(Distributed May 2006) A sticky dripping substance falling from pecan trees in spring and summer can be annoying. The dripping material is called honeydew.

(Distributed May 2006) May is a good time to enjoy mayhaw jelly, Louisiana’s state jelly. The mayhaw, Crataegus opaca, is a native fruit of Louisiana. It begins ripening in late April and finishes about the first week in June. Fruit color is usually bright red, although it can deviate toward pink or yellow.

(Distributed May 2006) Increased emphasis on safer sports turf has evolved greatly over the past years. About 20 years ago, two-thirds of reported sports injuries occurred on practice fields. Those fields were less maintained than game fields.

(Distributed May 2006) May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Yet, about one quarter of American adults report doing no significant physical activity.

(Distributed May 2006) Louisiana officials soon will launch a quality rating system for child-care programs. Just as restaurants and hotels are rated, this system will grade child-care programs and help consumers choose programs based upon their quality.

(Distributed May 2006) "A patch of dead grass, even a small one, in an otherwise acceptable lawn can be an eyesore and a weed magnet," says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske. Use turfgrass to patch the lawn. It’s easy, immediate and permanent and checks soil erosion.

(Distributed May 2006) May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, to help educate people about the importance of preventing and treating high blood pressure.

(Distributed May 2006) "Eating healthfully is one of the most important things women can do to achieve and maintain good health," says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames, in observance of National Women’s Health Week May14-20.

(Distributed May 2006) Service-learning is a teaching strategy sweeping the nation that links community service to formal and informal education.

(Distributed May 2006) Nearly all Americans consume much more salt than they need, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. Increased salt (sodium chloride) intake is linked with higher blood pressure. Decreased salt consumption reduces the risk of high blood pressure.

(Distributed May 2006) Caring for children can be an exciting and rewarding field, but it’s also a huge responsibility, so an LSU AgCenter child-care associate says there are many factors to consider before starting a child-care business.

(Distributed May 2006) "Play ball," the umpire calls out, and the game begins. The grade-schoolers are in their defensive positions on the field, the pitcher prepares to make the first pitch and the batter is ready. The young player dreads the possibility of getting out and letting his team down, but he dreads more the cutting remarks he may face, including those of his parents and coach

(Distributed May 2006) Extremely dry weather in recent months across the southern Louisiana parishes has many farmers concerned about a repeat of the mega-drought conditions of 1998-2001. And their fears are not unfounded, according to LSU AgCenter weather specialist and extension climatologist Jay Grymes.

(Distributed May 2006) Horticultural articles and booklets often use special terminology in discussing fertilization practices. Knowing exactly what they are saying is essential for success with your cultural program.

(Distributed May 2006) Residents and authorities have vowed to be more prepared for hurricanes this year following the disasters of Katrina and Rita last season. Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 21-27.

(Distributed May 2006) The best season for vegetable gardening is almost behind us in Louisiana. We can work toward the summer, hot-season plantings or still try to get some of a late spring crop in. North Louisiana still has a little more spring left than the southern parishes do.

(Distributed June 2006) The health benefits of blueberries have made the news in recent years. Some of the reported benefits of eating blueberries include improved vision, clearing arteries, strengthening blood vessels, enhanced memory, stopping urinary tract infections and reversing age-related physical and mental declines.

(Distributed June 2006) In the summer months it is highly important to consider the water consumption of your horse. "Water is the most essential nutrient that we provide in a horse’s diet," says LSU AgCenter horse specialist Dr. Clint Depew.

(Distributed June 2006) Spring is full of gift-giving opportunities, but the kinds of gifts have changed for many people.

(Distributed June 2006) The baseball season invokes the familiar clichés, "America's favorite pastime" and "all-American as mom and apple pie." But is there more to the sport than recreation? asks LSU AgCenter 4-H youth volunteer expert Dr. Janet Fox.

(Distributed June 2006) Hedge trimmers may not be as popular now as a few years ago because more people now realize that it’s healthier for plants to be selectively pruned rather than sheared.

(Distributed June 2006) Small diesel tractors with less than 40 horsepower are very popular with homeowners with small acreages as well as with grounds maintenance contractors and small farmers.

(Distributed June 2006) State 4-H officers and leaders helped teach leadership skills to their peers during the Annual Leadership Conference at the Grant Walker 4-H Education Center, March 24-26.

(Distributed June 2006) Most garden tools have fixed handles that may be made of wood, fiberglass or metal. But an LSU AgCenter engineer says some tools now are available with separate handle and toolhead components that can be interchanged as desired.

(Distributed June 2006) Having a good lawn in a tree-shaded landscape is a challenge since all of the warm-season turfgrasses were developed to grow best in full sun, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed June 2006) June is a pivotal time for Louisiana vegetable gardens. It’s the transition from spring to hot summer conditions. At this time many crops are fully in harvest or have been pulled out to make room for new crops.

(Distributed June 2006) Organic mulches can help keep your vegetables producing during Louisiana’s hot summer months. Although mulch is usually applied to control weeds and conserve moisture, it has several other useful functions, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed June 2006) Our sports fields are made up of Bermuda grasses. These grasses may be hybrids, improved seeded selections or just common Bermuda grass. But they all need to begin serious growth in June, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed June 2006) The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently advised consumers that cooking raw poultry to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees will eliminate pathogens and viruses. Past food safety guidelines recommended higher temperatures for some poultry products.

(Distributed June 2006) Celebrate June Dairy Month by consuming nutrient-rich dairy foods, advises LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. Milk, cheese and yogurt, for example, may help you better manage your weight and reduce your risk for high blood pressure, osteoporosis and certain cancers.

(Distributed June 2006) Peaches are a wonderful Louisiana treat. Fresh Louisiana peaches are available from mid-May to early August, with the peak season from mid-June until mid-July. The national peak period is July through August.

(Distributed June 2006) Cardiovascular disease is a common chronic disease and the leading cause of death in the United States, although the rates have declined in the past 25 years.

(Distributed June 2006) Communicating with your children’s teachers may be one of the most important parts of parental involvement – a major key to a child’s educational success, according to LSU AgCenter child-care associate Cheri Gioe.

(Distributed June 2006) Parental involvement is a key to children’s success in school, and LSU AgCenter child-care associate Cheri Gioe says there are a variety of ways you can become involved.

(Distributed June 2006) Keeping food safe at picnics or while eating outdoors poses special problems. The challenge of keeping hands and utensils clean is greater when preparing and eating food outdoors and away from the kitchen.

(Distributed June 2006) The Dietary Guidelines for Americans strongly emphasize the importance of physical activity to promote health, psychological well-being and a healthy body weight. To reduce chronic disease risk in adulthood, the guidelines recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, above usual physical activity, most days of the week.

(Distributed June 2006) Biting is a common behavior for children who are one year to two years old – particularly children in group care.

(Distributed June 2006) Father’s Day is a good time to focus on men’s health, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. Although many people think of osteoporosis as a woman’s disease, it is also a serious health problem for men. Losing height or breaking a bone may be the first sign of osteoporosis.

(Distributed June 2006) In societies that consume soy products, the populations have a lower incidence of osteoporosis. The soy components thought to be responsible for this are the isoflavones genistein and daidzein.