News Release Distributed 02/23/11
Louisianians can work in their yards almost every day of the year, but spring is prime time for gardening. The LSU AgCenter has announced a lineup of garden shows that kick off in March and continue into May in Hammond, Covington, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, New Orleans and Houma.
March 12, Hammond
The Hammond Spring Garden Day will be held March 12, at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station at 21549 Old Covington Highway (La. Highway 1067 just off U.S. Highway 190) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“The program will provide valuable information to homeowners and to gardeners,” said LSU AgCenter county agent Sandra Benjamin. “AgCenter faculty members and Master Gardeners will present sessions on super plant selection, backyard ponds, colorful foliage plants for summer gardens and a session entitled, all about camellias.”
The program also will include LSU AgCenter recommendations on gardening and related topics and feature garden products and services available in the area. New to the program this year will be a plant swap. As in past years, there will be a plant sale, kid’s activities, commercial and educational exhibits and educational presentations and the plant diagnostic center.
Guided walking tours of the Hammond Research Station at 10 a.m. and at noon will showcase some of the research at the station.
The show is sponsored by the LSU AgCenter and the Tangipahoa Parish Master Gardeners Association. Visitors are asked to bring nonperishable food items to benefit the Tangi Food Pantry.
Admission is $5 per vehicle. More information is available from Benjamin.
March 19-20, Covington
The LSU AgCenter and the St. Tammany Master Gardeners will hold their annual garden show and plant sale March 19-20 at the St. Tammany Fairgrounds in Covington.
Speakers and topics will include Buddy Lee on the Southern Living collection, Charlotte Seidenberg on wildlife gardening, Dan Gill on new trends in landscaping, Kyle Huffstickler on tree selection and Carl Motsenbocker on successful organic gardens on March 19.
March 20 presentations will include Ty Guidroz on lawn care maintenance, Kappy Goodwin on inexpensive horticulture hints, Peggy Goertz on hummingbird plants, Anna Ribbeck on night blooming cereus and Katelyn Peat on culinary herbs.
Gates will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p. m. each day, with admission at $3 for adults. Children under 12 may enter free.
For more information, contact Rusty Batty.
March 26-27, Baton Rouge
The ninth annual Baton Rouge Spring Garden Show is set for March 26-27 at the John M. Parker Coliseum on Highland Road in Baton Rouge.
The show will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and include local nurseries and other vendors selling plants and other garden wares, including tools, pots, ornaments and landscaping materials.
Representatives from the LSU AgCenter will conduct a plant health clinic to help gardeners diagnose plant pest and health problems and answer garden questions. Other faculty members will give one-hour talks during the day.
Children’s activities also will be available.
In addition to the garden show, the 5th Annual Louisiana State and Regional Chili Cook-Off will be held next door in the 4-H Mini Farm both days, and the Second Annual Baton Rouge Spring Car Show will take place March 27.
More information is available from David Himelrick.
March 25-26, Lake Charles
The Southwest Louisiana Garden Festival will be held in Lake Charles March 26-27 at Burton Coliseum at 7001 Gulf Highway.
The Federated Garden Clubs of Southwest Louisiana will be displaying their floral design and horticulture talents. Educational programs will include home vegetable gardening and fruit production on Friday and ornamentals and landscape gardening and herbs on Saturday.
The event will include a plant health clinic with LSU AgCenter experts and Master Gardeners to answer gardening questions. The festival also will include vendors who will have many plants and gardening-related items for sale.
Festival hours are 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. Admission is $2 for ages 13 and over. Children under 12 will be admitted free. More information is available online at www.gardenfest.org or by contacting Robert Turley or Pat Ortego at 337-475-8812.
April 2-3, New Orleans
The New Orleans 2011 Spring Garden Show will be at the City Park Botanical Garden April 2-3 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.
Speakers on April 2 will include Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter horticulturist; Buddy Lee, creator of Encore Azaleas; and Allen Owings, LSU AgCenter horticulturist.
April 3 speakers will include Patrick O’Connor, president of the Greater New Orleans Iris Society; Ed Bush, LSU horticulture professor; Russell Harris, LSU AgCenter horticulture agent; and Raghuwinder Singh, from the LSU AgCenter Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic.
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. 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.
April 30, Houma
The TARC Garden Show will be held April 30 beginning at 9:00 a.m. For more information, contact Barton Joffrion.
Rick Bogren