Linda Baldwin, vice president of the North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners; Rafash Brew, LSU AgCenter agent; and Jennifer Ates Fussell, president of the North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners, co-hosted the Louisiana Master Gardener Convention in West Monroe, La.. The annual event was held April 29-May 1. (Photo by Mary Ann Van Osdell. Click on photo for downloadable image.)

News Release Distributed 05/04/10

WEST MONROE, La. – Louisiana Master Gardeners were encouraged to photograph their work to share with future generations by the keynote speaker at the organization’s state conference here April 29-May 1.

Jenny Rose Carey, director of the Landscape Arboretum at Temple University, told the 150 in attendance to save records.

“Improve social history,” Carey said. “Make sure you’re photographing your gardens and passing them on to the next generation.”

Carey discussed women in horticulture and landscape design, showing slides of Caroline Dorman and Lady Bird Johnson. She cited them as gardeners whose works carried to other generations.

“Educate others and gather together for change,” Carey said.

In a talk on plants in history, religious rites and ceremonies, Lelia Kelly, consumer horticulture specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said gardening is a “tangible connection to our roots.” She encouraged gardeners to get “young folks to listen.”

Kelly said plants are symbols of fears, passions, sentiments and superstition. Plants have also been known as cure-alls, she said.

“At least 230 species of plants are mentioned in the Bible,” Kelly said.

Jeff Landry of Landry Vineyards said his business has biblical significance. Landry’s vineyard grows grapes on nine acres in West Monroe. This is his fourth growing season.

Landry said issues he’s faced include lack of rain, too much rain and disease.

Developing a vineyard involves site preparation, soil analysis, grading and terracing, he said.

“It is important to get a good start the first year,” Landry said. “Vine to wine takes three years and four months.”

Other topics at the conference included plant propagation, companion planting, cut flowers, flower arranging, community gardening and landscape design.

The conference was sponsored by the Northeast Louisiana and North Central Louisiana Master Gardener associations.

“This educational conference provided Louisiana Master Gardener volunteers an opportunity to network and learn from research presentations and tours, while sharing their ideas and successful programs with others,” said Bobby Fletcher Jr., assistant director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

The Louisiana Master Gardener program is an LSU AgCenter service and educational activity that recruits and trains volunteers to help meet the educational needs of home gardeners in Louisiana, AgCenter officials said. Master Gardener volunteers provide unbiased, researched-based educational assistance and programs in consumer horticulture.

Mary Ann Van Osdell