Story and Photography by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey Eager to leave city life behind, the Quinns retired to the quiet countryside 18 years ago. They followed their dream down a long gravel drive past a scenic pond and horse pastures. They selected a site in full sun bordered by woods and selected a house plan with porches …
Story and Photography by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon Native spotted horsemint (Monarda punctata), one of the remarkable members of the mint family, is a beautiful short-lived perennial herb that is a must-have for the pollinator garden. Butterflies, bees, solitary wasps, and other beneficial insects flock to the gorgeous, nectar-rich flowers. It is also deer resistant and …
MORE THAN MULCH What to plant under trees in your landscape Story and Photography by Jennifer Williams As you walk through a forest, you may notice the layer of leaf litter and other plant debris covering the forest floor, but what you more than likely will not notice is the diversity of plants growing under …
Everything you need to know about fertilizing your potted vegetables Story and Photography by Kathryn Fontenot Vegetable gardens come in all sizes and shapes. One of the lowest maintenance vegetable gardens is one growing in a container. In an age where working people are constantly “at work” thanks to email and text messages and parents …
A one-of-a-kind refuge Story and Photography by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey In 1995, the Boswells discovered 43 acres with a mix of woods and cow pastures located in rural St Tammany Parish. Surrounded by sprawling horse and cattle farms, it was love at first sight. The acreage was exactly what the Boswells had been looking for to …
Story and Photography by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon You’ll enjoy growing garden balsam, an easy-to-grow, upright heirloom Impatiens species that was a favorite in Victorian gardens. Both the showy single-flowered variety and the double camellia-like form are making a comeback. The lovely flowers attract pollinators, including bees and butterflies, to the garden. Balsam does well when …
From ball fields to vegetable fields By Kathryn Fontenot East Baton Rouge residents recognize Hillar Moore, District EBR Attorney, from evening news reports and local newspaper articles regarding criminal activity. But his friends and family know him as a coach, and more recently, as an avid gardener. To conduct this interview, I met Mr. Moore …
Some like ‘em hot, some like ‘em not Story and Photos by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey Nearly all Louisianans have encountered peppers – in a culinary dish or in their gardens. Stuffed bell peppers have always been a church potluck staple and hot sauce – Tabasco or another – is a common table condiment. Banana peppers are …
Creating cozy outdoor rooms in your landscape Story and Photography by Meaghan Clark “Putting together a great outdoor space is like fitting together pieces of a puzzle,” says Kenny Rabalais of The Plant Gallery in New Orleans. With lighting, sounds, water features, outdoor seating, pathways, and lush gardens to consider, it is a task that …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon Passiflora caerulea, a native of Brazil and Argentina, is a fast growing, semi-evergreen flowering vine that is quite cold hardy and will come back from the roots after hard freezes. If the showy, exotic flowers are cross-pollinated with another species or cultivar, blue passionflower vine will produce egg-shaped …
