(Distributed 05/29/09) The most popular summer-blooming tree in Louisiana is the crape myrtle with its lovely, long-lasting flowers. Crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June and continue flowering for 80 to100 days depending on the variety.

(Distributed 05/29/09) Eating only 1 teaspoon of salt a day is a challenge for many Americans. This is the amount recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

(Distributed 05/28/09) FENTON, La. – Rice growers heard advice from a range of LSU AgCenter experts Tuesday (May 26) during the southwest rice field day.

(Distributed 05/28/09) Food is a necessity for life, and as a result, a three-day emergency food supply is something you hear a lot about when hurricane season approaches. But just what is a three-day emergency food supply? LSU AgCenter nutritionist and food safety specialist Dr. Beth Reames says it involves more than just the food.

(Distributed 05/27/09) Having an “evacuation box” packed and ready to go with important papers and other items can prevent financial disasters and hardships if a serious storm comes your way, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter. LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker says there often isn’t time to gather up such items when you’re rushing to evacuate, so she recommends packing them up now and refreshing them as needed.

(Distributed 05/27/09) The LSU AgCenter will offer a course on “Essentials for Healthy Homes Practitioners” June 2-3 at its Louisiana House Home and Landscape Resource Center.

(Distributed 05/26/09) During a hurricane, you need some supplies just to survive. But many of those supplies are hard to find if you wait until a storm is approaching. So it’s better to make sure you’ve got some of the essentials now, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 05/26/09) The LSU AgCenter’s Red River Research Station will hold a field day June 18 at the station in Bossier City.

(Distributed 05/26/09) The LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station will hold its annual landscape horticulture field day for industry professionals on June 25.

(Distributed 05/26/09) For the past five years, the LSU AgCenter has hosted the annual statewide Livestock Show at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. But because the status of this facility has been unknown, the location for 2010 show, to which nearly 3,000 4-H and FFA members bring their award-winning animals to compete for the best-of-the-best, has been up in the air.