New life to gardens comes in stages and with people, too

Easter is here. Spring has sprung. Flowers are blooming and the annual New Iberia Garden Club Les Jardins des Fleurs is slated for next Sunday with a preview in today’s Teche Life. Homeowners have been busy trimming their shrubs, planting new annuals, cleaning out perennial beds and laying new sod to get ready for the tour of homes.

Don’t be surprised if all the beauty of the chosen gardens is not fully in bloom. As hard as it is to predict the weather on any given day in South Louisiana, it is just as hard to plan for a garden tour when the budding after winter is seasonally temperamental.

The Acadiana azalea trails learned long ago to list a “season” for blooming never knowing when the dormant plants from winter will pop forth with spring flowers. Several of this year’s NIGC featured homeowners said May would be their prettiest month. Their unique approaches to gardening were the attraction of the tour as photos were taken for today’s section.

Edgewater Drive

Like many in Acadiana, life as usual changed for Cindy and Mark Romero August 2016. The floodwaters in their back yard from Bayou Teche kept rising while they were out of town. A neighbor watching the dog kept them informed and another friend eventually kept the lower basement pumped out so only a couple of inches remained by the time they were able to get home.

After the floodwaters receded, a new plan for their back yard emerged. A larger bed underneath enormous pine trees was split into two smaller beds. An irrigation system was put in and thus, the need for complete sodding of a carpet of green that was installed last week.

Visitors for the garden tour will enjoy the peace of this renovated home along the banks of the Bayou Teche. Since the owners purchased the property, the entire front columned porch has been rebuilt and the exercise pool area and bayou deck are clear indications the family enjoys the outdoors.

An old live oak smiles at those who enter the haven at water’s edge. His sunshine face is permanently affixed to the tree having its bark grown over the original attachment. A suggestion to measure and name the tree may give the Teche Area a new post in the Live Oak Society for ancient trees.

Sugarland Estates

Alisa Boudreaux embraced her temporary home with open arms — and fertile seeds. A country girl from Loreauville, the widow of six years will soon be returning to her roots after a May wedding to Louis “Peck” Broussard, a kindred soul who also loves the small town life. They’ve already purchased their new property and whoever moves into this Sugarland Estates home will have easy care flower beds.

Boudreaux is a perennial gardener. She likes to remove the old debris annually and watches to see the return of plants long cared for in her garden. Hebert’s nursery is her go-to place for plants of all varieties. The surprises this year have been the spreading of plants where they weren’t planted.

She loves to garden vegetables as well as flowers and this year her romaine lettuce has increased its yield outside the garden box. Not only did seeds fall next to existing plants, they ended up resting from the breeze along the house line. They will be ready to harvest following the garden tour.

She also incorporates sentimental items into her garden. A plaque in honor of her late husband rests below the worn statue of Mary that was her grandmother’s. A rusty bicycle donated by “Peck” remembers a favorite aunt, Camile “Com” Broussard. The new life of blooming flowers in the bicycle basket will transfer with the couple to their new home garden later this year.

One of the benefits of taking the garden tour is to gain inspiration. Driving to and from the designated homes puts into practice the concept of “smelling the roses.” In other words, notice the homes and businesses along the way as you travel from one destination to the other. Although they are not officially on the tour, the city is blooming everywhere you travel.

As an example, the entrance for Sugarland Estates is bursting with snapdragons and pansies but are easily missed if driver and passengers are engaged otherwise as they pass by. The same can be said for houses near the host homes.

Steamboat House

If you’ve ever driven down Main Street in New Iberia, you’ve probably seen the Steamboat House. Its placard along the sidewalk makes it hard to miss but apparently, until the huge branch broke September 2016, some folks didn’t notice the decades old stately mansion because they were noticing the enormous tree. The live oak branch appeared to be planted in the center front yard — it was in fact only a very large draping branch from a single live oak named Annie Laurie.

Landscaping took on new meaning for Lisa and Keith Hulin last year when the branch gave way. After Bayouside Trees of Jeanerette cleared the 20 ton branch, Stokes Horticultural Services came to the rescue and maintains the grounds for the Steamboat House. Living just down the street, Gene Stokes quickly came to the aid of the naked house.

Not only does he maintain the grounds of the Hulin house, removal of the shade forced the Mata gardens next door to change. Shade previously covered the front of both Main Street homes and when the sun took prominence, replanting was necessary. He now maintains both gardens.

Keith Hulin said it was the back yard that captured his heart when they considered buying. Lisa Hulin said the front yard is city living and the back yard is more like the country where she was raised. Groups of varying size palms make the outdoor oasis feel like a different world. Unique plants are the norm for Stokes, cared for five days a week by Tina Boudreaux.

The property stretches to the Bayou Teche where her mother’s cottage is nestled. The tour ends at the pool, but visitors will see the reason for the Hulin’s first time reaction. Living with the couple in the home are two of their three sons. The pool side decks, spa and entertainment equipment make it easy to see how they enjoy living outdoors all year around.

Squirrel Run

Golfing is a hobby of Claire Defelice, who was in the front yard discussing with a new neighbor the possibilities of exchanging golf lessons for gardening pointers. Her pot friendly garden backing up to the fairway is more a practical element than a planned esthetic. By using pots she can move them in and out when winter comes preserving some of her plants for another year.

Although she consults and hires The Landscape Ranch, Defelice insists on doing the annual planting and maintenance herself. She said it is therapy. The lightweight hammock she keeps in the rock garden is ever ready for a quiet repose to read books, she said.

Color is her motivator or finding a new plant she likes. The collection of colors and plant types lets you know she is serious about gardening, something fellow golfers are able to enjoy as well — even if they perpetually tease her about each addition to the garden landscape.

Shadows-on-the-Teche

Starting, ending or stopping along the tour at the gardens of the Shadows-on-the-Teche will give garden tour patrons the opportunity to see why for decades brides have been using the grounds for wedding portraits. Traditionally closed on Sundays, the gardens will be open for viewing thanks to gardener Yvonne LeBlanc, who will be on hand to answer any questions.

The natural surroundings make The Shadows one of the favorite stops for tourists visiting the Teche Area. Without a preplanned event vying for attention, a leisurely walk through the gardens can be enjoyed along the bank of the Bayou Teche. Imagine the transformation of your home into a plantation paradise with easy maintenance plants and evergreens that canopy your lawn for long summer nights and cool retreats all year long.

Now that you’ve taken the Teche Life tour of homes, make plans to visit them all in person from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 23. Rain date is April 30. Tickets are $5 and benefit the club that monthly designate a favorite home as Garden of the Month. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Shadows Visitors Center or at each home the day of the show. For more information, call 352-1936.