Louisiana Master Naturalist - Blog

2026 LMNA Rendezvous a Huge Success!

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:26:35 GMT

Roaring Bull Alligator at Lake Martin, Mike VanEtten photo and copyright 2026. "Upon hearing the low rumble bellowing sounds from the alligator, I would describe it as attention getting, and making you want to find the creature who is making the eerie sounds." Mike VanEtten

"Words can barely begin to describe how thankful and appreciative I am of everyone that helped this weekend, from the presenters to the locations and all of the AMN volunteers.

We had such a positive response from attendees and everything went off without a hitch. None of this would have been possible without your support so please, give yourself a pat on the back!

And again, congratulations to Larry Allain for receiving the Caroline Dorman Award!

Utmost regards and until next time,

George Aoyagi "

President Acadiana Master Naturalists

Emerging text by Caitlin Neal-Jones and LMNA members

Acadiana Master Naturalists hosted over 80 participants for the 2026 LMNA Rendezvous. The two-day conference took place across several venues in the Lafayette area and highlighted the rich natural and cultural heritage of Southwest Louisiana.

Larry Allain, Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist 2026 making his keynote speech.

Friday evening: Happy Hour, Prairie Talk, and Night-time Adventures
Rendezvous 2026 kicked off with a Happy Hour learning session presented in partnership with Science on the Bayou, which highlighted some of the emerging scientific research taking place at UL Lafayette and around the Gulf Coast region.

Later, participants enjoyed a delicious dinner of chicken and Eggplant Parmesan at the hotel and a private screening of Louisiana Grass Roots. This documentary, produced by Dr. Phyllis Griffard and directed by Jillian Godshall, tells the story of the coastal prairie that once blanketed Southwest Louisiana and the people currently working to restore it. Dr. Griffard was on hand for a post-screening Q&A and guidance on starting your own prairie restoration work. This show will air Statewide on LPB Wednesday, April 22nd 9 PM, Sunday April 26 5.30 PM! Congratulations to all who participated in its cocreation! This is an important story for the age.

As the sun set, participants headed out to Atelier de la Nature in Arnaudville for Friday Night Field Adventures. The exhibition Attendees enjoyed moth sheeting, herping, bat facts, and stargazing guided by expert naturalists.
The Atelier itself was very striking! The exhibition won our hearts instantly with the massive mushroom installation and giant squid! Director Brandon Ballengée introduced the key displays by current and past naturalists, an installation for teaching about birds as survivors of the dinosaurian age and the extensive library! There was a nice lot to take in!

It was a highly fruitful night for herps, despite being a little on the cooler side, as several species of snakes were found under strategically placed corrugated metal sheets by L.A.R.E.’s hands-on herpetologist Jason Puma (AKA Rico Rabbits on Facebook). Jason impressed us by plunging in to catch everything he could, to give us all a closer look and opportunities to hold and touch the creatures of the Atelier's environs. We had memorable encounters with whimsical sculptures, multiple Masked Racers that were placid and delightful to hold and touch, cool and smooth with regal physiognomies, Plain-bellied Water Snakes and Broad-banded Water Snakes with their keeled scales and feistier spirits, a Northern Cottonmouth that was also placid, didn't gape defensively and showed its best qualities, and a very graceful Rough Green Snake that posed beautifully. A large female American Bullfrog impressed us with her equanimity and 'long-leggedy' charm!

Those of us who carry umbrellas as a prophylactic measure to prevent rainfall recognized the efficacy of Bat Detecting equipment in repelling the local bats, however a bold ambassador of the Chiroptera broke the jinx and flew over the group while hiking down the sculpture-filled nature trail (oddly enough, not far from the moth man sculpture!). Luckily, the brief rain clouds cleared up right on cue as attendees arrived and Dave Hossetter provided fine views of Jupiter and its moons and several star clusters. Some of the coolest wildlife photos from the weekend came from these adventures!

Saturday: Classroom and Field Sessions
Saturday began with an early morning bird walk at the Nature Conservancy’s Cypress Island Preserve led by Patti Holland and Jim Parker. Nature Conservancy volunteer and Master Naturalist Tad Guidry set the stage by explaining his citizen science work monitoring prothonotary warbler nest boxes and sharing how attendees can join the project. The tour de force was a roaring bull Alligator!

A tour of the UL Lafayette Ecology Center's native seed bank, led by Operations Manager Andre Daugereaux, offered a behind-the-scenes look at the collection, processing, and distribution of native seeds to support habitat restoration across Louisiana.

Dr. Beth Stauffer introduced the LO-SPAT project, a state-funded initiative using aquaculture and selective breeding to shore up oyster sustainability in the face of mounting environmental pressures.

Dr. Phyllis Griffard and Dave Patton gave a tour of the Acadiana Native Plant Project propagation greenhouse and many attendees were able to buy native plants during the tour. Dr. Griffard explained how the native plants are propagated and why it is important to choose plants with local genetics. Larry Allain took participants into the field for a conservation talk and a hunt for native pollinators. A male and female carpenter bee were caught and observed and many attendees were amazed by the nuanced iridescence of these specimens. They are not favored by home owners as they bore into wood soffits and deck boards but they are actually superb pollinators!

Meanwhile back at the hotel, participants enjoyed a plethora of presentations on naturalist topics. Dr. Bette Kauffman's workshop on citizen science tools gave attendees a guided tour of useful platforms: Nature's Notebook for phenology, eBird, and iNaturalist using Kauffman's own user-views. Many of us are familiar with her iNat project at Camp Hardtner as an example. Here we learned of the crucial role Citizen Science plays in filling in the data that supports research. She demonstrated key features and showed real project use-cases for these apps: Nature's Notebook phenology in her backyard, Ebird on Dauphin Island nature preserve and iNaturalist observations featuring in a book about Arkansas' plants.

Mark Shirley delivered an engaging and highly informative talk on Louisiana's most iconic reptile, the American Alligator which has been utilized from Paleo-Native American times to the present day. 90% of our 'gators are in the coastal parishes. Shirley described their physiology, life-style and behaviors, and shared stories of his work with them in the Rockefeller Refuge. He related Louisiana's fantastic alligator conservation success from a nadir in the '60's-'70's to over 4,000,000 estimated today due to an ingenious system of authorized nest harvesting by land-owners for farm-rearing with a percentage of the 15 month old, 4 ft 'gators being returned to the wild to perpetuate the species and maintain the critical role as apex predator. This percentage has been reduced to 5% because we had previously underestimated their breeding success rate.

Protected by CITES, there is now only a very small market for wild caught skins. Fashion houses Gucci, Hermes and Louis Vuitton only accept farmed skins now and have their own tanneries that turn out perfect skins, very highly valued, second for quality after Nile Crocodiles'.
Fun facts:

Alligators are great parents, females will guard their nests and their young in the water fiercely, but they're bad neighbors as cannibalism is a leading cause of mortality.
Gender is fixed according to egg temperature during days 15-21, < 86 degrees will be female, >89 degrees will be male.
Young ones have very low survival rates - 95% mortality within 8 yrs.
Any 'gator you see that's over 10 foot is likely to be a male. The 'bulls' roar to attract the females and intimidate lesser males. They will fight to the death with contesting males, and the winner mates all the local females rapidly.
You can roughly estimate an Alligators' length from eye to nostril in inches to tell its length in feet.
Buying alligator skin fashion items helps protect habitat for a very wide range of creatures.

Prehistoric Louisiana

Chris Kingwill took attendees on a biogeographic journey through prehistoric Louisiana. We learned about the earliest fossil remains of bivalves from the Jurassic being found by oil companies, and of the earliest shark remains in LA, the Squalicorax, and Mosasurus prognathodon ("forejaw tooth") a marine reptile of the Cretaceous from Castor Creek. Though Cenozoic material is sparse there's a notable holotype Anisouchous fortunatus herbivorous dinosaur from Caddo Parish 66-56 MYA.

During the Eocene epoch the Earth was very warm and mammoths were getting larger and more diverse. Birds were rapidly filling the niches vacated by the asteroid induced extinctions. Giant mammals like sloths, rhinos and horses have been found. Fish otoliths (ear stones), shark and ray teeth and cuttlefish rostra were discovered in a Cane River site. From the mid-Eocene there was an early whale called Nachitochia identified from 4 vertebrae found in the Cook Mountain Formation. There was a major embayment, a marine transgression expanded the ocean habitat.

Convergent evolution had fossil Basilosaurus (Zeuglodon) whales of the late Eocene being confused with marine reptiles for a while due to their skulls' un-whale-like nature, check out the serrated steak knife teeth!

Louisiana in the Miocene epoch was populated by giant mammals like Gomphothere forest elephants that had four tusks and giant reptiles such as the Hesperatestudo. The Miocene alligators were like ours today.

The Great American Biotic Interchange 2.7 MYA really mixed things up when creatures from North and South American continents transmigrated. The Terror Birds moved north and passed through Louisiana to get to Florida. There were American Lions, Jaguars in Avery Island, Acadiana, Tapirs, Capibaras, Giant Ground Sloths, horses, Cooters, Opossums, Carolina Parakeets and Passenger pigeons. Mass extinctions were driven by humans and climate change.

Martha Garner and Caitlin Neal-Jones helped participants unlock their inner writer, and shared prompts and tools to bring nature-based learning back to our own communities. We began with a meditative exercise imagining ourselves as a tree, a Live oak grounded firmly in the soil nourished by it and sending energy like white light from our outspread leaves down our trunks through our roots and into the nourishing soil. This was a very effective demonstration of how to ease people into creative nature writing. We all had a chance to participate proving the statement "If you can write a sentence, you can write a poem!" to be true. We were presented with brown paper bags and instructed to feel within, but not to look. We selected 3 descriptive words for our object and 3 emotions associated with it. We then wrote a poem and shared it with our fellows.

Beetlemania with Steve Barney

Steven Barney’s bug talk with live specimens never fails to captivate and enthuse, and participants once again fell in love with his array of invertebrates. We learned to distinguish the harmless, herbivorous millipedes (slow, with 4 legs per segment pointing down) from the carnivorous centipedes (fast movers, with legs pointing out, and venomous fangs). The Giant American Centipede was wisely handled on its log rather than with bare hands, we learned that some defend themselves by squiting cyanide! All other exhibits except the Bark Scorpions were handled with great relish! The Texas Brown Tarantula was a big hit and a delight to hold. Its footsteps were both light and soft yet felt strong somehow - purposeful.

The Horned Passalus or 'Bess' beetle was very endearing. Steve put it up to the microphone to broadcast its alarm vocalization! These stunning creatures have 17 distinct vocalizations for different contexts including parental interactions with their larvae!

LMNA Photo Contest 2026 Winners!

Key Takeaways The connecting thread running through every session was the message that the natural world of Southwest Louisiana is extraordinary, it is under pressure, and ordinary people have an essential role to play in understanding and protecting it. Citizen science has never been more important, nor has it been so well supported with digital tools!

The 2026 Rendezvous reinvigorated participants with notebooks full of ideas, heads full of prothonotary warbler, alligator, oyster, and prairie conservation facts, and a renewed sense of hope and activism for the natural resources of Louisiana.

We enjoyed shopping for prairie plants at the Acadiana Native Plant project greenhouse, where we saw volunteers hard at work preparing plants for sale.

Media Release: Larry Allain to Receive the 2026 Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist Award

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:46:00 GMT

Please find our News Release. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
Sincerely,
Charles

Contact: communications@louisianamasternaturalist.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2026
Monroe, Louisiana

Larry Allain to Receive the 2026 Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist Award

The Louisiana Master Naturalist Association (LMNA) announced today that Larry Allain, renowned botanist, prairie restoration expert, and lifelong advocate for Louisiana’s native ecosystems, be the recipient of the 2026 Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist Award.

The award will be presented during a post‑dinner ceremony on April 11, 2026, from 7–8 p.m. in the Homewood Suites Ballroom in Lafayette, Louisiana. The statewide honor is given annually to an individual whose life’s work reflects exceptional dedication to the study, preservation, and interpretation of Louisiana’s natural heritage. Allain was nominated by Bayli Quick Brosette of Briarwood, The Caroline Dormon Nature Preserve, the historic home of the award’s namesake.

A Lifetime Devoted to Louisiana’s Natural World

To know Larry Allain is, as colleagues often say, “to know nature itself.” His career spans more than four decades of scientific research, ecological restoration, public education, and hands‑on conservation. Raised on a sugarcane plantation in Jeanerette, Allain’s early fascination with plants grew into a distinguished professional life marked by innovation, curiosity, and service.
Allain’s contributions include:

Botanical and ecological research at the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wetlands Research Center, where he advanced understanding of prairie ecosystems, invasive species, pollinator ecology, and coastal habitats.
Creation of major scientific tools, including the Coastal Prairie Restoration Information System and the widely used online Guide to the Plants of Louisiana, featuring more than 1,700 species and over 5,000 of his own photographs.
Leadership in restoration initiatives, such as the Louisiana Native Plant Initiative and the Coastal Prairie Native Seed Initiative, which have transformed access to genetically appropriate native plant materials.
Extensive volunteer service, mentoring landowners, agencies, students, and naturalists across the Gulf Coast.
Pioneering ecological farming, integrating prairie, pollinator habitat, and regenerative agriculture on his family farm.

Colleagues describe Allain as a “perpetual student of nature,” a meticulous observer, and a generous teacher whose work has shaped the future of prairie conservation in Louisiana and beyond.

Honoring a Legacy in the Spirit of Caroline Dormon
The Caroline Dormon Award recognizes individuals whose achievements echo the legacy of Caroline Dormon—botanist, artist, educator, and one of Louisiana’s earliest conservation champions. LMNA President Katherine Gividen will present the award.

“Larry Allain embodies the spirit of Caroline Dormon,” Gividen said. “His scientific rigor, his passion for native landscapes, and his lifelong commitment to sharing knowledge have enriched Louisiana’s natural heritage in profound and lasting ways.”

Event Details
What: Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist Award Presentation
Who: Honoring Larry Allain
When: April 11, 2026 • 7–8 p.m.
Where: Homewood Suites Ballroom, 201 KALISTE SALOOM RD, LAFAYETTE, LA 70508
Presented by: Louisiana Master Naturalist Association

Dormon Award dedicated webpage with profiles on current and past winners. 2025 — Nancy Newfield, 2024 — Linda Barber Auld A.K.A “NOLA Bug Lady”, 2023 — Malcolm Vidrine, 2022 — A. James “Jim” Delahoussaye, 2021 — William R. “Bill” Fontenot, 2020 — Kelby Ouchley, 2019 — Vernon Antoine Brou, Jr., 2018 — Dr. Charles Allen.

https://www.louisianamasternaturalist.org/the-dormon-award.html

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Photo Caption: Larry Allain leading Acadiana Louisiana Master Naturalists' Pollinators Workshop, photo copyright Acadiana Master Naturalists

2026 City Nature Challenge

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:06:33 GMT

Curious citizen Jasmine, ‘Jas from the Lab’ observes Question Mark Butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis) in the wild on a NABA Butterfly Count at Black Bayou Lake NWR. It has a characteristic “Question Mark” featured on its hind wing.

I'd like to promote local participation in a global biodiversity survey event, the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge 2026. Many of us are familiar with this from Irvin Louque's Rendezvous presentation and Greater Baton Rouge MN's reports of awesome performance in recent years.
George Gehrig has created a good page about why this is important.

This may be something of interest to many of us? Every year there's a global competitive Bioblitz on iNaturalist.org called City Nature Challenge. It's been growing in popularity; each participating city or region counts its nature observations on the iNaturalist platform during a long weekend that this year will be:

2026 Spring CNC
● Friday April 24 - Monday April 27, 2026: Observations made in our participating areas will be included if you join the registered projects:
● Tuesday April 28 - Sunday May 10, 2026:
Uploading of images and identification period
● Monday May 11, 2026: Results announced

This year the following regional projects are officially registered in Louisiana, so joining these will contribute your observations to CNC:

City Nature Challenge 2026: Northwest Louisiana
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2026-northwest-louisiana

City Nature Challenge 2026: Southwest Louisiana
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2026-southwest-louisiana
Please join this if you are attending the LOS Weekend.

City Nature Challenge 2026: Baton Rouge Area Region
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2026-baton-rouge-region

The above projects correspond with the boundaries of the Louisiana Master Naturalist Chapters (although there are some overlaps and combinations). George Gehrig (handle https://www.inaturalist.org/people/quovadis) is a former master naturalist and he set up the the Northwest Louisiana CNC project. Because I didn't register a project in time for the NELA Chapter this year, George very kindly created two unofficial CNC Projects to capture observations from:

City Nature Challenge 2026: Northeast Louisiana
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2026-northeast-louisiana

City Nature Challenge 2026: Central Louisiana
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2026-central-louisiana

Finally, George’s primary focus is on creating EPA Level III Ecoregion projects, so he created this one for the South Central Plains Ecoregion (SCPBC):
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2026-spring-south-central-plains-biodiversity-challenge-scpbc
This project was the result of a geospatial intersect that mapped the ecoregional boundaries with governmental jurisdictions (states, counties and parishes), done pro-bono by Thomas Bergeron. The CNC maps were done pro bono by Chris Kingwill. You will be able to see from the overall project map, and the individual jurisdictional maps, what part of it corresponds to the ecoregion (in whole, or just partly).

Note:
You don’t have to “Join” any of the projects for your Observation(s) to automatically be included, and you don’t have to reside in the jurisdiction you make the Observations in (you can them in multiple jurisdictions). The only reason to join is so that you get notifications of “Project Journal” updates. A lot of effort was made to include the relevant project information in the introductory “About “ section. However, additional information can, and is, added after the fact by using the Project Journal feature. For example, one such entry in the SCPBC project discusses the reason for creating projects at the ecoregional level.

George is also keen on using the bioblitzes to understand WHO is making the observations, and their level of engagement. To that end, he will compile a list of the Top 3 Observers for each jurisdiction, and the Top 10 for each state, and the Top 25 for the ecoregion (for the SCPBC). Ultimately, his hope is to use this information as a basis for creating a "Biodiversity Hall of Fame" (ones for each school/college/university, school district, state and ecoregion.

He posted on FB about this here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17suXts6GK/

Please get in touch with George if you are interested in the "Biodiversity Halls of Fame". It's great to recognize our keen Citizen Scientists and this sense of competition may draw in more young people!

Thank you all. Enjoy your time outdoors!

Find Rare Fungi and Win Prizes!

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:27:30 GMT

FunDis Rare Southeast Fungi Challenge poster. Can you find any of these rarities?

Find Rare Mushrooms, Win Prizes!
The Fungal Diversity Survey needs YOUR help tracking down some of the Southeast's most elusive fungi- and we're making it worth your while!

THE CHALLENGE: We've compiled a list of rarely observed and under-recorded fungal species across the Southeast. Your mission? Document as many target species as you can on iNaturalist.org! Every observation you submit helps scientists understand where these rare fungi occur, how they're distributed, and what conservation efforts might be needed.

TARGET SPECIES: Wynnea sprassoides, any species of Gloeomucro, Wrightoporia austrosinensis, Wolfina aurantiopsis, Multifurca ochricompacta, Russula lilacipes, Boletus atkinsonianus, Hydrophorus cokeri, Lactarius purpureoechinatus, Pluteus mammillatus, Podoscypha aculeata, Hydnellum geogenium, Polyporoletus sublividus, Mycena carolinensis, Amoenoboletus weberi, Amanita westii, Hygrocybe andersonii, Aureoboletus abruptibulbus, Entoloma gainsvillae, and Poronia phosphorea.

THE PRIZE: The observer who documents the most target species in each participating state wins a FREE one-year membership to their local mushroom club! In Alabama, that means joining the Alabama Mushroom Society!

Other participating states have their own club partnerships—see full list of participating clubs, prizes and contest rules here: https://docs.google.com/.../12IeqOD8SClpgWUfaqmh1.../edit...

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: Everyone! Whether you're a seasoned forager or just starting your fungal journey, this challenge is a fantastic way to sharpen your ID skills, explore new habitats, and contribute to real scientific research. Plus, there's nothing like a little friendly competition to fuel your forays!

HOW IT WORKS:
Take a look at the Southeast Rare Fungi Challenge project
Get out in the field and start hunting
Submit observations through iNaturalist.org

IMPORTANT RULES:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12IeqOD8SClpgWUfaqmh19zs6oD0LlMmQvz5a6WA75As/edit?usp=sharing
All observations must be submitted via iNaturalist.org
Multiple fruiting bodies in the same immediate area count as one observation
Duplicate determinations are at the project coordinator's discretion
Ties will be broken by random selection

Questions? Reach out to Alisha Millican, the Project Coordinator for the Southeast Rare Fungi Challenge at SoutheastRFC@gmail.com

Every observation counts! Happy hunting, and may your finds be rare!

Why You Don’t Want to Miss LMNA Rendezvous 2026—Rooted in Acadiana

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:45:24 GMT

📍 Lafayette, Louisiana 📅 April 10–12, 2026
Theme: Rooted in Acadiana. See The Workshops & Presentations Guide PDF
If you’ve ever wanted to experience Acadiana’s wild heart in one unforgettable weekend, this is the year to say yes to Rendezvous!
Acadiana isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a living classroom, a cultural treasure, and one of the most biodiverse corners of the state. This year’s Rendezvous brings you straight into its prairies, swamps, forests, and creative spaces, guided by the scientists, artists, and naturalists who know it best.

🌅 Start the weekend with science, stories, and Cajun hospitality
Kick things off at Max’s with Science on the Bayou, where researchers open the door to the hidden world of viruses — not simply as villains, but as ecological powerhouses shaping life around us.

Then settle in for a private screening of Louisiana Grass Roots, a moving documentary about the coastal prairie and the people fighting to restore it. The producer joins us for a Q&A that always sparks big conversations.

And when night falls?
You’ll be out under the stars at Atelier de la Nature, rotating through moth sheeting, herping, bat watching, and stargazing — a naturalist’s dream evening!

🐦 Saturday morning: Birds, biodiversity, and behind‑the‑scenes access
Wake up at Cypress Island Preserve for a bird walk featuring prothonotary warblers and a hands‑on look at a citizen‑science nest‑box project you can replicate at home.

Then choose your path:

Learn how to turn your observations into global data with eBird and iNaturalist
Tour the ULL Ecology Center’s native seed bank
Explore oyster sustainability research
Hear the remarkable story of Louisiana’s alligator conservation success

This is the kind of access you rarely get — and it’s all in one morning. Some tough choices, when it's all this good!

🌼 Midday: Pollinators, fireflies, and ancient Louisiana Meet the Acadiana Native Plant Project team in their greenhouse, learn how to support native pollinators, and discover how communities can help restore firefly habitat.
louisianamasternaturalist.org
Then step back in time with Prehistoric Louisiana, a storytelling-rich session that brings ancient ecosystems to life.
louisianamasternaturalist.org

🎨 Afternoon: Prairie walks, art, creativity, and hands‑on workshopsAt Atelier de la Nature, wander a restored prairie, explore a sculpture forest, and join artist‑biologist Dr. Brandon Ballengée for a fish‑drawing workshop celebrating Gulf species.

Prefer something creative indoors?
Try Roots and Quills, a writing workshop that helps you turn nature experiences into stories, or learn the traditional Japanese art of Gyotaku fish printing.
louisianamasternaturalist.org
Finish the afternoon with an insect showcase or a wine‑and‑cheese reception at Drawn to Nature, an exhibition pairing historic naturalist-artists with contemporary LMN creators.

🍽️ Evenings filled with community and celebration
Your registration includes both dinners — Friday’s documentary night and Saturday’s Caroline Dormon Award Banquet, featuring keynote speaker Larry Allain, the 2026 Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist.
Great food, great people, and the kind of conversations that remind you why you became a naturalist in the first place.

🎟️ Why people love Rendezvous — and why this year is special

It’s immersive
It’s hands‑on
It’s culturally rich
It’s scientifically deep
It’s welcoming to both certified naturalists and trainees
And it’s set in one of the most ecologically fascinating regions of Louisiana

Registration is just $100, including both dinners and all workshops. You'll need to book your own local accommodation. See Rendezvous page for information.

If you’ve been waiting for the right year to join Rendezvous … make this it.
Acadiana is calling — with its prairies, its birds, its art, its food, its night skies, and its people.
Come learn, explore, and reconnect with the natural world and the LMN community!

Drawn to Nature? Master Naturalist Artists Called to Celebrate Louisiana’s Biodiversity!

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 20:59:12 GMT

Louisiana Master Naturalists Urged to Submit Art Works to Drawn to Nature Exhibition!

Are you a Master Naturalist with a passion for capturing the wild beauty of the Pelican State through your art? Atelier de la Nature is officially inviting you to participate in their upcoming spring group exhibition,

"Drawn to Nature: Artist Naturalists Celebrating Louisiana's Biodiversity".

For centuries, the unique ecosystems and vibrant species of Louisiana have served as a profound muse for artists. This special exhibition seeks to bridge the gap between history and the present, showcasing how our state’s flora and fauna continue to inspire the creative spirit.

A Dialogue Between Eras
This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see contemporary works displayed alongside pieces by legendary historic artist-naturalists who once documented the species of Louisiana. Featured historic artists include:

John James Audubon (1785–1851)
Mark Catesby (1683–1749)
Lorenz Oken (1779–1851)
Rex Brasher (1869–1960)

Your modern perspective as a graduate of the Louisiana Master Naturalist program will stand as a testament to the enduring legacy of naturalist art in our region.

Exhibition Timeline & Key Dates:
The exhibition will coincide with the 2026 Louisiana Master Naturalist Rendezvous and will culminate in a celebration during the Fête de la Nature BioBlitz.
Drop-off Deadline: Saturday, April 4, 2026 (or before)
Exhibition Close: Runs through May 2, 2026
Pick-up Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026 (or after)
Submission Guidelines
The Atelier is looking for polished, professional presentations of your naturalist-inspired art:
Format: All works must be framed and ready to hang.
Scale: There is no strict limit on scale.
Multiple Entries: If you wish to submit more than one piece, please reach out to coordinate.

Have questions? Reach out to Brandon Ballengée at brandon.ballengee[@]gmail.com for more details on how to participate. Remove the brackets for the active email.

Visit Atelier de la Nature 1050 Andrew Gautreaux Road Arnaudville, Louisiana, 70512 www.atelierdelanature.org

Join in honoring the scientific and artistic wonder of Louisiana's wild spaces. We can't wait to see the world through your eyes!

Drawn to Nature: Artist Naturalists Celebrating Louisiana’s Biodiversity

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 20:57:34 GMT

Left: Carolina Parrot, Plate 26 from the Bird of America by John James Audubon, Princeton Edition, offset lithograph on watercolour paper, 1985, hand-embellished. Right: Crow Poison by Susan David, silkscreen limited edition, tan Arches, 2025, Hand-embellished.

by Brandon Ballengée

Atelier de la Nature invites you to this group exhibition featuring works by historic artists/naturalists John James Audubon (1785-1851), Mark Catesby (1683-1749), Lorenz Oken (1779-1851), Rex Brasher (1869-1960) and others that depicted Louisiana species, alongside contemporary artists that have taken the Louisiana Master Naturalist program including Susan David, Martha Garner, Carey Hamburg. David Herbert, Chris Kingwell, and others.

The ecosystems and species of our state have been the subjects of art for centuries and continue to inspire artists today.

The exhibition will be on view during the 2026 Louisiana Master Naturalist Rendezvous organized by the Acadiana Master Naturalists and run through May 2nd as part of the Fete de la Nature Bioblitz held May 2nd at Atelier de la Nature.

An artist reception with wine and cheese will be held for Rendezvous participants on Saturday April 12 from 3 to 4 PM

Venue Address:
Atelier de la Nature
1050 Andrew Gautreaux Road, Arnaudville, Louisiana, 70512

www.atelierdelanature.org

https://www.facebook.com/atelierdelanature

Please Register for LMNA Rendezvous 2026 - Rooted in Acadiana

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:05:33 GMT

Image generated with Copilot and further edited by C. Paxton 1-12-26

Join us where science meets art in the heart of the Cajun bayou country! Registration for LMNA Rendezvous in Acadiana is now open. Please find all the information you need to register at Rendezvous 2026 webpage!

The Massive Atchafalaya Wetland Region — Larger than the Everglades. The Atchafalaya Basin is the largest river swamp in North America, spanning nearly 1.4 million acres. As an "overflow alluvial swamp," the water levels rise and fall dramatically with the seasons, creating a dynamic ecosystem that is constantly changing.

A Global "Bird Superhighway" — The Basin is a critical stopover on the Mississippi Flyway. See it in Spring 2026!
The Numbers: Over 270 bird species have been recorded here. It holds the largest nesting concentration of Bald Eagles in the south-central U.S. and serves as a vital nursery for Prothonotary Warblers, Roseate Spoonbills, and Wood Storks.

Iconic Wildlife — The Basin is the primary stronghold for the Louisiana Black Bear (the inspiration for the "Teddy Bear"). It’s also home to:

Apex Predators: Lake Martin is justly famous for massive American Alligators.
Aquatics: Over 100 species of fish and the world’s largest wild harvest of crawfish.
Mammals: Bears, river otters, minks, and bobcats.

The "River of Trees" —The scenery is dominated by ancient, moss-draped Bald Cypress and Water Tupelo trees. Some of these "sentinels of the swamp" have stood for many hundreds of years. Navigating through these "cathedrals" by kayak or pirogue offers a silence and a sense of antiquity that is hard to find anywhere else.

A Living Laboratory for Naturalists —Managed for flood control by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the basin is at the center of complex environmental and engineering debates. For a nature lover, it’s a masterclass in how humans and hydrology interact — from the massive Old River Control Structure to the efforts of "Basinkeepers" to protect water quality and flow.

Wishing you a holiday season full of life and discovery!

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:46:11 GMT

A salute in the style of Caroline Dormon’s own botanical paintings. A wreath of some Louisiana native plants she championed—wild azaleas, pitcher plants, and ferns—tied with a bright red ribbon, produced by Gemini™ for C. Paxton

Who is your choice for the 2026 Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist Award?

In the spirit of Caroline Dormon—pioneer, educator, and conservationist—we are seeking the next recipient of this prestigious honor!

Nominate a deserving naturalist by January 9, 2026.

Criteria for Nomination:

A current Louisiana resident.
A lifetime of achievement in natural history.
A track record of sharing knowledge with the public.

Nominees from previous years may be resubmitted with latest information updated.

Download the form and view full details by clicking: THE DORMON AWARD www.louisianamasternaturalist.org/the_dormon_award.html

CENLA Master Naturalist 2025 Events Program

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 02:10:47 GMT

cenlamn_2025_calendar.pdf
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Marty Floyd has shared the provisional CENLA Master Naturalist Program calendar and asked interested parties to email him at progne99(at)aol.com for more information. Exchange the (a) for @ for the valid email.

Date Place Subject(s) Instructor(s)
May 15 Westside Library Intro/Citizen Science M D Floyd/ M A Reddoch
May 31 Arboretum Tree ID/Black Bear K Hollier/C Jones
Jun 14 LDWF Ed CentSoils/Geology M Mouton/D Williamson
Jun 28 Fts Randolph + Buhlow Native Plants/Invasives Mohamed + D Moore
" " Fts Randolph + Buhlow Benjamin Vidrine
Jul 19 Sunset Birds E Johnson
Aug 9 Tunica Biloxi Marksville Crawfish/Indigenous J Huner/R Lopez
Aug 22-24 Allen Acres (Pitkin) Native Plants/Moths Charles Allen
Sep 6 Booker Fowler Fish/Geocaching T Jeppson/M D Floyd
Sep 20 Pollack Pine Ecology/Pinesnake E Smith
Oct 4 ???? Herps/?? B Glorioso/??
Oct 17-19 Rockefeller Refuge Coastal Rest./ Alligators P Trosclair/M D Floyd
Nov 8 Kisatchie (Longleaf Vista) Moss/Fern/Fungi K. Patton

Louisiana Master Naturalist - Blog

2026 LMNA Rendezvous a Huge Success!

Prehistoric Louisiana

Beetlemania with Steve Barney

LMNA Photo Contest 2026 Winners!

Media Release: Larry Allain to Receive the 2026 Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist Award

2026 City Nature Challenge

Find Rare Fungi and Win Prizes!

Why You Don’t Want to Miss LMNA Rendezvous 2026—Rooted in Acadiana

Drawn to Nature? Master Naturalist Artists Called to Celebrate Louisiana’s Biodiversity!

Louisiana Master Naturalists Urged to Submit Art Works to Drawn to Nature Exhibition!

Drawn to Nature: Artist Naturalists Celebrating Louisiana’s Biodiversity

Please Register for LMNA Rendezvous 2026 - Rooted in Acadiana

Wishing you a holiday season full of life and discovery!

​Who is your choice for the 2026 Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist Award?

CENLA Master Naturalist 2025 Events Program

Who is your choice for the 2026 Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist Award?