NEW ORLEANS – The 34^th Annual New Orleans Spring Garden Show will be held at the City Park Botanical Garden on April 6-7 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.

With home landscape and gardening projects in full swing, April is a great time to see what’s new and available, according to J.B. Anders, LSU AgCenter horticulture agent in Jefferson Parish and one of the show’s coordinators.

Diverse ethnic groups in the Crescent City region will see that there is no short list of available plants, shrubs and trees to satisfy their varied tastes, said Andrew Loyd, LSU AgCenter horticulture agent from Orleans Parish, also a show coordinator.

“What’s so good about this show is there is something for everyone,” Loyd said. “Many people say they don’t have a ‘green thumb,’ but really we all do. We just have to find it.”

Loyd said while the garden show is a place to mingle and have a good time, it really provides an opportunity to learn.

“I think the function of the show is for people across the gradient of expertise to come together and to share their knowledge about plants,” Loyd said.

Urban homeowners and gardeners sometimes have space for extra plants but are unsure what will work best, Anders said. The garden show is a good place to get that information.

“Here at the AgCenter, we have the Super Plants that people may have heard about but have not had the opportunity to purchase,” Anders said. “These and many other plants will be on display and for sale at the show.”

Vendors at the Spring Garden Show always have a wide selection of plants for gardeners to choose from whether they are looking for bedding plants, fruit trees or something rare and unusual to add to their collection.

Speakers on April 6 will include Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter horticulturist, at 11:30 a.m. presenting summer flowering vines. Patrick O’Connor with Zydeco Irises and the Louisiana Iris Society will present Louisiana Irises: A Native Plant Returns Home at 1p.m., and Andrew Loyd, LSU AgCenter Orleans Parish horticulture agent, will discuss common diseases of the home vegetable garden at 2:30 p.m.

Speakers on April 7 will include Regina Bracy, resident coordinator at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station at 11:30 a.m., presenting Louisiana Super Plants. Tammany Baumgarden, Louisiana Master Gardener of Greater New Orleans, will present the cottage garden at 1 p.m., and Amber Parker, also a Louisiana Master Gardener of Greater New Orleans, will discuss the natural edible garden at 2:30 p.m.

Master Gardeners and LSU AgCenter horticulture experts will be available to answer questions from homeowners, who also may bring soil samples for analysis by the LSU AgCenter's Soil Testing Lab. The cost for each one-pint soil sample is $10, payable by check or money order.

The “Plant Doctor” Nick Singh from the LSU AgCenter Plant Diagnostic Center also will be on hand to answer questions about plant disease and insect and weed problems.

As with past shows, exhibits and sales booths will be featured throughout the garden. Arts and crafts vendors will be in the azalea garden with items for sale. And again this year, 4-H members will be helping in the kids’ discovery area.

Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 5-12. Children under 5 and members of Friends of City Park may enter for free.

The New Orleans Spring Garden Show is sponsored by the LSU AgCenter in cooperation with the Metro Area Horticulture Foundation and the New Orleans Botanical Garden.

More information about the Spring Garden Show is available from Loyd at 504-658-2900 or Anders at 504-736-6519.

Johnny Morgan