(Distributed 09/18/09) Thanks in part to technology and the age of communication, our gardens these days are more often being looked at as extensions of our homes to live in and use, rather than just being pretty plantings to look at.

(Distributed 09/11/09) Some of the most beautiful irises for our gardens are the hybrids of several native species. Called Louisiana irises, these plants are becoming increasingly popular in gardens all over the world.

(Distributed 09/04/09) Saving seeds from plants growing in your landscape can be a part of sustainable landscaping – it saves you money from unnecessarily buying new seed.

(Video 09/28/09) If you’re looking for a plant with beautiful foliage, flowers and fragrance, you might consider ginger. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explores care for these lush, tropical plants. (Runtime: 1:40)

Trash is everyone’s problem. We all create it. Every time we empty a plastic milk jug or read a newspaper, we create eventual trash. Of course things wear out, spoil or are no longer useful.

(Radio News 09/28/09) Food and football go hand in hand. Just like players take precautions on the field to protect themselves, tailgaters also should take precautions with their food. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/28/09) Hurricanes Gustav and Ike last fall disrupted alligator nesting this summer. LSU AgCenter aquaculture agent Mark Shirley explains. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/28/09) New guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy focus not only on how much weight to gain but also on the importance of being a healthy weight when you become pregnant, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. The Institute of Medicine recently issued weight gain recommendations that say a woman of healthy weight before pregnancy should gain between 25 and 35 pounds during the pregnancy. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/28/09) Louisiana’s wild alligator season runs from September to the end of October. But LSU AgCenter aquaculture agent Mark Shirley expects only a few hunters to be out this season because of lower prices and demand for alligator skins. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/28/09) Workers at Vermilion Gator Farm are busy curing the skins of some of the 80,000 alligators the farm raises. But next year the skinning and curing sheds will sit mostly empty. The Raphael Sagrera family has operated the farm for more than 25 years, but they’ve never seen a year as bad for the business as this one. In June, they didn’t collect alligator eggs, and they won’t raise a crop in 2010. (Runtime: 1:30)

(Distributed 09/29/09) HAMMOND, La. – Landscape industry professionals attending the landscape horticulture field day at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station this past summer chose Jade Princess, a new ornamental grass, as their favorite in a vote comparing 340 assorted warm-season plants.

(Distributed 09/25/09) CAMERON, La. – Officials held groundbreaking ceremonies on Sept. 24 for a new LSU AgCenter Cameron Parish extension office, to be rebuilt on the site of the previous facility, which had been destroyed by Hurricane Rita in 2005.

(Distributed 09/24/09) Here’s some more depressing news about losing weight – the older you get, the less you can eat. Heli Roy, LSU AgCenter nutritionist, says one reason people aren’t successful with weight-loss programs is as they age, they have to gear down the quantity and richness of the foods they eat. So even though they may be eating less calorie-dense food – and less food – their bodies need fewer and fewer calories.

(Distributed 09/24/09) SHREVEPORT, La. – Enter the World of Wonder and follow a path through a forest as you listen to birds chirping and water trickling in the wetlands. Feel the soft fur of different types of animals, and count the years of growth on a large tree “cookie.”

(Distributed 09/23/09) The LSU AgCenter will conduct an ornamental and turfgrass field day for nursery and landscape professionals Oct. 15 at its Burden Center in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 09/23/09) PONCHATOULA, La. – Construction will pause on a “high-performance” demonstration house on two separate dates to give the general public and housing professionals insider views of the innovative structure being built in the Pine Island subdivision.

(Distributed 09/23/09) BOSSIER CITY, La. – Food handling precautions can prevent illness from sidelining football fans who enjoy tailgating, according to LSU AgCenter experts.

(Distributed 09/22/09) The LSU AgCenter’s Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program has received an additional three years of funding for $1.5 million from the Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration. The program will receive $500,000 each year beginning in January 2010 and ending December 2012, according to Paul Coreil, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor for extension.

(Distributed 09/22/09) CROWLEY, La. – An information session to help farmers take advantage of the potential of agritourism will be held Oct. 6 at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station.

(Distributed 09/22/09) HENRY, La. – Workers at Vermilion Gator Farm are busy curing the skins of some of 80,000 alligators the farm raises. But next year the skinning and curing sheds will sit mostly empty. The Sagrera family has operated the farm for more than 25 years, but they’ve never seen a year this bad. In June, they didn’t collect any alligator eggs and won’t raise a crop of alligators in 2010.

(TV News 09/21/09) Louisiana rice farmers could finally get a good year. Farmers have suffered in recent years because of storms and low prices, but LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard says farmers are harvesting what appears to be an excellent crop for 2009. (Runtime: 1:49)

(TV News 09/14/09) A pest, new to Louisiana, could threaten the state’s citrus crop. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited an orchard in Buras, La., that's infested with the diaprepes root weevil. (Runtime: 1:45)

(TV News 09/07/09) Weather conditions during the growing season have led to mixed results in the field for some crops. Yields are all over the board for the state’s corn, and cotton growers could see a similar situation. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard looks at these two crops. (Runtime: 1: 26)

(Radio News 09/21/09) Yellow jackets are aggressive scavengers, and they can be particularly bothersome this time of year, says LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/21/09) Early autumn remains an active time for insects in Louisiana, and September usually brings a resurgence in the love bug population. LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet says this fall we could see plenty of these amorous insects. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/21/09) Fire ants can be a terrible nuisance for homeowners and landowners. LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet recommends large-scale treatment during the spring and fall. Late September or early October is a good time to organize a treatment campaign in your neighborhood. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/21/09) Caladiums may not need to be replanted each year even though they become dormant during winter months. The tubers could be reused to produce more caladiums the following year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 09/21/09) RAYVILLE, La. – “It’s up. It’s live. It’s running.” With those words, the Rayville mayor’s office became the first governmental entity to be connected to wireless Internet service through the Louisiana Delta Initiative’s Bricks to Clicks for Local Governments program, said Dr. James Barnes, director of the LSU AgCenter's Delta Rural Development Center.

(Audio 09/21/09) Many gardeners simply discard the organic waste they clean out of their yards. Composting items such as grass clippings and leaves could be beneficial for future bed preparations. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/21/09) Although azaleas normally only bloom in the spring, breeders have developed several types that can flower at different times of the year. A few types produce well during fall months as well as in the spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/21/09) Indoor plants tend to begin outgrowing their containers in the fall. Measures should be taken to repot indoor plants to give them more room to grow. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 09/18/09) To help celebrate National 4-H Week, which is Oct. 4-10, Louisiana 4-H members will join millions of other 4-H’ers across the nation in participating in a science and technology project. They will make ethanol, one of the most common biofuels in the country. “Every parish will receive at least one Biofuel Blast experimental kit,” said David Boldt, state 4-H science and technology coordinator.

(Distributed 09/18/09) The LSU AgCenter’s Wood Durability Laboratory recently received accreditation for additional test standards by the International Accreditation Services, according to the lab’s director.

(Distributed 9/17/09) TALLULAH, La. – LSU AgCenter 4-H youth development staff members provided literacy training to more than 110 parents and Head Start and elementary school teachers from a three-parish area Aug. 19 to help prepare them for the upcoming school year.

Distributed 09/17/09) A new invasive insect is threatening to move into Louisiana, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter. Rasberry crazy ants are lurking in Texas counties adjacent to Louisiana and are poised to invade the state, according to LSU AgCenter entomologist Linda Hooper- Bùi.

(Audio 09/21/09) Although September could have adequate rainfall, this time of the year can be dry. Watering plants is still necessary even as the weather cools. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 09/17/09) BATON ROUGE – The LSU AgCenter’s Burden Center and the LSU Rural Life Museum will host Harvest Days, an event for the whole family, on Sept. 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Distributed 09/16/09) You can now scream for ice cream at LSU football games both inside and outside Tiger Stadium as well as at the LSU AgCenter Dairy Store on South Stadium Drive, which is open on game days from 10 a.m. until right before kickoff. The School of Animal Sciences, which operates the store, has opened two other venues for ice cream this football season.

(Radio News 09/07/09) Allowing children to play a role in preparing for a storm could help alleviate some of their fears. LSU AgCenter child development specialist Dr. Becky White says one thing they could do is help gather their evacuation kit. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/07/09) The names Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike can cause anxieties in adults, and while children may not remember the names of storms, they may remember living through them. LSU AgCenter child development specialist Dr. Becky White says parents should talk to their children during storm season. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/07/09) Babies cry as a way of communicating needs – hunger, pain, diaper change. But sometimes babies cry for seemingly no reason. Researchers use PURPLE as an acronym to describe this crying. LSU AgCenter child and family life expert Dr. Linda Robinson explains that it is crying that peaks (the first P in the acronym) around two months. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/0709) Couples can improve their relationships by improving communication. LSU AgCenter child and family life expert Dr. Linda Robinson says the "daily temperature reading" can be used as a communication guide. It consists of five areas partners share with each other. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/07/09) Steer clear of trans fats. That’s the recommendation from LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. Trans fats come from liquid oil that has been made into solid fat. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/14/09) The diaprepes root weevil comes in multiple colors and can cause problems for multiple plants, according to LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Natalie Hummel. The biggest concern with the weevil in Louisiana is the state’s citrus crop. The insect, native to the Caribbean, was confirmed in a citrus orchard in lower Plaquemines Parish last fall andit has killed more than 20 trees there. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/14/09) Jerry Ragas has been growing citrus in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, for four decades. He’s survived freezes and storms that have killed off his trees. He recently replanted his grove after Hurricane Katrina wiped out his stand. Now his orchard is threatened by an insect known as the diaprepes root weevil. He first noticed damage last fall but thought something else was causing it. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/14/09) A year after it was discovered in the New Orleans area, the Asian citrus psyllid is still a concern for Louisiana citrus growers. The state's citrus production is centered in Plaquemines Parish, where aerial sprays have kept the pest under control, says LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Natalie Hummel. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/14/09) Rice farmers are harvesting their crop, and LSU AgCenter rice specialist Dr. Johnny Saichuk says this is the biggest crop of Clearfield rice the state has seen. This year farmers also planted more medium-grain varieties than in recent years. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/14/09) The Louisiana rice harvest was off to a record start. LSU AgCenter rice specialist Dr. Johnny Saichuk says farmers were harvesting around 60 barrels to the acre early on -- where they typically get around 40 barrels per acre. But yields began dropping off as farmers got into later-planted fields. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 09/07/09) If you don’t have time to water your plants frequently during the summer, you might be interested in a less water-needy plant that flowers most of the year. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to that very type of plant – a tough and beautiful species of the perennial plant known as sedum. (Runtime: 1:42)

(Video 09/14/09) It’s definitely not fall yet, but one plant that’s showing beautiful fall color right now is the coleus. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains a basic consideration when selecting a coleus plant. (Runtime: 1:34)

(Audio 09/07/09) The home vegetable garden is very active in September. Many of the same vegetables that grew in the spring and early summer are planted for a fall crop. Gardeners also can plant cool-season vegetables. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/07/09) Mature shade trees are among the most valuable and irreplaceable plants in our landscape. But when you undertake a construction project on a lot with existing trees, the activity can affect the trees. Hire an arborist to make sure trees you want to spare are not harmed during construction. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/07/09) Vegetables such as leeks, shallots and bunching onions are part of the allium family. They are easy to grow and productive in the home garden. They grow over a long period before they can be harvested, and September is a good month for planting them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/07/09) Mushrooms may pop in your yard this month. These can be a nuisance, and there is always the possibility that they can be toxic. To be on the safe side, remove mushrooms before allowing pets or children to play in the area. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/07/09) The load of nuts on a pecan tree may be fairly heavy this time of the year. As trees get older, healthy branches can snap off because of the weight of the nuts. That's why you should not plant pecan trees near homes or structures. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/14/09) September is still hot in Louisiana, but most plants are slowing down in preparation for fall and winter. Gardeners should be cautious about what they fertilize this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/14/09) As the weather starts to turn cooler this time of year, many gardeners begin preparing beds for fall plantings. Gardeners can plant a variety of cool-season vegetables and flowers in their landscape during the fall. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/14/09) The days get shorter in September, and fall is around the corner. We need to be aware of the changing of the seasons and to stop pruning to let plants begin to harden off. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/14/09) Lawns haven't slowed down their growth yet, so you need to continue mowing and caring for yours. In early fall, the weather can be very hot and dry, and such weather can encourage chinch bugs. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/14/09) Louisiana gardeners rely on mulch to help control weeds during the summer. The organic matter we use as mulch eventually decays and breaks down. So check your mulch and add more, if needed. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distibuted 09/02/09) With the current economic situation, home buyers have to be especially careful when shopping for reputable lenders.

(Distributed 09/14/09) More than 70 Louisiana and Mississippi cattle producers heard about interseeding summer annuals into Bahia grass sod at a forage tour Sept. 1 in Folsom.

(Distributed 09/14/09) The 2009 Fall Garden Show in New Orleans will be held at the City Park Botanical Garden Oct. 17-18 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day.

(Distributed 09/15/09) When dealing with electrical appliances in the home, it’s often aggravating to have a three-prong plug with only a two-prong outlet, such as with extension cords.

(Distributed 09/11/09) Representatives of Louisiana’s most-active small municipal separate storm sewer systems –called MS4s – have met and agreed to form a self-help coalition to assist participating organizations comply with permit requirements by sharing information, ideas and techniques.

(Distributed 09/09/09) The diaprepes root weevil comes in multiple colors, and it can cause problems for multiple plants according to LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Natalie Hummel.

(Distributed 09/02/09) The Pass A Loutre Wildlife Management Area, also known as the Bird’s Foot Delta because of its shape, lies at the end of the Mississippi River and protrudes about 40 miles farther into the Gulf of Mexico than the rest of Louisiana. Despite the location, freshwater vegetation prevails because of massive freshwater inflows from the Mississippi River. Saline waters intrude only during tropical storms and extreme low flow of the river.

(For Release On Or After 09/25/09) The satisfaction of growing fresh vegetables is undeniable, yet many gardeners don’t have a suitable in-ground location to grow them. If you’re forced to do your gardening in containers, you should know that many cool-season vegetables can be grown successfully in containers.

(For Release On Or After 09/18/09) Caladiums are getting past their prime now, and it’s time to decide what you want to do with them. Your choices are: pull them up and throw them away; leave the tubers in the ground to resprout there next year; or dig them up, store the tubers and plant them again next year.

(For Release On Or After 09/11/09) Gardeners use the term “volunteer” for the seedling of a desirable plant that appears in a garden without having been planted. They can be the offspring of trees and shrubs, but most often they are the result of seeds dropped by annuals or perennials previously grown in the garden.

(For Release On Or After 09/04/09) For much of the nation, September marks the end of summer. For those of us living in the Deep South, however, it would be wishful thinking to think that fall weather is a certainty in September.