Keep your eyes peeled: Now is the time to catch Louisiana irises blooming in swamps, bogs and roadside ditches.
At one time, vast expanses of Louisiana irises bloomed in the state's swamps and marshes, but development, herbicides, hurricanes and saltwater intrusion into marshes has decimated the fields.
“A whole generation in southeast Louisiana has never seen the springtime bloom of wild irises,” said Gary Salathe, founder of the Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative.
With other volunteers, Salathe formed the nonprofit Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative to rescue wild Louisiana irises and replant them in new spots.
Read the full article by Louisiana Master Naturalist Colette Dean in the Advocate...

If Brad “Bones” Glorioso has his way, every classroom, park, nature center and museum in Louisiana will be hanging up a poster identifying the state's venomous snakes.
Glorioso spent the latter part of last year helping to create the large, glossy poster, and now he's distributing them to help everyone learn more about these snakes.
“I’m hoping to change a lot of hearts and minds about snakes,” said Glorioso, a professional herpetologist, someone who studies reptiles and amphibians. “Snakes are a part of Louisiana’s rich natural heritage. Fifty species of snakes reside in our state, most of them harmless and rarely bite people.
"Venomous snakes pose virtually no risk to people," he added. "Most bites happen to people who try to handle or kill snakes; the rest are due to people not watching where they put their hands or feet.”
Read the full article by Louisiana Master Naturalist Colette Dean in the Advocate...