Jungle Gardens

Although I've visited Avery Island, home of Tobasco, several times before, I had never took the tour of Jungle Gardens or Bird City.

Most famous along the tour is the Buddha

The story says this 900 year old buddha was sent to the U.S. in 1923, but sat unclaimed in a NYC warehouse until 1936.  Friends of Mr. McIlhenney (founder of Tobasco), purchased the statue and shipped it to Avery Island.  It now sits in a special, asian style garden.  It has seen millions of visitors since it found a home in Jungle Gardens.

Bird City is truly a place for the birds.

It has become a nesting ground for the Snowy Egret.  The refuge was established in 1895, and by 1911 was the summer nesting ground to 10,000 Snowy Egrets on their annual migration.

Uncle Dick Davis Park, with 18 elec/water sites on the Atchafalaya Basin, located in Butte La Rose, LA.

Angelle's Whiskey River Landing on the levee in Henderson, LA.

It wasn't actually open the day we first drove by, but the owners let us come in and look and take pictures.  It is the place to be on a Sunday afternoon.  Live cajun and zydeco music and dancing and suds. All located in the beautiful Atchafalaya Basin.

Looking out over the basin.

On the way home I spotted this historical marker.

Just imagine this lane, early morning dew and gold covered spider webs.  What a site.  

Jefferson Island, outside of New Iberia, LA, also boasts of a bird refuge.  Here you can see lots of pink Spoonbills.  Sorry, but I couldn't get a close up.