(Audio 01/01/07) We use a variety of plants to embellish our homes during the holidays. Christmas trees, poinsettias and Christmas cactus keep our homes merry and bright. Poinsettias should be discarded after the holidays, but a Christmas cactus can bloom for you year after year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/01/07) January usually is the coldest month in Louisiana. Despite the cold, vegetable gardens remain productive during this month. Some root crops and leafy greens can be planted this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 12/25/06) An outstanding plant that is native to the southeastern United States is Fothergilla. Its common name is witchalder, and it’s related to the witch hazels. It produces beautiful fall foliage and nice spikes of fuzzy white flowers in the spring. (Runtime: 1 minute, 24 seconds)

(Audio 12/25/06) Late December through early January is the best time to plant hyacinth and tulip bulbs that have been chilling in refrigerators. Chilling them first helps them bloom properly. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/25/06) After a hard freeze you can tell which plants in your landscape are hardy and which ones are tender tropicals. When cold damage occurs on herbaceous tropicals, it is obvious. You can prune that damage off shortly after the freeze. But wait until spring growth occurs to prune woody tropicals . (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/25/06) The depths of winter is a good time to plant roses. Many nurseries have rose bushes available. If the weather stays mild, roses can continue to bloom into January. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/25/06) Perennial herbs can grow during the winter in Louisiana. Gardeners can harvest the herbs whenever there is enough growth on the plant. They may grow slowly during the winter, but they will start growing vigorously come spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/25/06) Deciduous trees have leaves that change colors and then fall, but this time of the year some evergreen plants also may go through a color change. Azaleas and junipers are two evergreen plants on which the foliage often changes colors. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/18/06) It is not uncommon for gardeners to save seeds. Seeds can be left over from a packet, or a gardener might harvest seeds from plants in the garden. Storing the seeds properly is important to keep the seeds viable. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 12/18/06) One of our most beautiful small native trees that shine in the winter time is our native yaupon holly. It produces bright red berries. An interesting aspect of these berries is that they are translucent. When you get the sun behind them, they are like stained glass. (Runtime: 1 minute, 21 minutes)