| | This Enclore azalea is Autumn Lilac. (Photo by Allen Owings) |
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| | Carefree Celebration is a landscape shrub rose that works well in Louisiana landscapes. (Photo by Allen Owings) |
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| | The Frostproof gardenia is the best variety for landscape use in Louisiana. (Photo by Allen Owings) |
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Get ready for spring gardening by attending one of the LSU AgCenter-sponsored shows. Experts will be at all the shows giving advice, making presentations and answering your questions. Here is a schedule:
March 10, Hammond
The Hammond Spring Garden Day will be March 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station at 21549 Old Covington Highway (La. Highway 1067 just off U.S. Highway 190).
“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 diagnosing plant diseases.”
The program also will include LSU AgCenter recommendations on gardening and related topics and feature garden products and services available in the area. There will also be a plant swap. As in past years, there will be a plant sale, kid’s activities, commercial and educational exhibits and presentations.
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.
Admission is $5 per vehicle. More information is available from Sandra Benjamin at 985-748-9381 or 985-748-5462.
March 16-17, Covington
The LSU AgCenter and the St. Tammany Master Gardeners will hold their annual Northshore Garden Show and Plant Sale March 16-17 at the St. Tammany Fairgrounds in Covington. The show will feature free plant and gardening information by local Master Gardeners, hourly presentations by experts in their field, more than 35 exhibitor booths, children’s activities and food concessions, said Rusty Batty, LSU AgCenter county agent.
Gates will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Admission is $3 for adults. Children under 12 may enter free.
The event will be held under a pavilion, so weather will not be a problem. Parking is free. For additional information, contact Rusty Batty at 985-875-2635.
March 24-25, Baton Rouge
A weekend full of food, flowers and fun is scheduled for Baton Rouge on March 24-25 when the LSU AgCenter presents the 10th annual Baton Rouge Spring Garden Show, the sixth annual Louisiana State and Regional Chili Cook-off and the third annual Baton Rouge Spring Car Show.
All of the events will be held in the John M. Parker Coliseum on Highland Road on the LSU campus.
The garden show will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, the chili cook-off will be held from 10:30 to 5 p.m. each day, and the car show will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, March 25.
Admission is $5 for adults; children under 12 will be admitted at no charge. Registration for exhibiting in the car show is $20.
For additional information about the garden show contact Victoria Hurst at 225-578-2158, Amy Blanchard at 225-578-2222 or Kiki Fontenot at 225-578-2417. For chili cook-off information, contact Eric Miller at 225-933-9760, and for car show information, contact Wayne Babin at 225-673-6012. More information is also available from David Himelrick.
March 23-24, Lake Charles
The 13th annual Southwest Louisiana Garden Festival will be held March 23-24 at Burton Coliseum. The festival opens a 9 a.m. both days and ends at 5 p.m. Admission is $2, and children age 12 and younger are free.
"The garden festival is a wholesome, educational environment and the perfect activity to bring together friends and families," said Robert Turley, LSU AgCenter horticulturist.
The Federated Garden Clubs of Southwest Louisiana will have a flower show. Vendors will have garden-related products for sale, and LSU AgCenter experts will be available to diagnose plant problems and answer questions. Also, 4-H Club members will be available for a fee to help haul plants to vehicles.
Master Gardeners will present a preview party, gumbo supper and silent auction on March 22 at 6 p.m. in the Chalkley Room of Burton Coliseum. Tickets are $10 and can be obtained from the LSU AgCenter Extension Office adjacent to the Burton Coliseum parking lot. For more information, contact Turley at 337-475-8812.
April 14-15, New Orleans
The New Orleans 2012 Spring Garden Show will be at the City Park Botanical Garden on April 14-15 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. 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 Soil Testing Lab. The cost for each 1-pint soil sample is $10, payable by check or money order.
At this year’s show Charles Allen, author of “Louisiana Wildflower Guide” and “Edible Plants of the Gulf South,” will speak and hold a book signing.
As with past shows, exhibits and sales booths will be featured throughout the garden. 4-H members will be helping in the kids’ discovery area.
Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 5-12. Children under five 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 LSU AgCenter horticulture agent Russell Harris at 504-483-9471.
May 5, Houma
The TARC Garden and Market Festival in Houma will be held May 5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the TARC-Houma Airbase. The event will feature speakers; educational displays; plant, lawn and garden vendors; live entertainment; concessions and a Ask the Experts booth with LSU horticulture specialists. Admission is $3 at the gate and children under five enter free. More information about the spring garden and market festival is available from Barton Joffrion at 985-873-6495.
Read these stories about spring gardening:
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Encore varieties lead multi-season azaleas
LSU AgCenter expert reviews rose care basics
All-America rose winner does well in La.
Louisiana offers many fruit tree choices
La. gardeners can choose from many tomato varieties
The LSU AgCenter is one of 11 institutions of higher education in the Louisiana State University System. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, it provides educational services in every parish and conducts research that contributes to the economic development of the state. The LSU AgCenter does not grant degrees nor benefit from tuition increases. The LSU AgCenter plays an integral role in supporting agricultural industries, protecting the environment, and improving the quality of life through its 4-H youth, family and community programs.