| | Tanner guards a bed of cool-season annuals in his Uptown garden. |
|
| | Xiola is a knockout near a Rainbow Knockout Rose. |
|
| | Maxx poses for Mardi Gras with containers of petunias, allysum and nemesia. |
|
New Orleans Spring Garden Show
April 4-5, 2009
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New Orleans Botanical Garden
Victory Avenue in City Park
An educational experience for the home gardener and the professional, this annual event features:
- plant sales and exhibits
- educational programs
- plant health clinic
- kids' discovery area
- container garden sale & competition
Among other highlights of this year's Spring Garden Show will be an educational exhibit by the Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans on pet-friendly gardening. Look for their display on "Companion Planters ... How to create a pet-friendly garden" in the Lath House, which will include information on toxic plants and landscaping tips for gardeners who enjoy the companionship of pets in their yards.
The Master Gardeners will raffle a funky NOLA dog house -- a colorful shotgun for your best friend or just a fun focal point for your New Orleans garden. Proceeds will benefit NOLA City Bark, New Orleans' first officially designated dog park, opening later this year in City Park, and community projects supported by MGGNO. Look for NOLA City Bark's exhibit at the Garden Show. They will have animal behaviorist Ryan Andree on Saturday, April 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and veterinarian Dr. Jessica Leto on Sunday, April 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to answer your pet questions.
Just in time for Easter gift giving, the Master Gardeners will also hold their third annual Container Garden Sale & Competition. Look for some extraordinary container garden designs, reasonably priced and guaranteed to add pizazz to your porch, patio or courtyard.
Speakers and topics featured in the educational program will include:
Saturday, April 4, 2009
12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
Environmentally Friendly Gardening
Dan Gill
Horticulturist, LSU AgCenter
1:45 to 2:45 p.m.
Underutilized Plants for Local Landscapes
Beth Perkins
Banting Farm Nursery
Bridge City, Louisiana
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Upstream/Downstream --- The Environmental Impact
Jo Ann Burke
Lake Pontchartrain Foundation
Metairie, Louisiana
Sunday, April 5, 2009
12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
Assessing Your Hazardous Trees
Scott Courtright
Trinity Tree Consultants
Gonzales, Louisiana
1:45 to 2:45 p.m.
Controlling Invasive Plant Species in Wetlands
Patrick Wharton
Supervisory Biological Science Technician
National Park Service
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Environmental Restoration and Wetlands Recovery
Colleen Morgan
Bayou Rebirth Wetlands Restoration and Education
The Spring Garden Show is sponsored by the LSU AgCenter in cooperation with the Metro Area Horticulture Foundation and the New Orleans Botanical Garden. Admission: $6 adults, $2 children 5-12, free for children under 5 and Friends of City Park.
For more information, contact Brent Jeansonne at 504-838-1170.