The Cajun Prairie Habitat Preservation Society Fall Meeting and Tours is planned Saturday.
The schedule and directions include:
8 a.m.: Eunice Restored Prairies; meet at the corners of Martin Luther King and East Magnolia and enjoy the best restored prairie in the United States. This site is north of U.S. 190 and east of La 13. For those of you coming from the north on La 13, turn left (east) at the first paved road (East Magnolia) to the east after you cross the railroad tracks in Eunice. Go a couple of blocks and the prairie is on your left. For those coming from the east on U.S. 190 turn right (north) at the first red/green traffic light and follow Martin Luther King Drive for a couple of blocks and the prairie is on your left. For those coming from the west on U.S. 190, follow U.S. 190 through Eunice and after crossing a railroad track, go to the next red/green traffic light and turn left onto Martin Luther King Drive (See above). For those coming from the south on La 13, when you reach the stop sign, turn right onto Maple Avenue. Follow Maple for about three or four blocks and at the second four-way stop sign, turn left onto Martin Luther King Drive. Follow this street across U.S. 190 and see above.
9:30 a.m.: Malcolm F. and Gail Vidrine’s Cajun Prairie Gardens - 1932 Fornerat Road. Dr. Malcolm Vidrine will give a talk on propagating prairie plants during a walking tour of his gardens and nursery. From the Eunice Restored Prairie take a right on Magnolia, going west. Once you get to La 13 take a left, going south. Then take a right going west on U.S. 190 and drive 3.3 miles before taking a left onto Beck Miller Road. Continue south then take a right on LA 91 and go 1 mile to Founerat Road. Take a right onto Founerat and Dr. Vidrine’s prairie is on the right.
10:45 a.m.: Vernon Fuselier’s prairie - 242 Sonny Lane. Mr. Vernon will guide a tour of his prairie restoration. From Dr. Vidrine’s prairie gardens, go west on Fournerat Road for 0.8 mile then take a left onto Sonny Ln. Mr. Vernon’s place is half a mile down on the right.
Noon: Cajun Prairie Habitat Preservation Society meeting and Lunch at Rocky’s Restaurant located at 1415 E Laurel Ave, Eunice, LA 70535; phone, 337-457-6999.
This year there will have an informal Seed Swap for the fall meeting. Bring seed to share, labeled with identification and seed origin. Package seed into individual packages. Old Wal-Mart bags do well for this — cut (pull) them into 10 pieces and wrap seed — tie into a knot at the top or tape shut; or use an envelope — cut into four (quartered), add seed and fold/ tape shut. Bring your own seed “containers” for those who don’t provide.
For more details about the meeting and or tours, contact Steve Nevitt 337-849-5593 or email nevittii@gmail.com.
