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Bayou Gardens

 
 
Lacombe, Louisiana
  
 
Located on the grounds of the Administrative Offices
 
 
of the Southeast Louisiana Wildlife Refuges
  
     
 
One of the early brochures for the garden states …………….
  
 

Bayou Gardens, on the banks of historic Bayou Lacombe, creates a panorama of beauty that only Mother Nature can paint. Here, where Chata-Ima worked among the Choctaw Indians, the natural charm and beauty of the Bayou Country are preserved and enhanced by profuse plantings of camellias, azaleas and other shrubs. The loveliness that pervades the atmosphere of this paradise of Louisiana cannot be put into words.

Amidst the lofty pines and moss-draped forest trees of beautiful St. Tammany Parish native dogwood, redbud, magnolias, massed azaleas and over four hundred varieties (or cultivars) of camellias add colorful touches to the landscape. Formal gardens, patios and other attractive spots lend added interest.

    
             
 
In 1997, the property was acquired by the Conservation Fund on behalf of the Southeast Louisiana Refuges, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquired the property from the fund in 1998. The original residence was adapted to serve as a small visitor center for the refuge complex as well as housing for interns.
    
     
 
   
 
The administration building was renovated to house the refuge complex offices and was completed in late 2002. The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) offices were relocated to the complex in January 2003. Plans for the future include renovation of the chapel for a visitor center and refurbishment of the cafeteria as a multi-purpose meeting room and special event space.The total complex includes about 112 acres of planted gardens, marsh, and bayou, including an artesian well.
  
 
 
 
             
 

History of Bayou Gardens

  
 
Judge Wayne G Borah (U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana) purchased the property in the early 30’s. He built the house, pond, boathouse, and barn. In 1936 he married Elizabeth King Pipes, who subsequently laid out the gardens lined with boxwood and featuring a variety of camellias. The property was subsequently sold to ex-governor Richard Leche in 1945. Leche continued the cultivation of elaborate gardens that were begun by the Borah family.  By 1950 a commercial garden attraction, Bayou Gardens, was in operation. It consisted of 25 acres of the current property. Most of the camellias and azaleas were planted during this period. A museum was operated in the old dairy barn. It also included a commercial nursery featuring camellias and other plants.
 
 
Boathouse
  
Barn
  
 

 

In 1956, the Redemptorist Fathers purchased the property and began plans to operate a Seminary at the site. The governor’s former home became the priest’s residence. They constructed an administration/classroom building, a cafeteria and later, a chapel.  Other existing buildings on the site, such as the barn and two small residences, were used for housing, recreation, and extra classrooms. The Administration building contained a small three-room infirmary.

 

The administration building and cafeteria were designed by Samuel Wilson (Koch and Wilson of New Orleans), a well-known local architect and historian.

 

Groundbreaking for the seminary was in 1960 with the school opening in September of 1961. The chapel was constructed in 1964-65. By the early 70’s the school was also admitting non-seminarian high school students. The school was never as successful as had been hoped and closed in May of 1980. The Redemptorists continued to live on the property and held religious retreats there until 1996.

 

In 1997, the property was acquired by the Conservation Fund on behalf of the Southeast Louisiana Refuges. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquired the property from the fund in 1998.
 
             
 
    
 
     
     
 

Current Situation

  
 
Until recently, little had been done to maintain the formal gardens and much of the property’s exotic plant life since the 1980’s. Many of the original trails have been abandoned and are overgrown. A variety of natural vines have overcome many of the exotic plants.  Plants – both native and exotic – have been permitted to invade and in some cases destroy other plants.
 
 
   
  
 
Over the past few years a number of volunteers have tried to rejuvenate various portions of the gardens. This has been received with mixed responses. Some members of the FWS have supported these efforts while others have discounted them as “not being a part of our mission”.
 
 
 
 
 
 

With full support of the Southeast Region U.S. Fish and Wildlife leadership, we submitted a request to the Garden Conservancy for assistance. The Garden Conservancy is a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1989 to preserve exceptional American gardens for the public’s education and enjoyment.

Quoting from the Garden Conservancy website ……..”Experts estimate that more than two-thirds of great American gardens have already been lost to the tides of time. As the first national organization devoted to garden preservation, the Garden Conservancy is working to stem that tide by identifying gardens of unusual merit across the nation—from a desert garden in California to a Japanese garden in New York—and working with their owners and other interested parties to ensure the gardens’ futures. Some of these gardens are national treasures, while others are important community resources; all merit conservation as part of our national legacy. Saving a fine garden requires expertise, funding, and community support—resources the Garden Conservancy brings to bear in preserving great American gardens and opening them to the public. The Garden Conservancy works in partnership with individual garden owners and public and private organizations, and uses its legal, financial, and horticultural resources to secure each garden’s future and to make it permanently accessible to the public.”
 

The “Garden Survey” (Application for Assistance) was completed in 2005. We have received communication and a site visit from the Garden Conservancy. While they have not been able to fulfill our request, their response has been quite supportive.
  
             
             
 
We also submitted a request to the School of Landscape Architecture, Louisiana State University.  Our request included the following:
  
     
 

“Bayou Lacombe Center is a 112 acre facility owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It houses their administrative offices for the seven Southeast Louisiana Refuges. The site has quite a history. I've attached a couple of documents that share some of the historical information as well as some of our current efforts to restore and save a very lovely garden that has been neglected for a number of years. The property is on Bayou Lacombe and is very diverse in both native and exotic plants.

 

What is needed is a comprehensive "Landscape Plan" for the development and use of the property that integrates the uniqueness of the property with the mission and educational efforts of the Fish and Wildlife Service and simultaneously maintains its rich heritage.

We thought this might be the type of project that would interest a LSU Landscape Architectural graduate student -- namely as a Thesis and/or research project.

Part of the effort might focus on wetlands management, forestry management, biology, ecosystems, exotic gardens and a variety of demonstration gardens --- all of this plus much more with a focus on educational opportunities. In addition, there would need to be full integration with the organizational needs of the Fish and Wildlife Service.”

  
     
 
The response from the School of Landscape Architecture has not been positive so we searched for alternative solutions.
  
             
 
Since Katrina, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offered the services of a Landscape Architect and plans are currently underway to develop a landscape plan.

Needless to say, we are quite excited.

  
             
   
             
 

Opportunity, Perspective, and Vision

  
   
The property (Bayou Lacombe Center) could be a showcase arboretum, nature preserve, and museum unlike any other in our country. It could bring together those interested in preserving our environment; those interested in birding; those interested in preserving the history of the area; and those interested in both native and exotic plants and demonstration gardens. The grounds hold tremendous promise for educational opportunities for young and old alike.  They also provide the basis for significant tourist interest.  There is precedent for the development of such a project
 
             
     
 

Short Term Needs

  
 
  1. Continued commitment on the part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve and expand on the heritage of the property – both the natural heritage and the developed gardens. This will require a balance and integration of efforts.
  2. Volunteers to take charge and develop demonstration gardens.—Butterfly, herb, landscape, pond, etc. Note: On the grounds there is a beautiful “rock garden” surrounded by stone. There is a fountain with a landscaped area surrounding it. Both are fed by the artesian well. In addition, there is a butterfly garden.  All are in various stages of disrepair and need a lot of TLC and creative imagination.
  3. Volunteers to assist in locating financial resources for development and marketing. – Corporate and/or foundation grants; local, state and federal grants, etc.
  4. Volunteers to serve on a “planning/steering committee” to help develop a strategic plan in consultation and cooperation with the FWS.
  
 
LEADERSHIP……………..LEADERSHIP…………………LEADERSHIP