Mary Fournet “Bubbles” Guirard: Silver level Louisiana Certified Habitat

ANPP congratulates Mary Fournet “Bubbles” Guirard for her silver level

Louisiana Certified Habitat in St. Martinville.

At first glance Mary’s yard appears to be much like any other lovely,

traditional oak shaded yard that can be found surrounding an older

house. However; a more careful look reveals interesting anomalies:

native plants tucked into the flower bed bordering the front of the 100-

year-old house such as self-heal, American beautyberry, gaillardia,

native lobelias, and gaura. Pots housing pokeberry, bird peppers, and

native irises dot the landscape. And a debris pile!

When Mary purchased her house over twenty years ago she began

slowly adding native plants to her landscape keeping most of the

plantings to honor prior owners. In the last few years she decided to “get

serious” and began to more aggressively pursue her goal of creating a

healthier, more wildlife friendly environment to pass along as a legacy to

the next family to own her house. With the assistance of Zack Deshotel

of Greaux Cajuns, Mary has integrated in her yard many more species

of native plants, with particular interest in those utilized by the Acadians

and native peoples such as Baccharis (also known as manglier),

American beautyberry, and Jerusalem artichoke.

In her goal to create a more viable habitat for all creatures, Mary has

only very selectively removed or cut back the long-standing edge

vegetation, leaving shelter from predators and safe spots for nest

building for birds and other animals. In addition, she created a debris pile

as a haven for reptiles and amphibians, added a bird bath as a water

source, and multiple feeders for the many birds who call this yard home.

Congratulations Mary on your welcoming, peaceful, and lovely urban

garden oasis for critters, as well as native and non-native plants! -

certified by Susan Hester Edmunds