Boats and volunteers needed for Basin Litter Round-up on the Water event

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will host the Atchafalaya Basin Litter Round-Up on the Water on Friday, April 22. The event is part of the Louisiana Love the Boot Week activities that will focus on beautification and litter clean-up around the state.

LDWF will lead on-water cleanup efforts by boat along the I-10 corridor area of the Atchafalaya Basin. LDWF encourages volunteers and sponsors to participate in these events to make the litter round-up successful in 2022 and help clean up our Sportsman’s Paradise.

LDWF personnel will operate a dedicated volunteer check-in table and litter drop-off station at the Atchafalaya Welcome Center boat launch located at 1908 Atchafalaya River Hwy., Breaux Bridge, LA 70517. Volunteers may contact Joshua Porter at 225-763-3540, or jporter@wlf.la.gov for any questions in regards to volunteering for this event.

The Department will provide crawfish sacks for litter collection, water, sunblock, and personal flotation devices (PFDs) (while supplies last. A limited amount of shirts will be provided to volunteers courtesy of Love the Boot.

If interested in volunteering and bringing your boat to help pick up litter, please register in advance at: https://keeplouisianabeautiful.org/love-the-boot/volunteer/

To find this volunteer opportunity on the above link, either scroll down until you see the LDWF logo or search events using the zip code 70517. Please be aware that removing litter on the water is a wet and dirty job. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing and water-resistant gear. Volunteers should also bring their own personal floatation device, which should be worn at all times while on the water.

Azalea Garden Club’s Country Tour of Gardens

The Azalea Garden Club and the Backyard Kids Jr. Garden Club are hosting a country tour of gardens on Saturday, April 30. Rainout day is May 1. The tour will be from 1-4 p.m. and the cost is $10 a ticket or $12 if purchased the day of the tour at one of the locations. Contact any member for tickets and a map or call 337-967-2401 or 337-519-2555.

The four garden locations which can be visited in any order are Bobby and Carmen Delcambre at 3615 Angel Drive (off of Avery Island Road); Millie and Mark Comeaux at 1901 Langston Road (off of Lee Station Road); Versa Dore at 5217 Claude Viator Road (off of Highway 14;) and Keith Bilello at 3700 Highway 90 E. (take Frontage Road).

Azalea Garden Club members will be at each location to answer questions. They will have tickets available for the tour and also for raffle tickets to be drawn at 3:45 p.m. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Raffle items can be seen at the Langston Road location. Water and a snack will be available at each location as well.

The Backyard Kids Jr. Garden Club will have a Youth Flower Show at the Claude Viator location. For $3, children can hold, pet, or feed animals — such as chickens, ducks, rabbits, miniature goats, donkey, horse, and a cockatiel — as a fundraiser for the BYKJGC.

There will be six educational exhibits at the Angel Drive location and there will be gardening handouts at the Highway 90 location.