Secret gardens revealed on May tour

Ever pass a home and wonder what marvels lay behind the high hedges? South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center administrative director Paul Guidry said he does all the time. And while touring homes, he found that several had secret gardens – peaceful sanctuaries.

In 2006, the Secret Garden Tour was born. The Terrebonne Garden Club partners with Guidry’s organization in hosting the event.

“You don’t have to be a master gardener to have a beautiful garden at your home,” he said. “I found that some residents maintain a garden because the manual work sets them at ease, and others do it because they want to enhance their property. Each garden is different – some are small and some are big.”

The garden tours are geared toward showing local homeowners and aspiring gardeners what they can do to spruce up their own yards.

This year’s May 16th Houma tour includes the gardens of Sammy Castalano (218 Central Ave.); Paul Labat (825 Verret St.); Mr. and Mrs. Bubby Olson (140 South Point Drive); Mr. and Mrs. Ken Wood (230 Whiskey Bayou Drive); and Mr. and Mrs. Billy Foster (112 Talbot Drive).

Of the tour spots, Labat’s is a medium-sized garden. It serves as the perfect spot to have a morning cup of coffee or relax after a long day’s work at his Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government post.

“I have a back porch with a deck, ” he said. “You can hear the birds chirping and the water from the fountain trickling down. It is really soothing.”

Labat’s Verret Street home has always had a garden. At first, it was small and then he expanded it.

“I had one big tree to start out with. Then I added more trees,” he said. “Now I have nearly 15 trees in my backyard. Over the years, I have also put in a couple of fountains.”

“However, my garden changed drastically about three months ago when I put in a pool,” he added.

Yard work begins toward the end of Mardi Gras. The soil is fertilized in anticipation of planting in March. And April’s showers keep the trees and plants well nourished.

“South Louisiana is prone to have heavy rains storms, so I put in a wooden deck in some places and bricklayers in others so that when the heavy rains fall the water soaks right into the soil,” Labat explained.

Proceeds from the tour benefit the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center’s educational facility.

Presently, the center offers wetlands-oriented science and math activities designed to help middle- and high school students improve their standardized test scores. Exhibits highlighting south Louisiana’s wetlands are on view at the Terrebonne Waterlife Museum and Folklife Center.

The Secret Garden Tours are open from 2 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $20 the day of the tour. Call (985) 580-7289 for more info.

Paul Labat’s backyard garden in Houma is one of five stops on this year’s Secret Garden Tour May 16. The event also includes visits to the gardens of Sammy Castalano, Mr. and Mrs. Bubby Olson, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Wood and Mr. and Mrs. Billy Foster.