The New Orleans 2011 Spring Garden Show will be held at the City Park Botanical Garden on April 2-3 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.

The spring garden show is a great place to find rare and unusual plants not commonly available at garden centers, according to Russell Harris, LSU AgCenter Orleans Parish horticulture agent and show coordinator.

“I’m looking forward to this year’s show,” Harris said. “We are recruiting new vendors, and we also have a great line up of speakers.”

Speakers on April 2 will include Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter horticulturist, at 11:30 a.m., presenting “A Few of My Favorite Things: The Plants I Love”; Buddy Lee, creator of Encore Azalea, will discuss azaleas past and present at 1 p.m. Allen Owings, LSU AgCenter horticulturist, will discuss Louisiana Super Plants and other landscape plants to consider at 2:30 p.m.

Speakers on April 3 will include Patrick O’Connor, president of the Greater New Orleans Iris Society, talking about the Louisiana Iris at 11:30 a.m.; Ed Bush, LSU horticulture professor, will discuss how to increase garden and landscape productivity using prescription fertilization at 1 p.m.; Russell Harris, Orleans Parish horticulture agent, will answer the question: What can a county agent do for you?” at 2:30 p.m., and Raghuwinder Singh, from the LSU AgCenter Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic, will discuss ways to solve your plant health problems at 3 p.m.

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.

“Visitors to this year’s show will find everything they need for their spring garden,” Harris said. “The diversity of vendors at this show provides buying opportunities for individuals with a wide range of tastes.”

As with past shows, exhibits and sales booths will be featured throughout the botanical garden. And again this year, 4-H members will be helping in the kid’s discovery area.

Admission is $8 for adults and $4 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 Harris at 504-483-9471.


Johnny Morgan