Louisiana Nature and Fun Creations

Louisiana's slogan is "a sportsman's paradise", but the sub-tropical and tropical weather also makes it a gardener's paradise. Flowers and plants of all kinds abound that just beg to be photographed or to put down on canvas. This southern state is also known for its unique culture and people who love to celebrate. We hope you'll enjoy our celebration of Louisiana before the oil spill ruined our Gulf coast and the wildlife sanctuaries there.

Louisiana Lagniappe is one of our Zazzle Galleries on which we publish our photograph and art work of Louisiana's nature, outdoors and fun. Lagniappe means "a boon or something extra". Our Louisiana Lagniappe Zazzle gallery features many of the extra special things that make Louisiana unique. Some of the categories featured here are Grandma's Garden, Louisiana Symbols, North Shore and Mardi Gras.

Mauve Iris by Y.L. Bordelon

Here in our habitat along the Little Tchefuncte River in southeastern Louisiana, we grow many old fashioned plants that have been in southern gardens since colonial times. Some of the plants in my garden were passed down from my grandmother to my mother, to me. Others were given to us by friends, some who are no longer with us. When they bloom, I always think of the happy times that we spent together.

My Mom had large flower beds filled with hundreds of day lilies, bearded irises, dafodils and many other kinds of bulbs. When I was young, she taught me about landscaping and how to grow the flowers that she loved. My Dad taught me how to grow fruits and vegetables and how to plan a vegetable garden. Today I continue the lessons I learned as a child and have used the knowledge to promote the use of native and old fashioned plants to create wildlife habitats that attracts birds, butterflies and other native animals. We have been drawing, painting and photographing nature for most of our lives.

The Gifts of Earth

Words and music by Frances LeBeau

See the world around you,

All the wonders of the land,

The woods and fields and flowers,

Sunny skies and seas and sands.

It's a gift for all the people,

To live in this great land,

Where the beauty all around us,

Teaches us to understand ...

That the gifts of earth are in our hands.

To life we hold the key.

So let's clean America, make our land

A home for you and me.

Take a look around you,

At the wonders of the land.

Think about tomorrow.

Take the time to understand ...

That the gifts of earth are in our hands.

To life we hold the key.

So let's clean America, make our land

A home for you and me.

Song lyrics courtesy of State Symbols

Here on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, across the lake from New Orleans and all over Louisiana, we have Fun! People down here love to celebrate. Festivals abound in every parish and town, but Mardi Gras is the most popular celebration. It has been called the biggest free show on Earth. We love to design products for Mardi Gras, because the sky is the limit when it comes to colors.

From the red clay hills of north Louisiana to the wetlands of the south, the culture is like none other. So come join us as we showcase the nature, culture and celebrations of lovely Louisiania.

Enjoy this song while you browse through Grandma's Garden.

We enjoy gardening and specialize in old-fashioned plants like the ones that my grandmother grew. Here are a few of the lovely flowers in our habitat.

Enjoy one of the Louisiana State songs while you browse.

Amphibian: green tree frog (hyla cinerea )

Bird: brown pelican

Colors: blue, white and gold

Crustacean: crawfish

Dog: Catahoula Leopard dog

Drink: milk

Flag: The Flag Book of the United States by Whitney Smith, 1970. page 146-7.

Flower: magnolia

Fossil: petrified palmwood

Freshwater fish: white perch

Gemstone: agate

Insect: honeybee (apis mellifera)

Mammal: black bear

Musical Instrument: diatonic accordion, commonly known as the "cajun" accordion

Reptile: alligator

Songs:

"Give Me Louisiana" by Doralise Fontane

"You Are My Sunshine" by former governor Jimmie Davis, second state song

"State March Song"

"Gifts of the Earth" by Frances LeBeau, official state environmental song

Tree: baldcypress

Wildflower: Louisiana iris(Giganticaerulea)

Courtesy of Louisiana State Government

State Amphibian: Green Treefrog (Hyla cinera)

State Dog: Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog

State Flower: Southern Magnolia

State Insect: Honeybee

State Tree: Bald Cypress

State Wildflower: Louisiana Blue Iris

Spanish Moss is not an official Louisiana State Symbol, but it is such a part of our state that I had to include the Legend of the Spanish Moss

Enjoy the music while you browse the designs.

These designs were taken from some vintage Mardi Gras favors and invitations that belonged to my Mother-in-law. Each of the larger Krewes (Mardi Gras clubs) have balls at which the daughters of the Krewe members are presented as debutantes. The balls are grand affairs with much pageantry.

The colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. Rex, the king of Mardi Gras proclaimed that purple stands for Justice; green stands for Faith ; and gold stands for Power.

Floats and Masking