NATIVE PLANT ADVOCATE OF THE MONTH - Donna Gauthier

"I have always loved the outdoors. My first real camping experience

was with my Girl Scout troop in Hahnville, where I discovered the joy

of spending time in nature. When I arrived in Lafayette to attend USL

in 1972 (earning my BS in Nursing), friends and I often visited Pack

and Paddle to learn about the best places to hike and camp in

Louisiana. I also joined the local Sierra Club and participated in many

hiking and camping trips.

During those outings, I became increasingly curious about the local

flora. My first reference book was Wildflowers of Louisiana and

Adjoining States by Clair Brown, followed by Caroline Dormon’s Flowers

Native to the Deep South—both of which deepened my fascination with

wildflowers.

Although my career as a registered nurse was deeply rewarding, it’s

our natural environment that brings me the most joy. I’ve never been

formally trained in botany or the natural sciences, but I remain

captivated by the wildflowers that surround us.

When I first met the group of volunteers at the greenhouse in

Arnaudville, I was immediately drawn to their mission—and to the

simple pleasure of getting my hands in the dirt. I started as an

occasional Tuesday volunteer, and before long, I was there every week.

Through this work, I’ve learned so much about propagation and the

importance of native plants in our ecosystems.

I’ve served as secretary for one term and helped put together our

newsletter, but my true passion has become working with the seeds

ANPP collects and stores. When I asked Dona Weifenbach if I could

help organize the seed collection, it quickly became one of my favorite

tasks. There’s still so much more to learn, and I’m grateful for every

opportunity to grow."

Thank you, Donna, for all you do as a native plant advocate!