The Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater New Orleans invite you to our upcoming event: Walkabout: Wintering trees in Lafreniere Park Date: Sunday, February 2, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM
Address: Lafreniere Park, 3000 Downs Blvd, Metairie, LA 70003. Meet in the parking lot of the Foundation Center, which is on South Scenic Drive just east of the Children’s Memorial Garden.
Open to: Certified members and Friends of LMNGNO (we ask that you have paid this year’s dues) and those undergoing certification. Children are welcome with a parent or guardian.
Cost: No cost to attend.
Agenda: In the park there are about forty species of trees with some twenty-seven being deciduous broadleaves. During the winter season there is an opportunity to look at these trees in their winter mode – bare profiles, buds, seeds, and leaf litter. Byron Almquist and Anna Hernandez will lead the group on a walk around the park, observing and identifying trees.
Hours: This activity counts for continuing education hours.
Bring: Dress to be outside and bring your favorite outdoor equipment (binoculars, notebooks, field guides, etc.), and water. There is a restroom on site.
Questions: Contact Byron Almquist at byron@canoeandtrail.com
About Lafreniere Park: “Lafreniere Park was once one of the last pieces of large undeveloped acreage in East Jefferson, it has blossomed into a lush, thriving natural green space. With careful planning and vigilant nurturing for over three decades, the park now sports open green spaces, multiple use lawns, fountains, family picnic areas, hills, landscaped gardens, fishing, tot-lots, paths, trails, man-made ecological marsh environment, a championship Frisbee golf course, carousel, soccer, a conference center, and dog park. The marshes and gardens offer educators a wealth of native plant life to use as an aid for teaching students; the open spaces and family picnic areas are enjoyed by all.” https://lafrenierepark.org/.
Happy fall! Please come to our final meeting for 2024 on November 13 at Loyola University in Miller Hall, room 114. Our theme will be Thanksgiving Dinner. Please prepare your favorite dish for the potluck social, which starts at 5:30 pm. You can receive a volunteer credit by bringing a dish and an educational credit for attending. Remember to come a little early so we are ready to serve at 5:30 pm. Please try to help us conserve paper products by bringing your own silverware, plate, and cup.
The last Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater New Orleans general membership meeting of 2024 will take place at Loyola University on November 13 in Room 114 of Miller Hall on November 13, 2024. Click for parking information.
November 13, 2024
Room 114 Miller Hall
Loyola University
5:30 PM Potluck (link to sign up will follow) 6:30 Business meeting
Certifications of new Master Naturalists
Results of election for board members and officers
Spring 2024 Bradburn Award
7:00 Speaker: Nancy Newfield, 2024 Percy L. Viosca Award, “The Wonderful World of Hummingbirds.”
Important Announcements:
All LMNGNO members who have paid dues for 2024 will shortly receive an electronic ballot to vote for the slate of officers for 2025 and the 2027 cohort of Board Members. Please submit your ballot promptly. Thank you to all who vote.
The Nature Store is running a SALE of LMNGNO merchandise. Order by 11/12/24 to pick up your items at the general meeting on 11/13/24. Details of items on sale and link to order are HERE.
Walk Abouts – introductions to public sites in greater New Orleans to be explored by Master Naturalists of the New Orleans chapter.
These two hour educational sessions may include history of the site and other relevant details. During the walk about, the biodiversity of the site can be observed. Perhaps there will be a representative of the department that oversees the site who will provide pertinent details. Of importance is that these short and informative educational sessions will count as educational hours towards one’s annual quota.
There are 3 walkabouts scheduled in November and December.
On Sunday November 17th at 9 am, is a visit to a wooded lot on the University of New Orleans campus. Modest in size, it is being converted into a native plants site. The surrounding open spaces are being planted with native trees and shrubs. Already a bird friendly site, this lot which has survived decades of US Navy and UNO development will be an oasis – a refuge for students and wildlife. The host is Michele Mire. UNO Woodlot information.
On Sunday, December 15th at 10 am, is scheduled a visit to the New Basin Canal Park. Located between the Pontchartrain Boulevard and the West End Boulevard, this park was once the site of the canal that ran from the lake to the business district. After Katrina, the open spaces were used to sort out and burn huge piles of debris. Now the site is a brand new park with dozens of brand new trees. The host is Nicole Greene.
And then six days later on Saturday, December 21st at 9 am is a visit to the West End Park located across from the Municipal Yacht Harbor. The park was built almost a century ago to include a lagoon, rows of oaks and an arbor. And on its west side, across a street is what was once the parking lot for a row of seafood restaurants located on pilings over the lake. Now the eateries are gone so what is to become of the parking lot? The host is Rebecca Stilling.
These Walk Abouts are for members, spouses, friends and especially for potential recruits for the master naturalist program. Children are welcome. There is no fee for the event.
To sign up for a Walk About, go to the Point Events page. Once you sign up the host will contact you with info about the specific meeting site.
On November 9th, from 6-9 pm, at Byrdie’s Pottery (936 St. Roch Ave. NOLA 70117), join artist and Louisiana Master Naturalist Eve Abrams (Fall 2023) for the opening of her pottery show, “Essential Creatures.”
This exhibition features intricate caterpillar sculptures and beautifully crafted plates and vases adorned with painted and carved caterpillars, moths, and butterflies. The artwork focuses on local species, especially those whose ecosystems depend on oak trees, a vital part of our region’s ecology.
Through her art, Eve aims to inspire a greater appreciation for these often-overlooked creatures and encourage gallery visitors to protect and grow the native plants that these animals rely on for survival. The show invites us to recognize the importance of supporting our local ecosystems.
To enhance the experience, someone from a local native plant nursery will be present (with plants available!), a Master Naturalist will be available to talk about the animals featured in the pottery, and a selection of resource books will be on hand for those interested in learning more about how they can contribute to protecting our local wildlife.
Visitors can enjoy an evening of art, food, drinks, and meaningful conversations about our environment.
Essential Creatures Date: November 9, 6-9 pm Location: Byrdie’s Pottery, 936 St. Roch Ave. NOLA 70117
Accommodations and Registration Fees
The registration fee is $40. The fee to sleep in the lodge (large dorms with bunk beds; indoor restrooms and showers) is an additional $10 for Friday and Saturday nights. This is optional – participants are free to make other arrangements. Registration grants access to any and all activities and meals throughout the weekend. Single-day tickets are not available.
LMNGNO is participating in GiveNOLA Day this year. Help us continue our work educating our members and the public about the environment. If you love nature as much as we do, please consider making a donation.
What is GiveNOLA Day? GiveNOLA Day, an initiative of the Greater New Orleans Foundation, is a one-day online giving event. For 24 hours, everyone who loves our region can support their favorite local causes by donating to one or more of 900+ participating nonprofit organizations. Since our first event in 2014, GiveNOLA Day has raised over $64.6 million for our region’s nonprofits. This year, we hope to do even more!
When will GiveNOLA Day 2024 take place? It will be from 12:00:01 a.m. to 11:59:59 p.m. on May 7, 2024. All event-related donations must be made online during the 24-hour period or during our scheduled giving period – April 23 through May 6.
BioBlitz and Community Nature Day on the Lafitte Greenway May 10-12, 2024
Learn more about nature and help your community! The Louisiana Master Naturalists and Friends of Lafitte Greenway are hosting a BioBlitz of the Lafitte Greenway and Community Nature Day on Saturday, May 11th. As a community, we will identify as many of the plants and animals that live on the Greenway as possible. There will be themed nature walks led by local experts throughout the day, as well as a nature-themed art project. All events are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome, and no prior knowledge or experience is necessary.
The Lafitte Greenway The Lafitte Greenway is a 2.6-mile-long linear urban park that stretches from Mid-City to the French Quarter in New Orleans. The park, which was established in 2015, features sports fields and courts, playgrounds, exercise stations, a swimming pool, and a garden. A former brake tag station on the Greenway has been remodeled into an open-air event staging space with electricity and restroom, and a small, permanent stage has been installed nearby. The park also contains bioswales, bioretention areas, and large stretches of meadow that are marked by signs indicating, “Native meadow planting: Give nature a chance.” The Lafitte Greenway connects to Armstrong Park, Bayou St. John and is, at its most westerly point, less than half a mile from City Park.
What is a BioBlitz? During a BioBlitz, people work together to find and identify as many species of plants and animals as possible in a specific area over a short period of time.
Purpose of the BioBlitz of the Lafitte Greenway The purpose of the 2024 BioBlitz of the Lafitte Greenway is to document, for the first time, as many of the species living on the Greenway as possible. The data from the BioBlitz will help the Greenway’s managers plan the park’s natural and developed features, protect important habitats, and advocate for the Greenway’s importance. Submission of observations for the BioBlitz of the Lafitte Greenway will be accepted for three full days: Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 12.
BioBlitz Session Schedule
Start
End
Topic
Leader(s)
Meeting point
9 AM
4 PM
Aquatic macroinverte-brates (throughout the day)
LMNGNO volunteers
Greenway station
10 AM
12 PM
Fungi
Tres Fisher and Ann Plique
Greenway station
10 AM
11:30 AM
Tree session #1
Byron Almquist, Sean Duffy and Bill Van der Meer
French Truck
10:30 AM
11:30 AM
Native landscapes
Emily Pontiff
Greenway station
10:30 AM
12 PM
Mosquitoes
Rachel Denny
French Truck
12 PM
2 PM
Art project: Sun prints
Courtney Egan
Greenway station
12 PM
1 PM
Butterflies and other day insects
Sam Kanellos and Noah Hebert
Lemann Pool
12:30 PM
2 PM
Plants
Matt Heron
Greenway Station
2 PM
3:30 PM
Tree session #2
Byron Almquist and Susie Allen
Flour Moon
5 PM
6:30 PM
French nature walk
Maxime Bailleux and Marc Witham
Flour Moon
5:30 PM
7 PM
Mammals
Rachel Denny
Flour Moon
6 PM
8 PM
Reptiles and amphibians
Steve Stevens
Greenway Station
7 PM
9 PM
Bats
Craig Hood
Flour Moon
9 PM
10:30 PM
Moths and other night insects
Janna Wisniewski
Flour Moon
*More sessions to be added. Check back for updates!
Who can participate?
All activities are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome (children should be accompanied by a guardian). No prior knowledge or experience is necessary. You do not need to pre-register for the nature walks or art project, just come to the designated meeting point at the start time.
What should participants bring? We recommend wearing closed-toed shoes and sun protection and bringing water and a smartphone. It is a good idea to download iNaturalist in advance (see instructions below).
iNaturalist Data will be tabulated using iNaturalist. Participants will be encouraged to download iNaturalist on their smartphones and post photos of the species that they observe to the project entitled “Lafitte Greenway BioBlitz 2024.”
Those who opt not to use a smartphone will record their observations on paper data sheets.
Species identification Participants will canvas the Greenway to find as many unique species of life as possible during the72-hour period. Although the emphasis will be on observing species and taking their photos (if possible), the LMNGNO will provide resources for identification including the iNaturalist and Seek apps, on-site experts, and a library of field guides during the main session on Saturday.
Participants will be welcome to search in any part of the Greenway, at any time, and for any types of life that they choose. However, participants can also join scheduled searches for specific types of life which will be led by local experts.
Sail Away on Lake Pontchartrain New Orleans Community Sailing Center May 18th 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Our previously schedule trip was postponed due to windy conditions on the lake. Note the new date – May 18th.
Join other Master Naturalists for a fun sail on the lake and earn 2 continuing education hours.
Sailing instructors from CSNOI will show us the ropes and explain how CSNOI impacts lives by providing accessible educational opportunities and the promotion of health on Lake Pontchartrain for all regardless of age, background, and abilities.
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LMNGNO is participating in GiveNOLA Day this year. Help us continue our work educating our members and the public about the environment. If you love nature as much as we do, please consider making a donation. 
Data will be tabulated using iNaturalist. Participants will be encouraged to download iNaturalist on their smartphones and post photos of the species that they observe to the project entitled “Lafitte Greenway BioBlitz 2024.”
