On April 6, GNOIS was pleased to co-sponsor a talk by Bayli Brossette, the Curator of Briarwood Nature Preserve in Saline, LA. Members of the community gathered in the Playhouse at Longue Vue House and Gardens, who co-sponsored the event. Bayli’s talk was entitled “Gift of the Wild Things: The Legacy of Caroline Dormon and Louisiana Irises.”
Bayli hails from Chestnut, Louisiana, where her childhood was shaped by a deep connection with nature. Growing up exploring the woods of Kisatchie, she developed a profound understanding and appreciation for the forest.
Bayli pursued her education at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA, earning a BA in Criminal Justice. Bayli balanced her studies with work as an evidence technician for the Natchitoches Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force.
After graduation, she moved to the piney woods of Saline, where she took on the role of Curator at Briarwood Nature Preserve. Since then, Bayli has organized numerous student-focused events, significantly increasing the number of visitors to the Preserve. Her mission for Briarwood is to raise awareness about the importance of native species, attract more visitors, and host a broader range of events.
Bayli is an active member of the Society for Louisiana Irises, Louisiana FFA Alumni Association, Louisiana Society for Horticultural Research, Coastal Conservation Association, and the Snake Life Foundation. Bayli lives at Briarwood with her husband, Travis, and their daughter, Clovis, continuing to cultivate her passion for preserving and celebrating the natural world.
Briarwood Nature Preserve was once the home of Caroline Dormon, a pioneering conservationist and the first woman to advocate for the creation of a national forest in the United States. Find out more about the Caroline Dormon and Briarwood Nature Preserve on their website.
