Get Involved:
Make a Difference
with NPI!

The Big Lake Native Plant Trail at New Orleans City Park is an ongoing NPI project that began in 2019. The trail is near the swan boat, surrey, and bike rental area and features hundreds of native plants to inspire gardeners and provide habitat. City Park hosts volunteer work at the trail every Friday morning, and it’s a great way to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and make a real difference in a location seen by hundreds of people every day.

‍Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center in New Orleans’ Broadmoor neighborhood was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but today it’s not only a busy local landmark but also a hard-working stormwater management garden. NPI schedules work days in the garden several times each year; check the calendar to volunteer for weeding, cutting back, and seed collection projects.

Share seeds from your native plant garden for NPI to use for public outreach and to donate to other organizations for their events. Learn about when and how to collect seeds and remember that:

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1. Seeds should be very dry before being packed into PAPER bags or envelopes. They can be dropped off at or mailed to NPI at 248 Brooklyn Avenue, Jefferson LA 70121.
2. Seeds MUST be correctly identified. NPI’s credibility is at stake if we distribute seeds that aren’t what they are labeled to be. If you are unsure of the plant species you want to collect from, be sure to get an authoritative ID before donating.
3. It’s helpful if you have the time to break down seed heads and remove leaves, petals, or other non-seed materials, but it’s not required.

Louisiana Certified Habitats preserve our natural heritage by providing homes for native critters and inspiring friends and neighbors to plant more natives too. The Louisiana Certified Habitat program is administered by the Louisiana Native Plant Society and recognizes the hard work of property owners and managers who benefit natural systems by gardening with native plants. Any private or public outdoor space that contains 25 or more native plants is eligible for certification. Certifiers make appointments with applicants to walk the property, verify native species, take photos, and award the certified habitat signs. Expert certifiers will train you and NPI will coordinate certification requests. Bonus: You get to meet other dedicated gardeners, tour wonderful gardens, and see how local folks are creating great habitat spaces by incorporating different plants in different ways. Contact us with your name and contact info to join the certification team.