From a Bunkie flower shop to Houston landscapes: Johnny Steele’s story

By Donna Culotta

From growing up in the family flower shop to becoming Houston’s premier landscape architect, Johnny Steele has kept his feet on the ground and solid AP family connections.

One of his many relatives here in the parish is Sharon Lemoine Juneau of Cottonport who spoke lovingly of her nephew who has grown into somewhat of a celebrity in Houston.

“He is the son of my late sister, Barbara Lemoine Steele, who owned Steele Florist in Bunkie,” Sharon began.

The popular flower shop was a busy place in the 1960s and all the Steele children, six of them, worked in the business.

“Johnny was the first grandchild in our family of eight and we spoiled him rotten,” she said.

A graduate of Bunkie High School and LSU, he received his Master of Landscape Architecture in 1976 and immediately headed for Houston.

Besides his experience in the family floral business, Johnny also attributes his decision to become a landscape architect to a very special European trip. On this LSU study-abroad program he was able to encounter Europe’s significant landscape sites with expert professors.

All this extensive background went to Texas with him and became an educational and emotional foundation for his success.

He brought to the business, which was in partnership with a fellow LSU alum, several revolutionary ideas.

The first was the design and build concept, which was not being done at the time. In this model, the architect not only designed the landscape but his company also built it. It insured that what was in the landscape was what had been designed on the blue prints.

Landscaping fast food restaurants, corporate buildings as well as campuses grew into serving high-end residential spaces.

McDugald-Steele Landscape Architects and Contractors also added the service of maintaining the landscaping. Again assuring the original visual would remain.

In no time, the business grew with over 100 employees including designers, horticulturist, maintenance specialists and contractors.

Bringing in another master-stroke idea along with Bunkie native and friend, David Newton, Johnny expanded into the wholesale nursery business.

It was the next logical step and an overlooked opportunity. Soon there were

other branches around the area and in Austin.

Even though he turned over the reigns of McDugald-Steele, his passion for designing remained and his newer company, Johnny Steele Designs is in much demand.

Not forgetting his Louisiana roots, Johnny recently established a $50,000 scholarship for a senior student in the LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture.

He was recently honored at River Oaks Country Club by the Houston Botanical Garden for his contributions to that urban oasis “and his lasting impact on our city’s green spaces.”

The Johnny Steele Dog Park, located inside Buffalo Bayou Park in the heart of

Houston was, as the sign proclaims, “Given by His Friends.”

The dog park is a popular two acre off-leash destination. It features separate zones for large and small dogs, ponds, washing stations and scenic Houston skyline views.

Remembering her nephew as he grew up, Sharon said, “He was a good student at Bunkie High, a hard worker and he made the deliveries for the flower shop. He’s very generous and we are all proud of him.” And so is the AP.

Go to Johnny Steele Design to see some of his work.