Spring Gardening News Distributed 02/22/08
Spring garden shows are set for Hammond, Covington, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, New Orleans and Houma in March, April and May.
March 8, Hammond
The Hammond Spring Garden Day will be held on Saturday, March 8, at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station at 21549 Old Covington Hwy. (Hwy. 1067 just off Hwy. 190) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The show will include LSU AgCenter recommendations on gardening and related topics and feature garden products and services available in the area.
Ponchatoula Junior High student Kevin Patrick, of Hammond, will provide musical entertainment at noon and 1 p.m.
Beginning at 9:30, LSU AgCenter faculty members and Master Gardeners will present a series of half-hour talks on the challenges and opportunities of organic gardening, native plants for drought and deluge, attracting birds and butterflies to the garden, “garden sun dial” and proper pruning-when and how.
Guided walking tours of the Hammond Research Station at 10 a.m. and at noon will feature some of the ongoing research at the station.
A kids’ tent will allow children to plant a small plant to take home, make a pine cone bird feeder, play a fishing game and participate in other activities.
Visitors are asked to bring nonperishable food items to donate to a food drive to benefit the Tangi Food Pantry. Admission is $5 per vehicle. For more information, contact Annie Coco at (985) 748-9381 or acoco@agcenter.lsu.edu.
March 15-16, Covington
The Northshore Spring Garden Show will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16, in the Bobby Fletcher Agriculture Center at the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds in Covington.
The show will feature plant and garden supplies for sale, a plant health clinic and a children's booth.
LSU AgCenter specialists and Master Gardeners will offer seminars on roses, azaleas, lawns, irrigation and other common gardening topics.
The show runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. both days. Admission is $3 per person ages 13 and over. Children 12 and under may enter free. Proceeds from the show go toward funding an agriculture/horticulture scholarship.
For more information, contact Rusty Batty at (985) 875-2635 or rbatty@agcenter.lsu.edu.
March 29-30, Baton Rouge
The sixth annual Baton Rouge Spring Garden Show will burst on the scene in full color Saturday and Sunday, March 29-30, at the John M. Parker Coliseum on Highland Road in Baton Rouge from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days.
The show will include numerous vendors selling a variety of plants and garden-related merchandise ranging from artwork and furniture to irrigation and unusual planters.
Local nurseries and other vendors will offer for sale plants and other garden wares, including tools, pots, ornaments and landscaping materials.
Local garden societies also will be on hand with information about their specialties and offering plants for sale.
Representatives from the LSU AgCenter will conduct a plant health clinic to help homeowners diagnose plant pest and health problems and answer garden questions. Other faculty will give one-hour talks during the day.
Children’s activities will include planting seeds, playing with insects and learning about animals.
The Kiwanis Club will again sponsor a chili cook-off on Saturday at the 4-H Mini Farm adjacent to Parker Coliseum.
Admission to the show is $5 for ages 13 and over. Children 12 and under are admitted free. For more information, contact David G. Himelrick at (225) 578-2158 or dhimelrick@agctr.lsu.edu.
March 29-30, Lake Charles
The 9th Annual Southwest Louisiana Garden Festival will be held in Lake Charles March 29-30 at Burton Coliseum at 7001 Gulf Highway.
The event will include a plant health clinic with LSU AgCenter experts and Master Gardeners to answer gardening questions and garden talks by several speakers from the LSU AgCenter.
“The garden festival is a wholesome, educational environment and the perfect activity to bring together friends and families,” said Rob Turley, LSU AgCenter extension horticulturist in Calcasieu Parish.
Vendors will be selling plants and a wide variety of gardening-related items.
Festival hours are 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday, and Sunday, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is only $2, and it’s free for ages 12 and younger. Proceeds will benefit the Calcasieu Parish 4-H program.
The New Orleans Spring Garden Show will be held at the City Park Botanical Garden on Saturday and Sunday, April 5-6, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. both days.
Exhibits and sales booths will be featured throughout the garden. Speakers will make presentations on a wide variety of gardening topics, and LSU AgCenter specialists will answer questions relating to tree and plant health.
Visitors may bring soil samples that will be sent to the LSU AgCenter's Soil Testing Lab in Baton Rouge. 4-H’ers will help out in the kids’ discovery area.
An added attraction will be a guest appearance from the New Orleans Hornet’s cheerleaders – the HoneyBees and their mascot, Hugo.
Admission is $6 for ages 13 and over. Admission is $2 for children ages 5-12. Children under 5 and members of Friends of City Park may enter free.
For more information, contact Karen Blackburn at (504) 838-1170 or kblackburn@agcenter.lsu.edu.
May 3, Houma
The third annual Bonne Terre Garden Fair will be held Saturday, May 3, at Southdown Plantation in Houma from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
This year’s event will include vendors with plants, supplies and lawn and garden merchandise. Featured on the schedule are 12 demonstrations and presentations given throughout the day.
The show also will include a plant disease clinic and a soil test station provided by the LSU AgCenter along with a garden-themed art show, kids’ hands-on activities, museum tours, food and more.
Gate admission is $3 for ages 13 and over. Children under 12 are admitted free. Advance tickets are $2. For more information, contact Bobby Fletcher at (985) 446-1316, or bhfletcher@agcenter.lsu.edu.
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On the Internet: LSU AgCenter: www.lsuagcenter.com
Editor: Mark Claesgens (225) 578-2939 or mclaesgens@agcenter.lsu.edu