(Distributed 05/30/14) HAMMOND, La. – Looking for some great summer color for your landscape beds from now through the first killing frost this fall? Of course! Who isn’t? Butterfly series pentas will give you that – and maybe even more.

(Distributed 05/30/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – The winners of the first Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and 4-H Youth Wetlands Program poetry contest were recently announced. Students wrote and entered more than 400 poems focusing on the theme “Louisiana’s Coast: What Does It Mean to You?”

(Distributed 05/30/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Recent rains have caused flooding in many areas of Louisiana. To help people with flood recovery, the LSU AgCenter has numerous fact sheets available online or in hard copy form at local parish extension offices.

(Distributed 05/29/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – When fall weather is dry, and winter is as cold and as long as it was this year, the combination spells problems for the crawfish industry.

(Distributed 05/29/14) CROWLEY, La. – Rice farmers can learn about research projects being conducted to help them produce better crops more efficiently at three upcoming field days in June hosted by the LSU AgCenter, including the Rice Research Station’s annual Field Day on the morning of June 25.

(Distributed 05/27/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – The Universidad de Ciencias Forestales, a forestry university in Honduras, is looking to the LSU AgCenter for guidance as it revamps its academic and research programs.

(Distributed 05/27/14) ST. JOSEPH, La. – The LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station has scheduled a pest management and crop production field day for June 17 at the research station in St. Joseph.

(Distributed 05/23/14) MAMOU, La. – Rice farmers should be prepared to deal with their worst insect pest, the rice water weevil, according to Mike Stout, LSU AgCenter entomologist, speaking at the Evangeline Parish Rice Tour on May 22.

(Distributed 05/23/14) ALEXANDRIA, La. – Nearly all of this year's cotton has been planted in Louisiana. While the outlook for the crop is good, cotton prices remain low.

(Distributed 05/23/14) Althea goes by the scientific name of Hibiscus syriacus. When most gardeners view the plants, they are reminded of the hibiscus family, to which this popular, Southern heritage plant belongs. These plants are also referred to as rose of Sharon.