Your Donation will Help Support the Park's Annual Bloom Event!
No goods or services are provided in exchange for your gift. Your Abbeville Red donation is deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Please consult your tax advisor regarding specific questions about your tax deduction.
2nd Annual Abbeville Red 'iris nelsonii' Bloom Event
Join us for a day of learning, exploration and breathtaking beauty at palmetto Island state park
Come experience the rare beauty of the Iris Nelsonii, the world’s rarest Louisiana Iris, blooming in its natural habitat at Palmetto Island State Park's Abbeville Red Iris Bloom Event! This breathtaking red iris is a true natural treasure.
Event Highlights:
- Self-guided tours through the wetlands on the Boardwalk to see the Iris Nelsonii in full bloom
- Live Music 12:30 to 3 p.m. by JH Williams Lache Pas and the Babineaux Sisters
- Expert speakers and horticulturists sharing insights on this rare flower
- Iris Photo Contest
- Iris rhizome planting demonstration by members of the Abbeville Garden Club
- On-the-spot Q&A along the scenic boardwalk with experts who will answer all your iris-related questions!
- Pork Jambalaya for sale onsite. Jambalaya and Water for $5. Jambalaya is Sponsored by Super 1. Prepared and served by Rotary Club of Abbeville
- Did you know that Hummingbirds pollinate the iris? Louisiana Bird Observatory will tell you all about it at their Booth.
- Amazing photo ops of this rare iris in its natural environment
- Event is FREE - Park entrance fees apply
- Nature Center open for everyone to enjoy
- Iris Photo display by Mike Glaspell
- Two separate presentations by expert speakers sharing their insights: A presentation on Caroline Dormon, an early 20th-century woman who broke the mold for the day and became a nationally recognized conservationist, including being an advocate for saving wild native irises. The second presentation will be on the historic discovery in 1938 of the Abbeville Red Iris and the current state of this rare native plant found only in Vermilion Parish.
- Other activities available in the park that day: nearby splash pad for kids, picnic areas - including a picnic pavilion that a group can reserve for the day, trails to hike - including the popular nearby children's Story Walk Trail, and boat, kayak and canoe launch! Tent camping and RV sites are available, too."
- Brown Cotton Spinning Demonstration
- more event information coming soon
Whether you're a garden enthusiast, nature lover, or simply curious about rare flowers, this is a unique opportunity to see the Iris Nelsonii in its native habitat.
Event is made possible with the support of Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative, Abbeville Garden Club , Friends of Palmetto Island State Park, Rotary Club of Abbeville , Louisiana Bird Observatory and Fred Villien.
Event Highlights!
Iris Photo Contest
JH Williams Lache Pas 12:30pm
Iris Photo Contest
Send us your 8x10 print of any one the 4 native Louisiana wild Iris. Entries will be accepted onsite until Noon.
1 P.M. Talk
JH Williams Lache Pas 12:30pm
Iris Photo Contest
Bayli Q. Brossette, Curator of Briarwood at the Caroline Dormon Nature Preserve in Natchitoches Parish, will give a presentation about Caroline Dormon (1888 – 1971) "A Life in Conservation" From preserving Louisiana’s native irises to advocating for protecting the longleaf pine ecosystem, her legacy is woven into the landscapes she fought to protect.
Planting Iris
JH Williams Lache Pas 12:30pm
JH Williams Lache Pas 12:30pm
Abbeville Garden Club will be onsite to share with you the proper way to plant iris rhizomes
JH Williams Lache Pas 12:30pm
JH Williams Lache Pas 12:30pm
JH Williams Lache Pas 12:30pm
We know you will enjoy listening to these kids play a few French tunes. Lache Pas classes in Vermilion parish are dedicated to preserving the Cajun Culture.
Pollinator Photos
Babineaux Sisters 1-3 p.m.
Rotary Club of Abbeville
Mike Glaspell has graciously loaned his photos of hummingbirds pollinating the Abbeville Red Iris.
Rotary Club of Abbeville
Babineaux Sisters 1-3 p.m.
Rotary Club of Abbeville
Rotarians will be on site preparing Pork Jambalaya for lunch. $5 will get you a bowl of Jambalaya and a drink.
Learning about Pollinators
Babineaux Sisters 1-3 p.m.
Babineaux Sisters 1-3 p.m.
Louisiana Bird Observatory will be on site to talk about the hummingbirds that pollinate the iris at their booth.
Babineaux Sisters 1-3 p.m.
Babineaux Sisters 1-3 p.m.
Babineaux Sisters 1-3 p.m.
You will be entertained by a representation of everything awesome LA has to offer! Brilliant musicians and songwriters bringing a fresh, youthful sound to La roots music!
On-site Q & A
On-site Q & A
Volunteers knowledgeable about the Abbeville Red Iris will be stationed on the board walk to answer your questions as you view the bloom.
3 P.M. Talk
On-site Q & A
Gary Salathe with Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative will talk about the historic discovery in 1938 and the current state of this rare native plant found only in Vermilion Parish, the Abbeville Red Iris.
Nature Center
Visit the Nature Center and learn about all the animals that call Palmetto Island State Park home.
Activities for the kids.
View the Black Bear Exhibit
Brown Cotton Spinning
Mrs. Elaine Bourque will be on site to demonstrate the traditional Acadian method of cording and spinning brown cotton by hand!
Explore the Park
Enjoy all that Palmetto Island State Park has to offer. Hike the trails and experience Louisiana's bottomland hardwood forest.provide comprehensive support to our clients.
Get Involved
Whether you're interested in volunteering, donating, or simply learning more about our organization, there are plenty of ways to get involved with Friends of Palmetto Island State Park, Inc.. We welcome individuals and groups of all backgrounds and experience levels.