Events

January Reflections in the Garden 

by the Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens

Topic: Native Tree Preservation

Louisiana’s native trees are more than landscape features — they are ecological anchors that support wildlife, reduce stormwater runoff, and preserve the character of our region. In this hands-on workshop, horticulturist Lee Rouse breaks down how to assess tree health, prevent long-term damage, and make informed decisions about care and preservation. Attendees will gain the confidence to protect these vital assets and steward our natural heritage for generations to come.

Speaker: Lee Rouse, President of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society

About the Speaker:

Lee Rouse brings more than 20 years of horticulture, landscape design, and educational outreach experience to his work as Owner and Lead Consultant at Rouse’s Horticulture in Baton Rouge. He partners with homeowners, organizations, and community groups to design sustainable landscapes, conduct full-yard assessments, and inspire people to garden with confidence.

Before launching Rouse’s Horticulture, Lee served as an LSU AgCenter agent, where he taught the Louisiana Master Gardener program for eight years and helped train hundreds of gardeners across South Louisiana. He holds a Master’s degree in Plant and Soil Systems from Louisiana State University and currently serves as President of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society. Lee also shares his expertise as a monthly gardening columnist for InRegister Magazine and speaks regularly at garden clubs, nurseries, and regional horticulture conferences.

Known for his practical, science-backed approach, Lee’s presentations are clear, engaging, and tailored for all skill levels—from new homeowners to seasoned growers. His demonstrations include native plant selection, seasonal pruning, yard evaluations, and sustainable closed-loop systems that incorporate aquaponics and backyard chicken coops. Lee’s passion for making horticulture accessible is evident in every workshop, and his ability to translate science into simple, actionable guidance is what sets him apart.

Event Details:
January 5, 2026 from 12 pm to 1 pm at the Ione Burden Conference Center (4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809)

Reflections in the Garden is a monthly "lunch and learn" series presented by the Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. The lectures are generally held on the first Monday of the month at noon at the Botanic Gardens.

In-person attendance is open to both members and nonmembers ($10) with registration.

15th Anniversary | Arbor Day & Tree GiveawaySaturday, January 17th | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Join the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and Baton Rouge Green for a fun-filled day celebrating Arbor Day! 

Baton Rouge Green will host their annual tree giveaway, offering one free tree per household while supplies last.

Plant a tree in Burden Woods, track its growth with GPS, and help reforest native trees lost to hurricanes and drought. Enjoy family-friendly activities like a scavenger hunt, tree climbing, StoryTime in the Garden, ax throwing, and more! Plus, don’t miss the chance to meet Smokey Bear and explore educational exhibits on native trees.

Food trucks will be on-site with delicious food and beverages throughout the day.

This event is free, and no registration is required!

Details coming soon! 

Friends of LSU Hilltop Arboretum Present the Annual Gardening Symposium:

Join Friends of Hilltop Arboretum for the 2026 Annual Symposium, featuring keynote speaker Jessi Bloom. Bloom will explore how to create functional landscapes rooted in ecological and permaculture principles, while incorporating sacred and healing spaces into gardens and outdoor environments. Attendees will gain practical insights, inspiration, and strategies to integrate sustainability, beauty, and habitat into everyday landscapes.

Sanctuary Garden Showcase
Following Jessi’s talk, attendees can explore our self-guided Sanctuary Garden Showcase, featuring local experts and vendors who bring permaculture and sanctuary garden principles to life. Participants can visit themed areas, meet experts, and discover inspiring ways to apply ecological and sanctuary garden design at home.

About Jessi Bloom

Jessi Bloom is a best-selling author, award-winning ecological landscape designer, and ISA Certified Arborist based in the Pacific Northwest. She is a passionate advocate for land access, food sovereignty, water security, and ecological conservation. Bloom is the author ofPractical Permaculture for Home Landscapes, Your Community and the Whole Earth and Creating Sanctuary: Sacred Garden Spaces, Plant-Based Medicine, and Daily Practices to Achieve Happiness and Well-Being.

Early Ticket Pricing through Dec. 31, 2025

Member - $75
Non-member - $85
Students - $45

Late Ticket Pricing Jan. 1-29, 2026

Member  - $85
Non-member - $95
Students - $50

Details coming soon! This will be a paid webinar with all proceeds supporting the Seeds for Education Program. 

The annual Louisiana Native Plant Conference, hosted by the Louisiana Native Plant Society, is chock full of presentations, vendors, exhibits, guided walks, workshops, field trips, a native plant auction and more!

The conference fee is $25 and there are housing and food options as well.

Details and registration will be announced at the end of the year.

Details coming soon! 

Wild Ones Greater Baton Rouge chapter is a partner for the world's largest annual biodiversity census, the City Nature Challenge. 

The Baton Rouge region is participating in this global citizen science event, and we need your help documenting our native plants and wild organisms in Southeast Louisiana.  

Over 800 other cities around the world are participating in this event. Let’s show off the Baton Rouge region's amazing wildlife diversity and unique ecosystems! The observations collected become open source data for anyone to use for education and research.

Taking part is easy!

- Find wildlife. It could be a bird, insect, plant or any other sign of life.
- Take a picture. Snap a photo of what you find with your smart phone or digital camera.
- Share! Upload your observation to iNaturalist.org or with the iNaturalist mobile app and it will be automatically added to the contest project.

Any observations made anywhere in Southeast Louisiana during the official event period will automatically count toward the challenge. (View the map of our competition area on the iNaturalist project.)

The timeline:

April 24-27 Take photos!

April 24-May 10 Identification period and time to finish uploading photos.

May 13 Results announced

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!