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The Bayou Vermilion Preservation Association invites home owners, businesses, organizations, and government entities to join the BVPA's Iris Project. This project, honoring the late Mrs. Iris Durel, mother of City-Parish President, Joey Durel, will encourage the planting, in appropriate places, of native Louisiana Iris along the streams, bayous and rivers of Acadiana. The beautiful Iris that bloom in April, will slow the flow of storm water all year. Iris also filter undesirable particulates from the water.

Public Plantings
We began the initial Iris Project planting of over 150 rhyzomes at Beaver Park, Lafayette, Louisiana. Three generations of the Lester Durel Family participated in the event near the public boat launch and in the pond. Due to high water all season, only a few survived. Iris love water, but not that much.

We now know what works in the area and what does not work. We hope to add many more rhyzomes around the pond between September and December.  This will be a very visible site from the proposed I-49 corridor.
 
Lafayette Consolidated Government is taking inventory of the numerous retention and detention ponds in the area. These ponds will be our target public planting sites for September 2016. The Also the City of Abbeville hopes to plant iris this fall at their City Hall.
 
 
Businesses Participating
CGI has planted hundreds of native Louisiana Iris in their detention pond. Many are blooming now. Also Costco Town Center Shopping Center has planted irises throughout the site. They will help filter the water as it runs off into the storm drains. 

Home Gardens
          All over the area, iris are blooming. Rhyzomes planted in the fall are providing showy blooms this season. 
Where will you plant iris?