MG Appreciation Day

The LSU AgCenter held its annual Master Gardener Appreciation Day Saturday at the Hammond Research Station.

The station is a beautiful, sprawling 150 acre facility that focuses on landscape horticulture. Research is conducted in the areas of plant selection, fertility, weed control, and plant growth regulators. The front area is divided into curved flower beds or strip flower beds each holding an impressive variety of shrubs, trees, annual, and perennials that are being grown and tested. Over 500 ornamental plants are tested annually. Each spring and fall the station releases  a list of Super Plants that perform well in Louisiana. 

After registering, we wandered through the area gawking at the amazing variety of plants. 

Then we stopped by booths where we were able to talk to the experts.  I was able to get information about the Fairy Rings we began seeing in our lawn last year and Kathy was able to get valuable information about her mole cricket problem.

There were stations offering help with weed problems as well.

Each visitor was given two flags to place beside their favorite plants.  This oak leaf hydrangea got lots of votes.

They were holding contests where Master Gardeners could test their knowledge. I don't have any knowledge, so needless to say I didn't participate.

Dan Gill, a rock star of the Louisiana gardening community, spoke about Louisiana native plants.  Then the floor was opened for a discussion of  the "Hot Topics" in gardening: GMOs, urban gardening, pollinator safety, etc.

It was all very informative, but our favorite part was just seeing the plants..  Here are some of our favorites.

Athen's Blue Dwarf Princess Flower
Tibouchina urvilleana compacta 'Athen's Blue'

yarrow, Achillea milleflium 'New Vintage Violet'

Iresine 'Aureo Lime Green'

Senorita Rosalita Cleome

Cuphea 'Vermillionaire'

Dianthus 'Amazon Neon Magic'

Dianthus 'Amazone Neon Purple'

Brazilian Buttonbush
Centrathermum inntermedium

Jerusalem Sage, Phlomis fruiticosa

Coral bell, Bella Notte

Verbena 'EnduraScape Dark Rose'

You can get a complete list of Louisiana Super Plants at

https://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/our_offices/research_stations/Hammond/Features/super_plants/

As always with gardening, we had lots of fun!!!

Love ya'll,

Shelli

My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~H. Fred Dale (Thanks, Anne)