NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — It takes a lot of hard work to do all the landscaping and floral design at The Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans.

For 30 years, the job’s been done by the same man. WGNO’s Kenny Lopez introduces us to The Windsor Court’s landscaper.

“The azaleas can be very delicate. If we get a large storm with heavy rain, it usually destroys the flowers,” Perry Stelly, the head of landscaping for Windsor Court said.

Like the azaleas, Stelly is delicate with his floral and landscape design. He works for a company called Dunn and Sonnier, who’s in charge of the florals and landscaping at The Windsor Court.

“I’m always trying [to do] things better to enhance to some degree the hotel itself,” Stelly said.

For the past 30 years, he’s worked hard.

“The hardest part is I live in Lafayette, but I’m here three days a week. So, that can be a challenge to get everything done that needs to get done, working in a limited-time frame,” he said.

He’s up for the challenge because this work was a seed he planted many years ago.

“Growing up in a rural community in Lafayette, I was always working with my grandmother who was constantly gardening and planting,” Stelly said.

As he showed Lopez around the courtyard, he explained more about the azaleas.

“We get them out of Oregon. I create a menu of different colors. It really is a task to get it all together,” he said.

From the courtyard, to the terraces, to the pool area, even to The Grill Room, Perry is playing a part.

“I want guests to think that it is over-the-top and absolutely beautiful,” he said.

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