March 18, 2022 New Orleans, La.
The Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative (LICI) completed their first iris rescue for the 2022 season on March 16, 2022. A group of Iowa State University college student volunteers and volunteers from Common Ground Relief rescued I. giganticaerulea species of the Louisiana iris in this LICI's organized event.
The college students were in New Orleans for a week of service activities. Common Ground Relief hosted the group at their headquarters and organized activities for them this past week. Other local volunteers from Common Ground Relief helped out in the iris rescue.
Photo: The volunteers head out into the field to begin digging irises on LICI's March 16th iris rescue event.
The group rescued approximately 2,100 I. giganticaerulea species of the Louisiana iris that were growing on a property located west of New Orleans. The property is zoned for commercial development and is for sale. The owner is encouraging LICI to get the irises relocated.
Photo: Work starts digging the irises.
Photo: Common Ground Relief's, co-executive directors Charlotte Clark and Josh Benitez, worked to pick weeds from the clumps as the irises were brought to the trailer.
A group photos of the volunteers that got LICI's 2022-2023 iris rescue and planting season kicked off on March 16th.
The Iowa State University college student volunteers went to the LICI iris holding area to plant the rescued iris into containers on Friday, March 18th. All went well and the irises they helped rescue are all now safely planted into containers. The irises will grow and strengthen up there until they are planted out in LICI's projects this coming fall and winter.
Photo: Iowa State University college student volunteers planting the irises they helped rescue into containers at the LICI iris holding area in New Orleans on Friday, March 18th. This was their last work activity before they were to leave to head back home the next day.