Events

Family oriented garden festival with table talks on Plants for  Hummingbirds, Worms and Composting, Native Plants in Landscape, Fall chores to do in garden, coloring pages for kids, and light refreshments.

What does it really take to turn a conventional lawn into a thriving native meadow? Join Owner & Principal, New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), Sara Weaner Cooper for a candid look at her family's ongoing lawn-to-meadow transformation featured in The New York Times and BBC. Drawing from three years of hands-on experience, Sara will share the methods, lessons learned, successes, and challenges of converting turfgrass into a dynamic native plant community. Participants will gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, management, and the ecological principles that guide successful meadow establishment, along with realistic expectations for how these landscapes evolve over time.

Registration link coming soon.

Monthly Board meeting

Hummingbird Celebration, will include banding of live Hummingbirds, viewing stations of hummingbirds feeding, expert advice from master gardeners and birding experts on how to create wildlife habitats and choosing the native plants to bring the hummingbird and other birds into your yard and property. There will be other vendors on site selling items related to birds, giving out information and free native seeds to attract wildlife and speakers thru the day activities.

Planning is underway for the Pelican Park Nature Club, Fontainbleau State Park, and Wild Ones Bartram BioBash weekend event. 

St Tammany Master Gardeners Fall Seminar, “Greaux Native” with

Presentations by Elise Smith coauthor of Southern Women, Southern Landscapes, Dr Jeff Wilson, MS State AgCenter Coordinator, “ Incorporating Natives and Non-Natives Plants in your Garden, and Linda Auld, The Bug Lady, speaking on Plant it and they will Come”.

There will also be  several table talks on adding native plants to your landscapes, Wild Ones Native Plants with free seeds and information on adding native into your Garden  and other talks. Native Plants  vendors will be on site selling plants.  Light refreshments and drinks will be served.

Tickets can be purchased at www.stmastergardener.org/event

4th Quarterly meeting with presentation by LA's USDA-NRCS soil scientist team. The presentation will be be focused on Assessing native soils and habitat restoration. A field trip to a restoration site might be included. The particular site might be private. If so, it will be for a limited number of members only, to be determined closer to the event.

The 26th Annual Wild Things Festival. This is a free family friendly event hosted by Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges and U S Fish & Wildlife Service. Featuring free canoe paddling rides, pontoon boat bayou tours and guided wildflower walks. There will be over 40 guest conservation exhibitors featuring live native animals, kid friendly games and crafts, Live music, hayrides,  and vendors with information on native plants to the Louisiana region.

Monthly Board meeting 

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

Zoe Evans, rewilding coach and VP of Partnerships & Programs at Wildr shares a practical, science-informed framework for evaluating a home landscape, identifying its greatest habitat opportunities, and choosing actions that support more plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Registration link coming soon.

Monthly Board meeting 

Monthly Board meeting 

No yard required. Learn how native plants can turn patios, balconies, containers, and other small spaces into meaningful habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This practical panel will cover plant selection, container design, seasonal care, and realistic ways to support biodiversity in limited spaces.

Registration link coming soon.

Birds depend on healthy, connected habitats for food, shelter, nesting, and migration support. Join experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to explore how native plants and thoughtful landscape choices can support birdlife at home. Learn how gardens, yards, and community spaces can provide the insects, seeds, berries, cover, and habitat structure birds need throughout the year.

Registration link coming soon. 

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.