Results form Ornamental/Landscape Plant Evaluation Research

Master Gardeners attending the LMG Appreciation Day at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station on May 13th were provided a survey to indicate areas of interest in ornamental/landscape plant evaluation research.  Participates were asked to vote for three plant categories from a list provided. From an 18% response rate the percentages of Louisiana Master Gardeners desiring research in the following topic areas were:

 Future Louisiana Super Plants – 70.2%

New Herbaceous Perennials – 66.0%

New Herbaceous Annuals – 42.6%

New Coneflowers – 34.1%

Buddleia Cultivars – 25.5%

Easy Elegance Shrub Roses – 23.4

Foliage (Coleus, Alternanthera, Copper Plants) – 23.4%

Southern Living Trees / Shrubs – 10.6%

Heirloom Hybrid Tea Roses – 6.4%

Interest in Louisiana Super Plants is considerable among MGers, especially what is coming in the future. In addition, it was interesting to note the desire for information on new herbaceous perennials (66%) – as compared to annuals (42.6%). There also seems to be some desire for alternative rose cultivars and it was also noted that specifically focused areas, such as Buddleia and Echinacea, received high marks.

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Burden Center garden festival set for June 18

The LSU AgCenter’s Burden Center in Baton Rouge will hold its annual garden festival with hayrides to the demonstration plots beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at noon June 18. The event will feature numerous varieties of tomatoes, watermelon, peppers and sweet corn, according to Jeff Kuehny, resident director.  Also featured will be All-America Selections of vegetables and ornamental annuals, perennials and roses.  This is a great opportunity for master gardeners, consumers, home gardeners, chefs and growers of vegetables, fruits and ornamentals to learn about recommended horticultural crops.  Participants will not only hear the latest information on numerous horticultural crops but also be invited to taste, smell and rate their favorites.

Also featured at the garden festival will be local horticulture organizations, including the Burden Horticulture Society, rose society, bonsai society, herb society and camellia society.  Local landscape and horticulture industries, East Baton Rouge Parish Extension and a plant health clinic also will have informational booths to visit.

The Burden Center is located at 4560 Essen Lane off I-10 in Baton Rouge.  For more information on the Burden Center garden festival, call 225-763-3990 or visit www.lsuagcenter.com/BurdenCenter. 

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A Must for Hibiscus Enthusiasts!

Robert Gerlich, President of the New Orleans Chapter of the American Hibiscus Society (AHS) invites all hibiscus enthusists to attend the 14th Annual Hibiscus Show and Sale scheduled for Sunday, May 29th at Ursuline Academy in New Orleans, Louisiana.  This event is one of the largest and best hibiscus shows around and is open to the general public from 1:00 to 4:30 P.M.  Admission is free.

Visit http://www.loyno.edu/~gerlich/NOHS/Annual_Show.html for more infomation including directions.

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Five Grants Awarded by Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners

The Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners recently awarded five grants within their community in promoting the idea of horticulture education. Judy Roemer, chairman of the NWLAMG Community Grant Program related that the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners were honoring their mandate of educating.  “We’re educating people to create the compost using sustainable methods of gardening that are ecologically sound.” This is the first year for the NWLAMG Community Grants which totaled $20,000. 

To learn more about the NWLAMG Community Grant winning projects visit:

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20110428/LIVING03/110427019/Five-projects-receive-grants

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Hammond Research Station sets open house for May 21

The LSU AgCenter will sponsor an open house (free to the public) on May 21 at the Hammond Research Station beginning at 9 a.m.  This event will feature more than 500 varieties of blooming plants and will offer a great opportunity for individuals to identify plants they may want to incorporate into their home landscapes.

 The LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station conducts the largest herbaceous – or non-woody – ornamental plant trials in Louisiana.  Research at the station focuses on landscape horticulture including plant selection, fertility, weed control and plant growth regulators in more than 15 acres of research beds.  Plants on display for the open house will include shrubs, perennials and annuals that cover a wide array of growing conditions, including beds in full sun, part sun and shade.  Also featured will be the Louisiana Super Plant Program that highlights tough and beautiful plants that perform well in Louisiana landscapes.

The LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station is located on Louisiana Highway 1067 approximately 6 miles east of Hammond, Louisiana.  For more information on landscape horticulture research at the station, call 985-543-4125 or visit www.lsuagcenter.com/Hammond .

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