A photo gallery of the 'XXL' pansy varieties from landscape trial plantings at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009.

A photo gallery of the 'XXL' pansy varieties from landscape trial plantings at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009.

A photo gallery of the new 'Sun Spun' petunia varieties (Ball FloraPlant) from landscape trial plantings at the Hammond Research Station.

Photo gallery of varieties in the 'Songbird' series columbines from landscape trials at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009.

Photo gallery of varieties in the Swan series columbines from landscape trials at the Hammond Research Station, spring 2009.

Forty-six ornamental pepper varieties commercially available to growers and gardeners were evaluated during 2007 and 2008 for their garden performance in the Gulf States at three locations: Hammond (La.), Crystal Spring (Miss.) and Verona (Miss.). Variety performance from the Hammond Research Station trials are presented in the attached PDF file. Top ten cultivars were highlighted. Please see related article for their photos.

The LSU AgCenter provides annual outlooks for different agriculture commodities in Louisiana. 2008 was a tough year for nursery growers with the national economic slowdown, along with damage to the industry from Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike and snowfall in December. Here is an overview of the current national and state situation.

The LSU AgCenter has a landscape trial of Knock Out rose varieties at Burden Center in Baton Rouge and also at the Hammond Research Station in Hammond. Blackspot ratings for 2008 are included here.

With gardeners always wanting something new, 2009 brings the newest member of the ‘Knock Out’ rose family – ‘Sunny Knock Out’. This variety is the seventh variety in the ‘Knock Out’ rose group and has bright golden yellow flower buds that open to yellow.

Snowfall across the southern and central portions of the state on December 11, 2008, caused considerable damage to Louisiana's nursery industry via damage to greenhouse structures and plant material. Here is a report on the estimate of economic damage.