98-year-old civic organization creates living memorial at LSU AgCenter
PORT ALLEN — The West Baton Rouge Garden Club dedicated its “Beauty of Life” pink garden Tuesday at the LSU AgCenter, a breast cancer awareness memorial that honors cancer survivors and victims throughout the parish.
The ceremony, held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, brought together community leaders, garden club members, and state garden federation officials to dedicate the sixth garden at the AgCenter facility—a space where every plant blooms pink and serves as a living tribute to those affected by cancer.
“This garden is for everyone in our community to maintain, to raise awareness of breast cancer, and to honor those associated with our parish who have suffered with cancer, any type of cancer, not just breast cancer,” explained Garden Club organizers during the dedication ceremony.
Louisiana Garden Club Federation President Carla Gauthier and President-elect Kyle Martin attended the dedication, along with District Director Vicky Fannaly and other federation representatives. Parish President Jason Manola, Port Allen Mayor Terecita Pattan, West Baton Rouge Sheriff Jeff Bergeron, and Port Allen City Councilman Gary Hubble also participated in the ceremony.
Personal Connections Drive Memorial
The dedication held deeply personal meaning for many attendees who shared their families’ experiences with cancer during the ceremony.
Parish President Jason Manola spoke about how cancer has affected his family across multiple generations. ‘So I understand the struggle that a lot of people are currently going through,’ he said.
Gardens Serve Education and Community
The Beauty of Life garden is one of six specialized gardens the Garden Club maintains in partnership with the LSU AgCenter. The collaboration has transformed the AgCenter grounds into an educational hub used for 4-H programs, agricultural extension workshops, and community education, with each garden serving a specific purpose:
- Pollinator garden
- Herb garden
- Tea garden
- Louisiana natives garden
- Bird garden
- Beauty of Life pink garden (breast cancer awareness)
“Everything in it blooms pink,” organizers explained. “Flowers are purchased in memory. In fact, on the back of the donation form, we have a list of all the flowers, or most of the flowers that are in the garden, and the strength or the meaning that each of those flowers represent.”
The partnership between the Garden Club and LSU AgCenter has proven highly successful. “We’ve been working very hard to utilize our Garden Club members and all of their time and talents with the Ag Center,” organizers said. “It’s a wonderful cooperative effort.”
Just days before the dedication, the AgCenter hosted a workshop for 4-H agents using the garden facilities. The educational gardens serve as outdoor classrooms for children’s programs and community workshops throughout the year.
The gardens have gained national recognition, with West Baton Rouge Parish—Louisiana’s smallest parish—now holding the highest number of certified pollinator gardens per capita in the United States, according to garden club leadership. This achievement reflects the collaborative efforts of both the Garden Club and the AgCenter in promoting environmental education and conservation.
98 Years of Community Service
The West Baton Rouge Garden Club, founded January 17, 1928, has been instrumental in parish beautification and civic improvement for nearly a century. During the dedication ceremony, organizers highlighted the club’s historical impact:
- Helped Port Allen inaugurate its garbage collection system
- Planned landscaping for local high schools
- Successfully lobbied for ordinances requiring residents to fence in chickens
Today, the 50-member organization continues its legacy through partnerships with Keep West Baton Rouge Beautiful, Sugar Fest decorations, monthly neighborhood cleanups, and the innovative “Go Native” program promoting Louisiana native plants.
Garden Club members Elisa Tubbs and Eve Prather have created a traveling lecture circuit with a book featuring Louisiana native plants, presenting to garden clubs throughout the state.
National Recognition for Local Efforts
Last year alone, the Garden Club submitted 16 applications for awards recognizing their ongoing work. Those applications resulted in 20 national awards for various beautification and community service efforts.
The club works with special needs children at Port Allen Middle School through a garden program and recently installed a tree in memory of longtime member Catherine Muth, described as “an extreme lover of butterflies” and a Circle Roses Whistlebender—a designation for long-standing members of honor.
Continuing Memorial and Support
The Beauty of Life garden accepts ongoing donations in memory or honor of loved ones affected by cancer. Donations help maintain the garden and purchase memorial flowers, with each flower variety representing different strengths or meanings.
During Tuesday’s ceremony, organizers read names of individuals honored through initial donations. The Garden Club will maintain a continuing list of names on their website as additional donations are received.
Father Jerry Martin offered a blessing during the dedication, emphasizing the importance of community support: “Community means we are given the gift and the ability of taking care of each other, including those who are in need. And certainly that includes those who have the disease of cancer and obviously need our support and our assistance.”
Community leaders emphasized the garden’s role in promoting awareness and early detection. “As we dedicate this garden today, let us commit ourselves to spreading awareness and encouraging regular screenings, supporting families in need, and investing in the ongoing fight against cancer,” speakers noted during the ceremony.
Looking Ahead
The Garden Club plans to expand its community engagement through a new “Gardening Grains” program next year, involving grandchildren in beautification efforts and environmental education.
“We love where we live, and we want to see it continue to prosper and grow and be beautiful like the rest of Louisiana,” organizers stated, echoing the Keep West Baton Rouge Beautiful slogan.
The Beauty of Life garden stands as a reminder that West Baton Rouge walks together in supporting community members facing health challenges while honoring those who have fought cancer.
For information about donations or to view the continuing memorial list, visit the West Baton Rouge Garden Club at wbrgardenclub.weebly.com or contact the LSU AgCenter.
According to the club’s website, their mission includes “programs doing, educating, and promoting gardening, native plants, pollinators, insects, litter control, youth participation, conservation, habitat preservation, and other issues.”
The West Baton Rouge Garden Club’s 2025-2026 officers include President Kim Callegan, Vice President Alena Prejean, Secretary Shirley Catanzaro, and Treasurer Pam Walsh. Contact information is available on the club’s website.
Beauty of Life Breast Cancer Awareness Garden Dedication Livestream
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