JEAN LAFITTE, La. (AP) — A group that has rescued and replanted more than 20,000 Louisiana irises since 2017 is holding bring-your-own-shovel events this winter to help save Louisiana's state wildflower.

The Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative was incorporated as a nonprofit in April. But its members have been working for years to save the iris from areas slated for development and plant them in nature preserves. They are planting another 8,500-plus this winter.

A project scheduled Sunday will help restore Louisiana blue iris lost to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, according to a news release fr...