(Audio 05/27/13) Hyacinth bean is a great summer-flowering vine. It produces spikes of lavender flowers and attractive seed pods. Plant seeds in May, and be sure to have a large trellis or arbor for it to grow on. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 05/21/13) ST. JOSEPH, La. – Research at the LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station on corn, cotton and soybeans will be featured at the pest management and crop production field day on June 19.

(Audio 05/27/13) The sound of water can have a cooling effect during summer. If you have an aquatic garden in your landscape, do try to keep it clean and healthy. Submerged plants help keep algae from growing in the water. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/27/13) Crape myrtles are the most popular summer-flowering tree in Louisiana. They have few pest problems, but one issue is the crape myrtle aphid. It sucks the sap from the tree and excretes a substance that causes sooty mold to grow on the trees.

(Distributed 05/20/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Wholesale beef prices are at historically high levels. This may affect summer cookouts as consumers can expect to see higher prices at the grocery store. LSU AgCenter livestock economist Ross Pruitt said drought in the Midwest in 2012 led to a shortage of hay and higher corn prices. This in turn is affecting beef prices.

(Distributed 05/20/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – For almost 20 years a group of volunteers has made life easier for those with gardening questions and others in need of an extra set of hands to help with a big seminar.

(Distributed 05/17/13) HAMMOND, La. – Spring blooms on roses came late this year due to unusually cool conditions in March and April. But May flowering has been outstanding throughout Louisiana. In most home landscapes, roses perform their best at first flowering in spring and at fall bloom in October.

(Distributed 05/17/13) LAFAYETTE, La. – Building a pond requires more than just digging a hole and waiting for rain, LSU AgCenter experts said at a pond seminar recently (May 14). Planning and following basic guidelines can prevent problems.

(Audio 05/20/13) Cooked greens are a traditional part of Louisiana cuisine. Most of the leafy greens we use are grown in winter. If you are looking for greens in summer, you can try Malabar and New Zealand spinach or amaranth. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/20/13) If you grow plants in containers, you will need to clean these pots from time to time. Plastic pots are easy to clean, but terra cotta pots may need a little more help. Listen to learn how to properly clean your pots. (Runtime: 60 seconds)