Master Gardeners participating in the Name that Weed competition at the Master Gardener Appreciation Day at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station on May 8. The event included tours, presentations, prizes and food to show how important Master Gardeners are to the AgCenter mission. (Photo by Johnny Morgan)

LSU AgCenter horticulturist Allen Owings, left, leads a tour of Master Gardeners through the gardens at the Hammond Research Station during the Master Gardener Appreciation Day on May 8. (Photo by Johnny Morgan)

LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill, left, answers questions for Master Gardeners following his presentation on Louisiana wildflowers during the Master Gardener Appreciation Day at the Hammond Research Station on May 8. (Photo by Johnny Morgan)

HAMMOND, La. – More than 250 Louisiana Master Gardener volunteers experienced the royal treatment while learning and competing for prizes at an appreciation day held at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station on May 8.

The annual appreciation day shows Master Gardeners how much their volunteer efforts mean to the statewide horticulture programming efforts of the AgCenter, officials said.

The event has been held at the research station for a number of years, and everyone likes the environment, said LSU AgCenter regional director Regina Bracy.

“We had looked into the possibility of moving it to different locations the state, but the majority wanted to keep it here,” Bracy said.

During the program, the Master Gardeners were given an opportunity to tour the research station grounds, visit with experts and compete for prizes, Bracy said.

Activities for the day included indoor presentations by AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill and garden tours by horticulturist Allen Owings. In addition, AgCenter extension specialists Alan Morgan, Ron Strahan, Bobby Williams and Raj Singh participated with display booths.

The program included contests, such as determining whether plants are annuals, biennials or perennials, “Name that Weed” and “What’s Wrong with This Plant?”

Owings lead a tour of the sun garden trials featuring new plants for 2015 in addition to a Piney Woods tour. The tours provided a peek at the coming Super Plants and new plants being introduced in 2015 and 2016.

Gill’s presentation on spring wildflowers in Louisiana sparked lots of interest in flowers that are commonly seen in Louisiana’s natural landscape. As part of the presentation, he opened the floor for a discussion of hot topics.

“We wanted to know what types of information the Master Gardeners need from the AgCenter, and we found that there is a need for more on organic gardening and food gardening,” Gill said.

Whenever the economy is weak, there is usually an increase in food gardening interest, he said.

“In the ‘80s, interest rose after the oil bust, then it went down,” Gill said. “But this time it’s sticking. Folks want to know how to grow and properly preserve their produce.”

Master Gardener volunteers are involved in everything from plant health clinics and answering gardening questions in AgCenter parish offices to staffing booths at fairs and festivals.

Susanne Routon, a Master Gardener from Concordia Parish, uses the skills she’s learned as a Master Gardener to help manage the farmers market in Vidalia.

“I got into the program because I love to garden, and I wanted to know a little more about it,” Routon said. “This is my second year, and it’s been a great experience.”

Each year, Louisiana Master Gardeners provide more than 70,000 hours of volunteer service to the AgCenter. Some also are actively involved in youth gardening, school gardening and community gardening programs.

“Master Gardeners give so much to the LSU AgCenter in the volunteer hours they give,” Bracy said. “Allen Owings came up with the idea of having a day where they could come and not have to do anything.”

Miles Brashier, AgCenter agent in Pointe Coupee and state Master Gardener coordinator, sees the work of the 2,500 active Master Gardeners in the state as indispensable to the AgCenter’s mission.

“This is our way of showing them how much we appreciate the work that they do for the AgCenter,” Brashier said. “This past year they contributed more than $6.5 million in volunteer hours to the AgCenter.”

For additional information about the Louisiana Master Gardener program, contact an AgCenter parish office or call Louisiana Master Gardener state coordinator Miles Brashier at 225-638-5533.