Home > News Archive > 2011 > October > 4-H’ers cut up with pumpkins [Image: pumpkin carving] (Distributed 10/31/11) ABBEVILLE, La. – Jayla Campbell, an eighth-grader from North Vermilion Catholic School, had never carved a pumpkin before the 4-H workshop held Monday (Oct. 31) at the Vermilion Parish Extension Office. LSU AgCenter poinsettia open house set for Dec. 2 (Distributed 10/31/11) The LSU AgCenter’s 2011 poinsettia open house is set for Dec. 2 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Burden Center located at 4560 Essen Lane near the junction of I-10 in Baton Rouge. Landscape field day provides information to diverse crowd [Image: Landscape Field Day] (Distributed 10/31/11) Landscapers, grounds crews, nursery staffs and others heard updates on research projects at the Hammond Research Station landscape field day on Oct. 18. Easy-care bush clover has nice fall flowers [Image: Bush Clover] (Video 10/31/11) The relatively unknown bush clover is a drought-tolerant bush that blooms vibrant purple flowers throughout the fall. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains that these low-maintenance plants are a great addition to any landscape. (Runtime: 1:39)  more articles... Try growing edible flowers (For Release On Or After 11/18/11) Flowers are the delight of gardeners. Their beautiful colors, shapes and fragrances are the inspiration for gardening efforts by countless hobby horticulturists. There is more to flowers, however, than meets the eye – or the nose. Your taste buds can also appreciate the many edible flowers that we can grow. Harvest winter vegetables at the proper time (For Release On Or After 11/11 /11) The vegetables we grow in Louisiana during the cool season are some of the most delicious and nutritious that our home gardens can produce. Many of the vegetables we planted in late summer and early fall are ready to harvest – or will be soon. It is important to harvest vegetables at the proper stage for best results. Swan columbine named Louisiana Super Plant selection for fall 2011 (For Release On Or After 11/04/11) Louisiana gardeners seldom grow columbines (Aquilegia species and hybrids) in their flower gardens. This is likely due to unfamiliarity with columbines – there is no tradition of using columbines here in the Deep South – and lack of availability in local nurseries. Sweet potato farmers harvest a good crop (Radio News 10/31/11) Louisiana sweet potato growers are harvesting an average to above average crop. LSU AgCenter sweet potato specialist Tara Smith says good weather during the harvest season has helped farmers get their potatoes in. (Runtime: 1:20) AgCenter names three new Super Plants (Audio 10/28/11) The LSU AgCenter has released three new Louisiana Super Plants for fall 2011: Belinda’s Dream rose, Redbor kale and Swan columbine. These plants have undergone extensive research and are considered high-performing plants for all areas of Louisiana. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Fall can bring colorful foliage and flowers to your landscape (Distributed 10/28/11) Your landscape can include many trees and shrubs that will provide significant color in fall and winter year after year. Area students learn about wetlands [Image: Wetlands] (Distributed 10/27/11) Baton Rouge area students learned about the importance of wetlands as part of Louisiana Wetlands Exploration Day on Oct. 20 at the Hilltop Arboretum. Vermilion Parish 4-H’ers set elevation benchmarks at schools [Image: digging a hole] (Distributed 10/27/11) MOUTON COVE, La. – Vermilion Parish 4-H leaders have been teaching two new words to 4-H Club members throughout the parish: resilient and subsidence. Dianthus, foxgloves are outstanding plants for fall (Audio 10/31/11) Gardeners looking for fall bedding plants should consider two Louisiana Super Plants. The Amazon dianthus and Camelot foxglove were fall 2010 super plants, but they should be readily available at nurseries and garden centers again this year. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Falling leaves can be used as mulch (Audio 10/31/11) Many deciduous trees will start to drop leaves in November. Those leaves are valuable to gardeners. Consider raking them up and using them as mulch, and remember if you let them stay on the lawn, they can damage the grass. (Runtime: 60 seconds) Click for more information...