April Reflections in the Garden
Topic: Creating a Native Wetland Garden
Louisiana is known for its beautiful swamps and wetland areas that occur throughout the central and southern areas of our state. A large number of homes in southern Louisiana have low areas within the yards and landscapes that are unusable as gardens or flower beds. For this talk, Mr. Guidry will explore how native plants and trees can be used to create a beautiful natural wetland garden to enhance the landscape and create habitat for native fauna species. We will discuss types of native wetland plants, how to avoid and control invasive species, how to enhance the hydrology, and strategies to create these wetland gardens.
Speaker: Hunter Guidry, Principal Ecologist, Arcadis US, and Chair, Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens Board
About the Speaker:
Hunter Guidry serves as a Principal Ecologist and environmental consultant with Arcadis US, Inc. He has been a wetland ecologist for over 29 years and has experience with wetlands throughout Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Mr. Guidry has done over 300 field investigations for wetlands and habitat quality, and he has worked with clients as well as state and federal agencies for wetland habitat restoration and enhancement on many projects through native plant and tree plantings and invasive species control consultation.
Mr. Guidry has been volunteering with LSU Burden for over 25 years with tree plantings, wetland habitat enhancement, and invasive species control. He worked with BR Green to help create the Burden trail system and is currently working with Dr. Kuehney, LSU, and the City of Baton Rouge to develop a new stormwater detention area within the borrow pits on the property as well as helping design and create the new Burden trail system expansion project. Currently, he is serving as the Co-Chair for the Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens Board, working with LSU Burden on the current and future projects to help enhance Burden into an amazing community resource and experience. Additionally, Mr. Guidry volunteers with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, the Pontchartrain Conservancy, and the Society of Wetland Scientists on tree and vegetation plantings, habitat enhancement projects, and wetland advocacy on coastal Louisiana to help control the Gulf Coast land loss.
Event Details:
April 5, 2027 from 12 pm to 1 pm at the Ione Burden Conference Center (4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809)
Reflections in the Garden is a monthly "lunch and learn" series presented by the Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. The lectures are generally held on the first Monday of the month at noon at the Botanic Gardens.
Reflections in the Garden is live-streamed to members of the Friends of the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens through Microsoft Teams. In-person attendance is open to both members and nonmembers with registration.
