Upcoming Events
Bayou Gardens Open House
When: Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 9 AM - 1 PM
Where: Bayou Lacombe Centre at 61389 Hwy 434 Lacombe, LA.
- Free Family Activities
- Free Arts & Crafts
- Free Guided Nature Hikes
- Free accessible cart tours of historic gardens
- Free Workshops on camellias, bees and more!
- Free Nature Journaling Activities w/local artists
- Free Entry
- Free Parking
will be there to support this great event and to raise funds for future events. The Friends will be hosting -
- Native plant & tree sale
- Camellia & Azalea sale
- Food concessions
- 鈥nd don鈥檛 forget about the Nature Store!
The Centre includes the former Bayou Gardens, which contains hundreds of varieties of camellias along with other flowering trees and shrubs. Special garden tours will be offered, beginning at 9:30 AM, with the last tour at 1 PM. In addition to admiring the blooms, tour-goers will learn about the interesting history of the site. Visitors may also explore on their own throughout the day. Sturdy shoes are recommended for the paths and trails.
The event is co-hosted by the a non-profit group that supports projects on area National Wildlife Refuges and has worked to restore Bayou Gardens. Members of the Friends group will be demonstrating a waxing technique for camellia flowers 鈥� a fun way to preserve the beauty of these spectacular blooms. Visitors have the opportunity to wax their own camellias from 11 AM - 1 PM.
Bayou Gardens was created beginning in the 1940鈥檚 by former Louisiana Governor Richard Leche on grounds surrounding his home on Bayou Lacombe. By 1950 the gardens were being operated as a commercial tourist attraction and as a nursery for camellias, azaleas, and other plants. The gardens were later maintained by the Redemptorist order, which established the Holy Redeemer seminary school on the site in 1960.
Bayou Gardens is today part of the Bayou Lacombe Centre, an administrative headquarters for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service鈥檚 Southeast Louisiana Refuges office.
Sign-Up for a Behind the Scenes Tour
Join refuge volunteers on a tour behind the scenes at the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex. Listen to the history of the unique Bayou Lacombe Center from its early days of use by the Choctaw and other indigenous groups to a private home, horticultural garden and now a headquarters for a National Wildlife Refuge Complex! Learn more about former landowners, including a Louisiana Governor and Federal judge, that shaped the landscape of this hidden treasure. Program meets at the Bayou Lacombe Visitor Center. This is a special tour for our visitors to enjoy the winter scenery and learn more about the site鈥檚 history. Be sure to dress for the weather.
To sign-up contact refuge volunteer Sandi Wicklund at [email protected]
Nature Explorers
1st & 3rd Friday of the month
Join refuge staff for this FREE, fun-filled educational program for young children 0 - 6 years old. Learn about native animals, create nature themed crafts, go on a short nature walk and more! Children must be accompanied by an adult through the duration of the program. Program meets at the Bayou Lacombe Visitor Center and is 45 minutes in duration. Programs vary with each nature explorers program and meet rain, mud or shine. No Registration is required.
Homeschool Fridays
4th Friday of every month (no program in July)
Join refuge staff for this FREE, fun-filled educational program. Everyone is welcome but programs are geared for youth ages 12 and under (K - 8th grade). Homeschool Day programs are set up to help families explore native flora, fauna and habitats of Southeast Louisiana. This program is a great opportunity to explore the natural world and engage in hands on activities. All youth must be accompanied by an adult through the duration of the program.
All programs are FREE courtesy of the Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges, Inc. and are conducted rain, mud or shine. Program length is 90 minutes. Register by emailing Ranger Becky at [email protected].