Jennifer Gray - Gold Louisiana Certified Habitat
- ANPP Volunteers
- Oct 4
- 2 min read

Congratulations to Jennifer Gray for her gold-certified habitat north of Breaux
Bridge!
For organic farmer and naturalist Jennifer Gray, the stewardship of her 10 acres
of property with its habitats of bottomland hardwood, wetland, and prairie is a 40
year labor of love. Over the years, these ten acres evolved to what is now known
as Bonne Terre— with a farm house, B&B, artist retreat, cypress-lined pond,
organic vegetable gardens, and landscaping boasting over 76 species of native
plants.
According to Jennifer, she has always seen the value of native plants and
certainly more so in the last decade. She has been incorporating them in her
landscape for many years with plans to add more, including an upcoming native
meadow garden.
As the visitor turns onto the long driveway approaching Jennifer’s farmhouse,
there is a pronounced shift from the open sugar cane fields to a protective green
oasis with its tree canopy of cypress, oaks, pines, and pecans. The driveway is
flanked by a pocket prairie of goldenrod, native morning glories, roughleaf
dogwood, and boneset stretching over 100 feet to the farmhouse. The opposite
fence boundary is populated by roughleaf dogwood, dewberry, hackberry,
greenbriar, and native bamboo, forming a narrow green boundary edge with food
sources for a variety of critters.
Strolling around the beautiful grounds of the farm and B&Bs, visitors will see
plantings of native species successfully intermingled with non-native cultivars in
patios, outdoor rooms, seating areas, and even the poultry yards.
An oak copse and seasonal wetland of cypress and tupelo trees form the rear
edge of Bonne Terre, a natural flood plain that Jennifer has allowed to evolve
independently of all cultivation. A place to roam and treasure nature’s unfettered
fecundity and endurance.
Thanks for Greauxing Native, Jennifer!
Comments