(03/11/22) BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana gardeners are gearing up for spring. And many are already beginning work in their gardens and flower beds.

With that in mind, the LSU AgCenter has announced its lineup of spring garden shows and expos that will kick off in March and continue through April in Baton Rouge, Covington, Lake Charles, West Monroe and New Orleans.

March 12 and 13, Baton Rouge

The annual Baton Rouge Spring Garden Show and Crafts Market is set for March 12 and 13 at the John M. Parker Coliseum on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge.

The show will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day and include numerous vendors selling plants and a variety of yard, garden and patio merchandise.

AgCenter horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard said this year the Baton Rouge Zoo will be there with a small petting zoo.

“This year there will be an AgCenter Ask the Expert booth with extension specialists Raj Singh, Kiki Fontenot, Ron Strahan and myself,” she said. “We will be there to help answer all your gardening questions.”

Kirk-Ballard said all sorts of vendors selling plants, garden art, ceramics and crafts will be on hand. The LSU Horticulture Club also will be selling plants, and garden interest groups will be there too.

Other features at the event include children’s activities. Adult admission is $5 per person.

The event is free for LSU and Southern University students and children under 12-years old. For information, call 225-578-1205.

April 22 and 23, Covington

The St. Tammany Master Gardeners will offer the annual Northshore Garden Show and Plant Sale on April 22 and 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

More than 40 vendors will sell plants and other garden-related items.

The event will be at the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds, 1301 N. Florida St. in Covington. There is a $5 gate fee for all individuals over 18-years old. Proceeds from the garden show help fund the Bobby Fletcher Sr. Scholarship and the St. Tammany Master Gardener Association Scholarship.

Educational programs will feature topics ranging from edible landscaping and weed control to stormwater management and the LSU AgCenter Hemp Program. The programs will be held both days of the show from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

For additional information, contact William Afton at 985-875-2635.

March 25 and 26, Lake Charles

The 22nd annual Southwest Louisiana Garden Conference and Expo will be held March 25 and 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day in the Burton Coliseum at 7001 Gulf Highway in Lake Charles.

The event will feature gardening, flowers, trees, shrubs, garden accessories and tools, books, demonstrations and educational lectures.

The expo attracts more than 3,000 garden lovers, residents and visitors each year. There will be a plant health clinic with professionals from the LSU AgCenter as well as Master Gardener volunteers who will help diagnose plant problems and answer garden questions.

Educational garden seminars will be ongoing throughout the two-day event. A 4-H cart service will be provided to help expo-goers carry items to their vehicles.

Admission is $3 for adults and free for children 12 and under.

For more information, contact Robert Turley at 337-721-4080 or rturley@agcenter.lsu.edu.

April 2, West Monroe

The Northeast Louisiana Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale will be held on April 2 at the West Monroe Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The sale will feature vegetables and herbs, houseplants, tropical, flowing vines, butterfly garden plants and many others.

The highlight of this year’s sale will be a presentation by P. Allen Smith, an American television host, garden designer, conservationist and lifestyle expert.

LSU AgCenter horticulture agent Kerry Heafner said local Master Gardeners will be available to help visitors select plants. They will also answer questions, provide gardening tips and even help load customers’ car.

The West Monroe Convention Center is located at 901 Ridge St. For more information, contact Heafner at 318-323-2251.

April 2 and 3, New Orleans

The New Orleans Spring Garden Show will be held at the City Park Botanical Garden from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days.

The show will feature plant and garden products, exhibits and sales throughout the garden as well as a kids discovery area, educational programs, music and arts and crafts.

Master Gardeners and AgCenter horticulture experts will be available to answer questions from homeowners, who also may pick up boxes for their soil samples to be analyzed by the LSU AgCenter Soil Testing Lab for a fee.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 12. Children under 5 and members of Friends of City Park may enter for free.

For more information contact 504-736-6519 or GNOGardening@agcenter.lsu.edu.

The LSU AgCenter has announced its lineup of spring garden shows and expos that will kick off in March and continue continue through April in Baton Rouge, Covington, Lake Charles, West Monroe and New Orleans. Photo by Johnny Morgan/LSU AgCenter