The gardens feature guest and display plants from M. D. Faith, Patrick O’Connor, Richard Morgan, Don Albers, Ron Betzer, Harry Wolford, Willian Bruner, Ron Barton and Joe Musacchia. In these gardens you will see species, collected species and named cultivars spanning over fifty years of hybridization from many hybridizers.

Bois d’Arc Gardens was started by Rusty and Ed Ostheimer in 1983. Growing iris had been a hobby since 1961. It became a business in 1983. After the loss of Ed, Rusty could not continue on the large scale and was going to give up the garden. Bud McSparrin a friend of 40 years who had been active in SLI and was retired offered to help get things under control. They are now a married team working to keep the garden a reality. The garden features iris species, named cultivars and seedlings. It might be more appropriately be called a farm as the iris are predominately grown in field rows over about 5 acres. However, they are also grown in barrels, perennial beds and around water areas. The garden has hundreds of different cultivars old and new collected over a period of 44 years presenting a sea of color and diversity in the spring.

The major obstacle was the control of weeds. The control of weeds is an important factor especially when plantings are extensive. Bud begin reading and consulting with chemical companies. He has an ongoing research program involving weed control that involves various conditions affecting application timing and garden conditions. He began trying some on his own. Joe Musacchia was involved in the LSU Master Gardner Program and spoke to Bobby Fletcher, Area Agent for Lafourche, St. Mary and Terrebonne Parishes about starting a weed control research program. Bobby Fletcher along with Ron Strahan, Department of Agronomy LSU are conducting research with various herbicides on several cultivars in replicated plots. We agreed to provide ground and plants to facilitate the program. Three rows in the garden are devoted to the study of the effects of different herbicides on Louisiana iris by LSU AG Center. The general discussion and preliminary information on the application of herbicides will be discussed at the tour.

Bois d'Arc Gardens features many seedlings under consideration from Rusty McSparrin, Bud McSparrin and Joe Musacchia.

Houma Area Convention and Visitors Center was planted and maintained by La-Terre Master Gardeners under the direction of Joe Musacchia. The three beds are maintained. One bed contains species and collected cultivars. The second bed is devoted to named cultivars. The third bed includes seedlings under number or name from various hybridizers as guest plants. The curving beds edged with petunias surround all three garden areas..

Murray Landry’s Garden features Louisiana iris grown in containers and seasonal annuals. He has grown Louisiana iris for twelve years. He grows about 100 cultivars about 9()% are container grown. Iris and other plants in containers are tucked away all around his home making for a delightful intimate garden. He has several guest plants on display. One section of the garden has iris from Dorman Haymon.