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.

Meet Our Team

  • Ashlee is the founder and co-owner of Swamp Fly. With hands-on landscaping experience and her studies in Landscape Architecture at LSU, she combines practical and science-based methods for ecotype planting.

    As a Katrina kid born in New Orleans and raised throughout South Louisiana and Mississippi, Ashlee recognizes the importance of safeguarding vulnerable ecosystems and is dedicated to doing so.

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

    Ashlee grows plants for our projects and offers wholesale distribution from her nursery farm, Gulf Coast Flora, specializing in Southeast region native plants and South Louisiana ecotypes.

  • Co-owner of Swamp Fly and a Baton Rouge native, Caitlin studied Anthropology at LSU and got her master's degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine from Tulane University. She is a licensed Landscape Horticulturist and holds a compost training certificate from the LSU Ag Center.

    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 gives educational talks about native plant 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Partners In Conservation

Swamp Fly In the Media

Podcasts

Embracing the Wild: Transforming Your Landscapes into Thriving Louisiana Native Habitats, Porch & Parish Podcast, April 15, 2024.

Your Diet Your Health & Your Backyard, Out To Lunch, WRKF 98.3FM, May 31, 2023.

Lectures

2024 Louisiana Chapter ASLA Conference, Featured Speakers: Ashlee Brackeen and Caitlin Robbins, August 23, 2024.

LSU Hilltop Arboretum - Revolution Natives! Ecological Restoration Meets Traditional Garden Design, Featured Speakers: Larry Weaner, Dr. Malcolm Vidrine, Dr. Charles Allen, and Swamp Fly Native Landscapes, January 27, 2024.

Talks at Louisiana Hiking Club, Louisiana State University, Southern University, Mandeville Pollinator Celebration, Baton Rouge Library, Houma Native Plant Society, Burden Museum & Gardens, local gardening clubs, and more.

Articles and Feature Stories

Going Native: Why you should consider native landscaping, by Brooke Adams for Where Y’at Magazine, May 10, 2023.

Swamp Fly uses ecological design and native plants to create healthier yards, by Jeff Roedel for InRegister Magazine, May 1, 2023.

Louisiana landscaping company encourages clients to ‘kill’ their lawns, by 225 Staff for Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, October 19, 2023.

Local landscaping business turns to native plants in response to the ‘kill your lawn’ trend, by Maggie Heyn Richardson for InRegister Magazine (October 25, 2022) and 225 Magazine (October 18, 2022).

Swampfly Landscaping builds paradises for butterflies, snakes, and you, too, by Lucie Monk Carter for Country Roads Magazine, May 23, 2022.

Television

Kill Your Lawn TV Show, Series 1 Episode 8: Your Lawn Is A Drag, The Swamp Fly Team endeavors to have Debbie's lawn certified as a natural habitat, but only after two drag queens wrestle on it. Episode aired June 28, 2023.