BATON ROUGE, La. – As Louisiana gardeners anticipate warmer days and their first opportunity to get into the garden, the LSU AgCenter has announced the spring lineup of garden shows. The shows will kick off in March and continue into June in Hammond, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Alexandria, New Orleans Covington, New Orleans and Thibodaux.

March 14, Hammond

The Hammond Spring Garden Day will be held March 14 at the LSU AgCenter 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.

This event is open to the public and all interested persons are invited to attend. It will feature kids’ activities, plants sales, gardening seminars, gardening and agriculture exhibits, and concessions that will include homemade items.

Admission to the event is $5.00 per vehicle. Bring nonperishable foods for the food drive to benefit the Tangi Food Pantry.

For more information contact Melissa Ordoyne at 985-748-5462.

March 14-15, Baton Rouge

The 13th Annual Baton Rouge Spring Garden Show is set for March 14-15 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.

LSU AgCenter horticulturist David Himelrick said the floor of the coliseum will be transformed into a world of plants and gardens for the event.

“At this year’s show, you also will be able to walk next door and talk to some of the world’s best chili cooks at the ninth annual Louisiana State and Regional Chili Cook-off,” Himelrick said.

In addition, visitors also can visit the sixth annual Baton Rouge Spring Car Show and the event’s second annual Koi and Goldfish Show.

Children’s activities also will be available.

For more information contact Himelrick at 225-578-2222.

March 20-21, Covington

The 2015 Northshore Garden and Plant Sale will take place March 20-21 at the Covington Fairgrounds.

The show will open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 4:00 p.m. both days with educational presentations at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

LSU AgCenter personnel and industry professionals will speak on topics such as backyard poultry, weed control, irrigation and garden diseases.

Admission is $5 per person, with children under 12 entering free.

Proceeds from the show will fund the Bobby Fletcher Sr. Memorial Scholarship, a monetary award for a St. Tammany High School graduate who attends a Louisiana college to study agriculture.

For more information call William Afton at 985-875-2635.

March 27-28, Lake Charles

The Southwest Louisiana Garden Conference and Expo 2015 will celebrate its 16th annual show and plant extravaganza on March 27-28 at Burton Coliseum at 7001 Gulf Highway in Lake Charles.

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. Vendors will have many plants and gardening-related items for sale.

The Garden Expo is a wholesome, educational environment and the perfect activity to bring together friends and families, said LSU AgCenter extension horticulturist Robert Turley.

The Expo attracts more than 4,000 garden lovers, residents and visitors each year. Hours for the event are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and free for children 12 and under.

For more information, visit www.gardenfest.org or contact Turley at 337-475-8812.

April 10-11, Alexandria

The second annual Central Louisiana Garden Expo will be held on April 10, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and April 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The garden expo will be held at the State Evacuation Shelter on U. S. Highway 71 South of Alexandria.

The expo will feature vendor booths with lawn and garden items, educational gardening seminars, plants and supplies, question and answer booth, garden clubs and plant societies, and Master Gardener demonstrations, said LSU AgCenter agent Sara Shields, who is coordinating the event.

“The purpose of the expo is to let the gardening public know where to obtain gardening products, services and accessories; where garden clubs are located in the central part of the state; to educate the public on gardening issues; and to provide a place for sales that make available quality garden plants, products and accessories,” Shields said.

For additional information about the Central Louisiana Garden Expo, contact Shields at 225-638-5533.

April 11-12, New Orleans

The 36th Annual New Orleans Spring Garden Show will be held at the City Park Botanical Garden April 11-12 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Lee Rouse, LSU AgCenter horticulture agent in Orleans Parish, said the show will feature plant and garden products, exhibits and sales throughout the garden, a kids’ discovery area, educational programs, music, and arts and crafts in the Azalea Garden.

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.

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.

For additional information, contact Rouse at 504-658-2900 or Sarah Bertrand at 504-736-6519.

June 6, Thibodaux

LaTerre Master Gardener and LSU AgCenter vegetable field day will be held June 6 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the St. Francis Vegetable Garden next to the Thibodaux Civic Center in Thibodaux.

LSU AgCenter agent Barton Joffrion said it will include home and commercial demonstration gardens and vegetable growing contest for adults and youth and AgCenter experts on hand to answer gardening questions.

For additional information contact Joffrion at 985-873-6495