one wave finishes blooming and retreats, another takes its place. To edge the habitats and to add more nutrients to the soil, he uses fallen branches from the property. With still a large expanse of bahaigrass to cut, he positions his mower to blow grass clippings onto the habitats as he cuts the field, acting as natural mulch.

Systematically, Christopher established stands of native trees across the open fields. His favorite oak species is the swamp chestnut oak. He collected the acorns, propagated them, grew them out, and planted them in a grove. He is conducting a pawpaw tree experiment to determine the best growing conditions to produce fruit. He planted several native fruit tree orchards that include an understory planting of American beautyberry, transplanted from the site into the grove. Around the Grand home are beds planted with wetland species and native wildflowers. One plant that stood out was the giant coneflower, Rudbeckia maxima, that naturally grows on the site. Other plants include LA irises, pickerel w**d, mallows, spiderworts, and dwarf palmetto, to name a few.

In 2006, the transformation of the property to a habitat began. Selby said the increase in insect and pollinator populations has been dramatic! There are more caterpillars and native seeds for birds to eat, and, as a result, there are larger populations of native plants. Large populations of frogs, lizards, and snakes are welcomed, except for venomous ones, of course! Great horned owls and barred owls, along with small bats, live in the big trees. Gulf fritillary butterflies devour the maypop vines that now grow in large populations. Future plans for the property are to continue to develop habitat and eradicate invasive species, while also developing a management manual to pass on to the next owner.

Congratulations, Christopher and Selby, on achieving a Gold Level LCHP Certification for your ongoing efforts to grow and sustain a thriving native habitat!