Home > News Archive > 2008 > November > LSU AgCenter helps St. Helena High School get back up and running [Image: St. Helena] (Distributed 11/26/08) Donations from across the state are beginning to make their way to the St. Helena Parish High School where students are in makeshift classrooms following a Nov. 3 fire that destroyed their school. Physical activity especially helpful during holidays (Distributed 11/26/08) Physical activity is important year-round but can be especially helpful during the holidays when you may be eating more than usual. It is a good way to burn calories and help you feel less guilty about enjoying holiday favorites, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. Comparison shop during Medicare Part D enrollment period (Distributed 11/26/08) Nov. 15 to Dec. 31 each year is the open enrollment period for Medicare’s Part D prescription drug plans. Because these drug plans can change from one year to the next, it is important for seniors to comparison-shop annually for the best deal and the best coverage for their own personal prescription needs, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Gloria Nye. Plant native shrubs this fall (Distributed 11/26/08) Many of us think about planting shrubs in the spring, but fall is the best time to plant shrubs in Louisiana. There are advantages to planting woody ornamentals, such as trees and shrubs, at this time.  more articles... Louisiana 4-H’er takes top honors at national poultry conference (Distributed 11/26/08) LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Brandon Guillory, Calcasieu Parish 4-H’er, took first place in the National 4-H Chicken Barbecue Demonstration contest held here Nov. 19-20. Most live Christmas trees withstood hurricane damage (Distributed 11/25/08) Although Christmas trees were among the thousands of trees damaged during the hurricanes that hit Louisiana this year, this shouldn’t affect the current holiday season, according to Don Reed, LSU AgCenter wildlife and forestry specialist. LSU AgCenter professor edits book on nutrition, pregnancy (Distributed 11/24/08) Carol Lammi-Keefe, professor in the LSU AgCenter’s School of Human Ecology, is the lead editor of a new book published in 2008 – Handbook of Nutrition and Pregnancy. Container plants can come indoors during the winter (Audio 11/24/08) Many of us like to use container plants outside during the summer. But when the weather turns cold, these plants need to be brought indoors. Just remember that you may need to let them adjust to lower light conditions before making the move. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Dormant landscapes don't need fertilizing (Audio 11/24/08) When considering how to fertilize plants this time of year, the best option really is not to fertilize at all. Just about everything in your landscape is going dormant. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Fall is the very best time to plant hardy trees and shrubs (Audio 11/24/08) Fall is the best time to plant hardy trees and shrubs in your landscapes. If you plant them now, the heat of summer won't threaten the young tress. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Plant herbs during cool season to ensure growth (Audio 11/24/08) A wide variety of herbs are hardy and can be planted this time of year. There are even some herbs that really grow well in Louisiana during the cool season. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Recycle your falling leaves into compost (Audio 11/24/08) To many people, falling leaves are a nuisance. These leaves, however, can be useful if we recycle them into compost or mulch. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Farmers harvesting 2008 sugarcane crop [Image: Sugarcane Harvest] (TV News 11/24/08) Louisiana sugarcane mills are up and running, and harvesters are making their way through sugarcane fields. Planting for next year’s crop was slow, and the harvest started late. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds) Japanese maples are great small trees for your landscape [Image: Japanese Maple] (Video 11/24/08) If you’re looking for a small tree that has beautiful color, you might be pleased with the Japanese maple. In this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horiculturist Dan Gill explains why Japanese maples grow well in Louisiana and how fall is the right time to plant them. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds) Click for more information...