Featured Native Plant Advocate - Matthew Boutte

ANPP is thrilled to feature Matt Boutte as this month's Native Plant Advocate. Many of our readers know Matt as the owner of Boutte Landscapes, where he offers services in landscaping design, maintenance, and installation. The passion and vision that Matt lives by comes through clearly in his own words below. His business information is in Local Services below.

From Matt: "As a child, I was captivated by the natural world, constantly exploring and studying its creatures. While I later delved into visual arts, my attachment to nature persisted. Odd jobs led me to appreciate outdoor work, especially in Acadiana's gardens. Over time, I learned to identify plants and realized their profound presence. Despite not pursuing a biology degree, I now work in the gardens and natural spaces of the South, sharing the beauty of native plants. As an artist, I find native plants to be the ultimate medium. Like traditional mediums, they fill spaces and evolve with the seasons, supporting wildlife. This living "paint" invokes feelings of pleasure and comfort in people. Although society has lost natural spaces, I aim to contribute to a greener future through my landscaping business, designing with native plants."

Bill Fontenot had this to say: "Thanks to Phyllis Griffard and ANPP, I was able to hook up with Matt a few years ago. I had been desperately seeking a landscape designer/installer to which I could refer clients, as I was no longer able to handle that part of my eco-consulting business. We’ve worked together on a number of substantial and ongoing projects ever since. Matt’s level of landscaping strength and endurance astonished me from the outset. And not long into our partnership I discovered that he had trained in art and had an excellent eye for design. Combine that with his old-school obsession with plants — especially indigenous plants — and at that point I could finally exhale. As we moved along the evaluation, design, plant selection/sourcing process that goes along with each project, I came to realize Matt’s most important attributes: patience and a natural sense of mindfulness— both of which I still personally struggle with here at the end of my sixth decade of living. Congratulations Matt. Our little corner of this precious planet is better because of you!"