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June 2025

Native Plant and Pollinator Field Day, Saturday, June 14th
West Baton Rouge Ext. Office - Port Allen, La

On June 14 the West Baton Rouge Garden and Civic Club partnered with the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Extension Service to hold a Native Plant and Pollinator Field Day at the WBR Agricultural Center in Port Allen, Louisiana. The event was open to the public and over sixty people from many different areas and organizations attended.
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Representatives of LGCF member clubs the Gardenettes, Gonzales Garden Club, and Plaquemine Garden Club, as well as LGCF District VI Director Vickie Fannaly attended. The speakers and topics were Dr. Morgan Christman - Pollinator Ecology; Botanist Layla Tagert – LDWF Wildlife Diversity Program; Instructor Jennifer Blanchard – Medicinal Plants; La. Native Plant Society Representative Heather Blanchard – La. Certified Habitat Program; WBR Garden and Civic Club members – tours of their public native plant, pollinator, and bird gardens. Club members worked dozens of hours over the past six months to make this event a reality – planting gardens, planning, cooking, communicating, stuffing swag bags, setting up, and hosting.  For the event various club members crafted outdoor plant labels, organic soaps, seed bombs, and native plant mix seed packets. It was a huge success and helped participants Geaux Native! The WBR Garden & Civic Club is a member of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc., Deep South Garden Club s, Inc., and National Garden Clubs, Inc.

May 2025

District VI President's Meeting - May 28, 2025
Middendorf's Seafood Restaurant at Manchac

Good start-up meeting for new and continuing presidents of District VI. We had 60 in attendance which included Louisiana Garden Club Federation Inc. Convention 2026 Chairmen from Houma Wanda Dishman and Gail Aycock. Guest Speakers were Geaux Native team of Elisa Tubbs and Leigh Prather who have been acknowledged by National Garden Clubs Inc. for their crusade to certify native plant and pollinator gardens in the West Baton Rouge Garden and Civic Club area. Gardenettes had one more member in attendance than than West Baton Rouge who traveled farther. All clubs are also members of Deep South Garden Clubs Inc. Eleven clubs were represented.

Circle of Roses: Ann Dugas, Rumiko Bourg

ANN DUGAS
RUMIKO BOURG

Installation Banquet May 13, 2025

Memorial Tree Planting, Honoring Katherine Mouch

On May 13, 2025 the West Baton Rouge (WBR) Garden and Civic Club honored one of its own by plant a Sweet Bay Magnolia in front of the WBR Agricultural Center in Port Allen, Louisiana - home to its public educational gardens. Twenty-three people attended the ceremonial tree planting in honor of Ms. Katherine Mouch, Past President and Garden Club Club Member for forty-two years. Included in that number are five of Ms. Katherine’s children, District VI Director Vicky Fannaly, sixteen club members, and two Agricultural Center employees. Ruth Stanley began with a short biography of her relationship with Ms. Katherine, Elisa Tubbs talked about how the Sweet Bay Magnolia was Ms. Mouch’s favorite tree and President Kim Callegan, assisted by the Mouch children, planted the tree. Afterwards the family placed roses at the base of the tree. It was a touching ceremony and the beautiful native tree is a wonderful addition to the grounds. The WBR Agricultural Center recently earned a gold Louisiana Certified Habitat certification and the new tree is a welcome addition to that effort. The WBR Garden and Civic Club presented this tree to honor Ms. Katherine Mouch, plant a tree for Arbor Day, and add to our native flora on the grounds. The WBR Garden & Civic Club is a member of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., and National Garden Clubs, Inc.
 
List of people present: Carolyn Bonadano, Trudy Millard, Carol Neusetzer, Joy Hobbins, Paula Soniat, Kim Callegan, Elisa Tubbs, Leigh Prather, Ada Hebert, Penny Saia, Diana LeBlanc, Pam Walsh, Ruth Stanley, Beth Kleinpeter, Riette LeBlanc, Vicky Fannaly - District VI Director, Allison Decell - WBR LSU Ag. Ext. Agt., Roxie Hotard - WBR Ag. Ctr. Administrator, Roy Mouch, Jr.- son, Wendy Daniel - daughter, Angelle Soniat - daughter, Mark Mouch -son, Randy Mouch - son.

April 2025

March 2025

"Brighten Your Day" - March 18, 2025

On March 18, 2025 West Baton Rouge (WBR) Garden & Civic Club member Joann Newchurch (right)  delivered a plant to local business owner Bucky Landry (left) in Port Allen, Louisiana as part of the club's "Brighten Your Day" public relations effort. The WBR Garden & Civic Club is in District VI of the LGCF and affiliated to Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc. & National Garden Clubs, Inc.

LSU Center for River Studies - March 13, 2025

Pictured above are Julie Prejean, Terry Guidry Rumiko Bourg, Kim Callegan, Kerry Callegan, Iris Bonano, Mary Niestler and President Ada Hebert.

On March 13, 2025 twenty-eight members of the West Baton Rouge (WBR) Garden & Civic Club toured the LSU Center for River Studies on the Baton Rouge Water Campus and the Oxbow Rum Distillery. They learned about how the Mississippi River shapes our environment and different uses of local agricultural products. The WBR Garden & Civic Club is in District VI of the LGCF and affiliated to Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc. & National Garden Clubs, Inc.

4-H Club Activities - March 5, 2025

WBR Garden Club members Leigh Prather and Riette LeBlanc (center) with the 24 4-H Club attendees. On March 5, 2025 the West Baton Rouge (WBR) Garden & Civic club helped our parish 4-H organization at their gardening workshop for 24 kids where the kids learned about pollination, gardening, and composting. The WBR Garden & Civic Club is in District VI of the LGCF and affiliated to Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc. & National Garden Clubs, Inc.

February 2025

Native Plant Road Trip! - February 25

On February 25, 2025 four members of the West Baton Rouge (WBR) Garden and Civic Club’s Geaux Native team traveled to Arnaudville, Louisiana to purchase native plants for spring planting from the Acadiana Native Plant Project. Afterwards, they lunched at the famous "little BIG Cup" restaurant. The WBR Garden & Civic Club is in District VI of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc., and affiliated to Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., and National Garden Clubs, Inc.

Great Iris Rhizome Give-Away - February 9, 2025

BASKETS OF BAGS!
On February 9, 2025 members of the West Baton Rouge (WBR) Garden and Civic Club worked in their educational native plant garden at the WBR Agricultural Center. The task was to thin out the irises and crinum lilies to make room for other plants.  Our regularly scheduled meeting was in two days so we decided to give away the excess rizomes and bulbs at the meeting. The rizomes and bulbs were cleaned, trimmed, and bagged for giveaway – making 150 bags in all! These 150 bags were given away on February 11, 2025; half went to WBR Garden Club members and the other half were given to the WBR Agricultural Center for distribution to the general public. They put an announcement on their Facebook page inviting the general public to pick up the Louisiana 
WBR AgCenter post about rizome giveaway
iris rizomes as Valentine flowers for loved ones. This project was great fun and beneficial to our club, our community, and our natives! The WBR Garden & Civic Club is in District VI of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc., and affiliated with Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., and National Garden Clubs, Inc.

Monthly Meeting - February 11, 2025

Peggy Coats, retired Director of Hilltop Arboretum in Baton Rouge
The West Baton Rouge (WBR) Garden & Civic Club held its monthly meeting on February 11, 2025 at the WBR Agricultural Center in Port Allen, Louisiana. Mardi Gras was the theme and the room was decorated appropriately; king cakes and other refreshments were served and members wore their Mardi Gras outfits. Hostesses were Kali Marionneaux, Julie Millard, Dena Culpepper, Peggy Parsons, Alena Prejean, and Debra Salvadras. Peggy Coats, retired Director of Hilltop Arboretum in Baton Rouge, was the guest speaker and presented members with native plant options for pollinator gardens. Her presentation was amazing and included photos of her amazing gardens. The importance of including multiple species of native plants was stressed and her talk inspired us to plant more natives! The WBR Garden & Civic Club is in District VI of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc., and affiliated to Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., and National Garden Clubs, Inc.

January 2025

Arbor Day - January 17, 2025

West Baton Rouge (WBR) Garden and Civic Club members attended Louisiana Arbor Day Tree Giveaway on January 18, 2025 at the Barton Arboretum at the LSU Agricultural Center Botanic Gardens. This event was sponsored by Baton Rouge Green and is always held on the third Friday in January. One thousand native trees, all of which were grown by staff and volunteers, were given away with hundreds of people attending. The WBR Garden and Civic Club is affiliated with the District VI - Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., and National Garden Clubs, Inc. 
The West Baton Rouge (WBR) Garden & Civic Club held its monthly meeting on January 14, 2025 at the WBR Agricultural Center in Port Allen, Louisiana. Speakers on the “State of the Parish” were Jason Manola, Parish President and Jeff Bergeron, Sheriff. Pictured from left to right are President Ada Hebert, and Hostesses Judy Whitaker, Karen Cordell, Debra Eidson, Paula Soniat, Alice Tullier, and Andrea Normand.  The WBR Garden & Civic Club is affiliated with the District VI - Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., and National Garden Clubs, Inc.

December 2024

Christmas Luncheon - December 11, 2024

Carolyn Todd (left) and Donna Moran (right) present Circle of Roses certificate to Clubmember Fannie Easterly.
The West Baton Rouge Garden and Civic Club held their Christmas luncheon on December 11, 2024 at the West Baton Rouge Museum. District VI Director Donna Moran and former Dist. VI Director Carolyn Todd and over 40 club members attended the festive event.  New Circle of Roses member Fannie Easterly received a certificate from Director Moran. The WBR Garden Club is affiliated with Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc. and National Garden Clubs, Inc.

Brighten Your Day

As part of its civic development program West Baton Rouge Garden and Civic club members Pam Walsh (left) and Shirley Cantazaro (right) presented the club's Brighten Your Day arrangement of the month for December 2024 to Salad Station owner Heather Webb (center.) The West Baton Rouge Garden and Civic Club is affiliated with the La. Garden Club Federation, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., and the National Garden Clubs, Inc. 

So this summer we started our "Geaux Native" program -- ​

On August 12 the Louisiana Native Plant Society reported on its facebook page that Elisa Tubbs and Leigh Prather received the first Louisiana native habitat certifications in West Baton Rouge EVER.

Between them, these two industrious ladies also have two NGC pollinator habitat certifications, one NGC wildlife habitat certification, and one Wildlife Federation wildlife habitat certification. 

On November 5 the Louisiana Native Plant Society awarded our President Ada Hebert her certification. We now have 7 certifications and 3 more pending. Cool huh?

November 2024
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Clean Up Day With Kids - November 26

On November 26, 2024 WBR Garden and Civic Club had a clean-up day with kids in The Oaks Subdivision in Port Allen, Louisiana. Club members Elisa Tubbs and Kim Callegan supervised 12 young people as they cleaned up their neighborhood.

And finished up in the park!! A great community project in West Baton Rouge Parish.

July 2024

Elisa Tubbs, received the Award #14 Butterfly Conservation FIRST PLACE Award won by West Baton Rouge Garden & Civic Club. Debby Cooper, Regional Director of the Deep South Garden Clubs Inc. The award event was held at the Louisiana Garden Club Federation Inc.'s annual Summer Board Meeting July 8-9 at the Crown Plaza Hotel. Tubbs served as Credentials Chairman for the event.

Clean Up - Keep America Beautiful - May 29 

Working to clean up with the Keep America Beautiful organization of Port Allen sponsored by West Baton Rouge Garden Club.

Gardening Day - April 3, 2024

Here are some photos/notes from our April 3 gardening day. We tended to the gardens at the West Baton Rouge Agricultural Center in Port Allen, Workers: JoAnn Newchurch, Pam Walsh, Leigh Prather 
Work done: weeded, planted seedlings & watered
Planted: Milkweed- Pollinator Garden
Lemon Basil, Perisian Basil, Blue Spice Basil and Toothache Plant- Herb Garden &Tea Garden 
Bee Balm, Chamomile & Roselle Hibiscus-Tea Garden
Roselle Hibiscus- Bird Garden : JoAnn Newchurch, Pam Walsh, Leigh Prather 
Work done: weeded, planted seedlings & watered