About — Swamp Fly Native Landscapes | Design, Install, Maintain

ABOUT US

At Swamp Fly, we are dedicated to crafting South Louisiana landscapes that serve as functioning natural habitats.

We take design inspiration from the native plant communities of our unique Coastal Plain region and apply them to residential, commercial, and public landscapes.

Our nature-inspired landscapes are easy to maintain, beautiful, and provide habitat to microorganisms, insects, and birds.

Ashlee Brackeen

Ashlee is the founder and lead designer for Swamp Fly. She studied Landscape Architecture at LSU and was born and raised throughout South Louisiana and Mississippi.

She combines practical and science-based methods for ecotype planting with thoughtful composition. Ashlee recognizes the importance of safeguarding vulnerable Gulf South ecosystems and treats every project as an act of restoration.

She is certified as a Prescribed Burner and serves on the board of the Acadiana Native Plant Project and the Louisiana Wildlife Federation.

Caitlin Robbins

Co-owner of Swamp Fly and a Baton Rouge native, Caitlin studied Anthropology at LSU, received her master's degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine from Tulane University, and is a licensed Horticulturist.

Caitlin recognizes the interconnectedness of the health and well-being of wildlife, people and their communities, and the health of our environment. She works to further expand Swamp Fly’s capacity to offer full-circle, sustainable services.

Caitlin regularly gives educational talks about ecological landscaping and serves on the board of the Louisiana Native Plant Society.

Nikki is our Project Manager for the Baton Rouge area. Her professional career began at LSU where she obtained a Bachelor of Science specializing in Wildlife Ecology and Horticulture. While her experience working with the Forest Service in Wyoming gave her an intimate knowledge of the ecosystems of the western Rockies, the vast majority of her practical horticulture knowledge was gained during her long tenure at Clegg’s Nursery.
Nikki is also a Louisiana and Mississippi Certified Prescribed Burner. She is passionate about using her unique skill set to help preserve and restore Louisiana’s treasured ecosystems.

Magda, originally from Poland, began her landscaping career in 2017 when she took part in a Water Wise program that introduced her to native plants and green infrastructure to combat flooding in New Orleans. She has worked with Delta Flora Native Plant Nursery and received her certification from the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program.
Magda always notices the little things and is intuitive in the gardens she works in. We are so fortunate to have her on our team and as our friend. When she’s not working, you can catch her with her nose in a book, befriending street dogs, and working on mixed media art projects.

As the great-granddaughter of “traiteur” Edward Leger, Carmin grew up immersed in Cajun culture and tradition in Leonville. After earning her degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, she pursued her certification in Holistic Herbalism from The Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine in Asheville, North Carolina, where she still resides.
Our native plant blog writer, Carmin crafts medicinal and traditional notes for new installation portfolio packages. She also consults with individuals interested in cultivating a deeper connection with their native landscapes, sharing her wisdom on tinctures and herbal remedies.

Amelia is our Operations Coordinator for both Swamp Fly and our sister company, Gulf Coast Flora. Originally from Baton Rouge, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from UNO and Master’s degree from LSU. She is a Master Naturalist and has over a decade of experience in community outreach and project management.

Terra assists with installations and maintenance across South Louisiana. They have a strong background in agricultural science, conservation, and community education. Terra is a certified Master Naturalist and recent Agricultural Science graduate from Southern University. They have worked in soil conservation, horticulture, and urban forestry managing NRCS contracts and are currently leading a conservation project in Honduras.
Terra’s love of the land and joyful spirit make them an invaluable part of the Swamp Fly team.

Wes is an arborist, gardener, and longtime community organizer with deep experience in land-based work and visual storytelling. He brings technical skill in tree care, pruning, and safe removals in urban environments, and supports Swamp Fly with planting, maintenance, and thoughtful design implementation.
Wes has also helped build collaborative neighborhood food gardens, coordinated rainwater harvesting programs, and worked with nonprofit and documentary projects across the Americas.

Judith was born and raised in Southwest Louisiana. After completing the Permaculture Design Course through Oregon State University and joining the Acadiana Master Naturalist program, she found her place as a crew member with the Swamp Fly team as well as the nursery manager for our sister company, Gulf Coast Flora.

Lyndsay is our Acadiana Project Manager and supports our general operational management and business development. She is a Lafayette native who spent her childhood exploring the Rocky Mountains and developing a deep love for the woods, the forest, and playing in the dirt. She is also a Master Gardener and has more than 25 years of experience cultivating her own gardens.
Lyndsay has extensive background in banking and software operations and has exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage complex projects from concept to completion. Her lifelong passion for nature and her professional skillset are a true blessing to us here at Swamp Fly.
When she isn't in the garden, she enjoys camping with her beloved dogs, Zelda and Sonny, and laughing with friends under a wide open sky.

Kaela assists with our installs, maintenance, and nursery care in Acadiana. She finds peace in hard work, fresh air, wild places and all moments spent under the sun. She is also our in-house yoga instructor; she keeps us mindful of our form and motivated while workin’ hard.

Anna was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and spent her college years in Arkansas. Since returning, she’s enjoyed reconnecting with and learning about the unique landscapes of her home state. She brings years of hands-on horticultural experience to the Swamp Fly team, having worked at Clegg’s Nursery and later with Sweet Fern Landscapes. Now a full-time crew member in Baton Rouge, Anna leads our maintenance services and assists with landscape installations, bringing curiosity and diligence to every project.