Learn How To Create And Maintain Low-Maintenance Gardens

The City of Lake Charles is giving local residents an opportunity to learn all about gardening. Not everyone is born with a green thumb, but we all want an awesome looking yard. Some of us need a little bit of help when it comes to keeping flowers alive and healthy. Whether you want to brush up on your gardening skills, or need some major how-to instructions, a new program is coming to the Lake Area to help everyone achieve their landscaping goals.

Participate in the "Landscape for Life," gardening course and learn the proper techniques to achieve the garden you always wanted. Best of all the program is open to the public and absolutely free! This unique course will take place in natures classroom, the beautiful Riverside Park, located at 1701 Fitzenreiter Rd. in Lake Charles. Classes will be every Thursday, starting May 4 through June 1, 2017, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Join area residents to learn how to create and, maintain a garden that benefits you and wildlife!

"Landscape for Life," is a gardening course that was developed by the American Society of Landscape Architects, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the U.S. Botanic Garden. Course instructor, Irvin Louque, is MSU alumni and he's certified in natural resource conservation and management. Mr. Louque also heads the education and habitat management programs at Tuten Park, for the City of Lake Charles. So he will have plenty of gardening gems to share with his class.

The course will span over 5 consecutive Thursdays, and during this time participants will learn how to work with nature, develop a sustainable landscaping techniques, how to assess your yard's soil type, the best water resources, plants to use in various climates, gain lifetime gardening skills and much more. At the end of the programs all participants will receive a certificate, to recognize all the hard work put into the course.

"Landscape for Life," is a free course, however registration is required. If you plan on attending sign up now by calling (337) 491-8770, or email Irvin directly at irvin.louque@cityoflc.us. Complimentary coffee will be served at each workshop and participants are urged to arrive 15 minutes early before each class.