(For Release On Or After 12/19/03) Have you ever wondered why poinsettias bloom now rather than for the Fourth of July? And have you ever thought about how plants know when the seasons are changing?

(For Release On Or After 12/26/03) The basic techniques of gardening today are not that much different from those our great-grandparents used. Still, technology and the age of communication are definitely changing the way we live, work and garden.

(For Release On Or After 12/12/03) Cooking is a part of the holiday season, and many recipes call for chopped parsley. Easily grown, parsley should be planted in everyone’s cool-season herb garden.

Decorative plants, such as poinsettias, holiday cactuses and living Christmas trees, play an important part in decking the halls for the holidays.

(Distributed December 2003) Thumbing through colorful catalogs and dreaming of the season's harvest is one way to make winter seem a little warmer and move a little faster says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed 11/24/2003) Holiday shoppers looking for unique gifts might consider gardening tools or special bulbs and other plants materials.

(Distributed 11/23/2003) Although the end of 2003 is rapidly approaching, you still have time to take advantage of some great tax breaks for which your employer may pick up the tab for expenses, according to LSU AgCenter family economics professor Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

(Distributed Decemeber 2003) Kids enjoy being holiday helpers. "This holiday season, let your children share in planning and preparing food for these special occasions," suggests LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 11/23/2003) Chain saws are popular homeowner tools – especially in the South where we have lots of trees and lots of storms. Homeowners have many options in chain saws, and the first decision is between an electric or gasoline model, according to Dr. Dick Parish, an engineer with the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

(Distributed 11/23/2003) With the onset of winter comes cooler weather and special environmental conditions that can challenge the performance of even the newest cars, according to LSU AgCenter engineer Dr. Dan Martin. With some forethought and advance maintenance, many of these obstacles can be overcome and prevented.