There are volunteer groups dedicated to the preservation and awareness of biologically rich natural landscapes in Mississippi and Louisiana. One of the most active restoration-oriented prairie groups is the Cajun Prairie Society. Over the last twenty years, hundreds of volunteers have transplanted shovel-dug clumps of wildflowers and grasses and collected hundreds of pounds of seed to introduce into the Eunice restoration site. Today this ten acre property, owned by the Society, houses the most mature representation of the benefits and the intricacies of prairie gardening. The few remaining vestiges of unplowed prairie wildflowers are increasingly mowed, herbicided, or simply crowded out by the deathkiss of the invasive Tallow Tree (Sapium sibiferum). These remants, once of over two million acres, have been reduced to a combined few acres. On a brighter note, the Cajun Prairie site serves as a seed farm for other restoration projects. Each year, seed is collected and sold to projects worthy of this rare genetic material. Numerous research papers have been produced in an effort to understand and dessiminate information essential to the effort of saving the wildflower heritage of southwest Louisiana from the brink of extinction. Grants have been awarded for a parking lot, a wheelchair accessible walkway throughout the entire property, and interpretive signage. The Society also recently award a grant for two local teachers to prepare a science lesson plan to be used in local elementary schools.
Cajun prairie volunteers transplanting from Mermentau Prairie (1999) |
Dr. Charles Allen in stand of Big Bluestem grass circa late 80's |
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The ten acre restoration site in Eunice |
a clump of transplanted Prairie Parsley |
Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) |
Prairie parsley- host plant for the Swallowtail butterflies
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Button snake root |
Milkweed |
