News Release Distributed 03/15/10
The New Orleans 2010 Spring Garden Show will be at the City Park Botanical Garden April 10-11 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day.
“This is always a fun event featuring garden product exhibits and sales throughout the garden,” said Brent Jeansonne, the LSU AgCenter horticulture agent in Jefferson Parish. “We have a great lineup of educational speakers.”
Speakers on April 10 will include Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter horticulturist, at 11:30 a.m., presenting on best-performing flowers for Louisiana; Jim Osborne, of the Bonsai Society, talking about the art of bonsai at 1 p.m.; and Ron Gates, of the Louisiana Fern & Tropical Plant Society, discussing the rare plants at the New Orleans Botanical Garden Conservatory at 2:30 p.m.
Speakers on April 11 will include Mark Schexnayder, LSU AgCenter coastal and fisheries agent, at 11:30 a.m., on the history of Louisiana waterways; Bob Thomas, Loyola University, at 1 p.m. on how to restore America’s wetlands; and Diane Maygarden, University of New Orleans Lake Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, at 2:30 p.m. on the future of coastal Louisiana.
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.
“This year the LSU AgCenter has invited all of the local plant societies to recruit new members at the show,” said Russell Harris, LSU AgCenter horticulture agent in Orleans Parish.
“Because of Hurricane Katrina, many of these organizations suffered a drastic decline in membership and have not recovered,” Harris said. “This year’s show will help increase the plant societies’ memberships and provide the community with an opportunity to meet others who share common interests – in particular plants such as daylilies or orchids.”
Admission is $6 for adults and $3 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 Jeansonne at 504-838-1170 or Harris at 504-284-5564.
Johnny Morgan