January 31, 2007
Dear Master Gardeners,
This letter is but a humble attempt to express the overwhelming gratitude of all the Master Gardeners in Louisiana for your thoughtfulness and support for our volunteer programs affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
It has been seventeen months since the first of two hurricanes devastated our state, leaving in their paths utter destruction and thousands upon thousands without shelter and basic needs. Much has improved, and I’m proud to say that Master Gardeners played an important role in this recovery process. This was made possible by the generosity that we received from so many of you throughout the country. Thank You.
Individual Master Gardeners, Master Gardener Associations and Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Programs from twenty-three states provided assistance, both financial and in-kind, to support our hurricane-impacted Louisiana Master Gardener Programs in 13 parishes.
New Jersey, West Virginia, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Virginia, Louisiana, New York, Indiana, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Maryland, Washington, Alabama, Massachusetts, California, Oregon, Minnesota, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Colorado, Kansas and South Carolina contributed $11,134.20, hundreds of gardening publications to restock parish MG libraries, personal travel to Louisiana and hands-on volunteerism, and personalized gardening gloves for Master Gardeners and youth volunteers.
Donations were used to assist with a variety of community needs. The following are some of the projects that were funded by your donations.
- New Orleans Botanical Garden ‘Pelican Greenhouse’ restoration.
- Animal Vegetable Garden at Audubon Zoo.
- Propagation and production of herbaceous and woody landscape materials and fruit trees for reestablishing domestic landscapes.
- Promoting a seminar series on hurricane-damaged landscape recovery.
- Propagating 48 rose cultivars to reestablish botanical garden rose garden.
- Darcy Park tree replacement.
- Butterfly Dome in Grand Isle.
- Landscaping of Habitat for Humanity homes for displaced citizens.
- Restoring elementary and middle school landscapes and demonstration gardens.
- Producing educational workshops and printed materials to guide homeowners on how to re-landscape once-shaded areas that now receive sun.
- Lafreniere Park Recovery and Education Project.
- Woodmere Elementary Outdoor Classroom.
- Common Ground community garden.
- Jean Lafitte Nature Study Park restoration
I’d like to share some remarks from Master Gardener programs that received assistance.
“The impact of this grant was not only to help restore the Botanical Garden, but to give moral support to the staff and volunteers who were so bravely trying to restore a treasure in New Orleans in the midst of their own personal crises.”
“The new trees, although small in stature compared to those destroyed, in time will add value and beauty to the park for its neighbors and their children. The impact thus far is positive as people are slowly returning to the park. This is truly the only place within several miles to enjoy the beauty of nature while watching the little ones play.”
“The Butterfly Dome has become a major landmark and icon of Grand Isle. To date over 12,000 people from all over the world have visited the dome. The grant that helped us in restoring the butterfly dome was such a blessing. Some of the pride and hope of Grand Isle residents was restored when the restoration got under way. A place of beauty, teeming with flora and butterflies, had been restored while the local residents were busy repairing what could be repaired and clearing the tons of debris left by the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The tourists, visitors, and local residents will benefit by the island once again having this educational and entertaining attraction. We thank you again for helping us rebuild this educational facility and tourist attraction on Grand Isle.”
“The LaTerre Master Gardeners successfully completed landscaping fifteen homes in the Habitat Bon Jovi Subdivision in Gray, Louisiana. Residents of this subdivision were people displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Having contact with the homeowners was especially rewarding. Seeing their delight at the newly landscaped yard and their appreciation was definitely a gratifying experience for all of us. We were able to help others, join together as a team to develop a plan and then see that plan come to fruition. On behalf of the LaTerre Master Gardeners we sincerely thank you for your generous contribution in allowing us to reach our goal of impacting our community.”
“Hurricanes Katrina and Rita left destruction in St. Helena Parish, but recovery included unexpected gifts. Our community and our schools grew. We saw our parish through the eyes of strangers and we saw room for improvement. With the Louisiana Master Gardener leadership and the outreaching of dollars and support from many other states to ours, this single spirit-boosting project was completed for St. Helena Central Middle School. Our community, school, staff and students thanked us and we sincerely thank all of you. ‘First Impressions’ do count. School pride can be a powerful tool for building character and rebuilding a community.”
“Due to vastly changed landscapes and business environments following Hurricane Katrina, the Northshore Spring Garden Show offered the opportunity for local homeowners to obtain relevant information on restoration of their landscapes.”
“The garden will be used by the teachers for science projects. The addition of this colorful and animated garden to the grounds of Woodmere Elementary has brought beauty and interest to a place and a group of youngsters that have endured much loss in the past year.”
“The public education at the Foundation Center in Lafreniere Park reached several hundred people with information that was extremely helpful in restoring landscapes damaged by Hurricane Katrina and, on behalf of the project team, we appreciate receiving the funds that enabled us to be able to accomplish this project.”
Please know that each and every one of the 1,420 Louisiana Master Gardener Extension Volunteers Thank You for all that you have done and the impact that it has made on their lives and that of their fellow citizens and communities.
Sincerely,
Bob Souvestre
State Master Gardener Coordinator