Louisiana landscapes are neither totally bleak nor lifeless during winter By Dan Gill Overall, Louisiana landscapes sleep restlessly over the winter. We certainly don’t see the sound slumber that is typical for gardens in climates that are considerably colder than ours. In cold climates, landscape plants hunker down and hope for a blanket of snow …
Story and Photography by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon The lovely imaginative lakeside garden of Ruth and Peter Kovacs in Baton Rouge’s Oak Hills Park is filled with many charming expressions of Ruth’s creative spirit. This unique tribute to fancifulness was one of the four gardens featured on Hilltop Arboretum’s 2018 Spring Garden Tour. According to Ruth, …
Starting seeds during the cold months Story and Photography by Rebecca Stoner Kirts I first heard about the technique of winter sowing for starting seeds while I was listening to a podcast over a year ago. The hosts were homesteaders from Texas. They had extensive gardens and also sold plants. They propagated most of their …
Story and Photography by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon As a tea lover, I am pleased to report that the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), which is the source of white, green, black, oolong and also fermented teas, can be grown in Louisiana. The attractive shrub’s dark evergreen leaves and fragrant white flowers do well in the landscape …
Story and Photography by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey It’s the end of October, not much is happening in the garden … then you see them. Little orange pumpkin-like fruit hanging on a spectacular small tree dressed in vibrant red and orange leaves. Barely noticed in summer, they’re now the highlight of your yard. The genus name of …
Understanding vegetable crop rotation Story and Photography by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey Crop rotation is truly very important. The productivity and health of even the smallest vegetable garden will benefit from this centuries-old practice. If you’re first thought is, “I’m not a farmer. This doesn’t apply to my small garden,” you would be wrong. One reason to …
It’s not what you plant, but how you grow it Story and Photography by PJ Gartin There isn’t a single gardener on this green Earth who doesn’t harbor plant prejudices. Some of us moan that Zinnia are too common, while others judge Agapanthus as old-fashioned and boring. Surely, I’m not the only one who’s tired …
Resolving Brussels sprout and red cabbage garden mysteries By Kathryn Fontenot Louisiana fall gardens almost always include cabbage plants. Whether you grow them for nourishment, coleslaw, eggrolls, relish, or salads … or perhaps to throw in St Patrick’s Day Parades, they are generally a staple crop of fall gardens. In general, Louisiana gardeners can grow …
Growing cool-season vegetables in Louisiana A.J. Heinsz-Bailey The heat is almost over and you have exhausted your sizable stack of zucchini recipes. Take a break and start planning your fall garden. Cool nights and short days are on the way. Greens in all of their glory are waiting to put on an edible multicolor display …
By Yvonne Lelong Bordelon The delightful Spanish Town garden of Lloyd Wardrip and Archie Obregon, which was one of the four gardens featured in Hilltop Arboretum’s Spring Garden Tour in Baton Rouge, is an imaginative harmony of color, texture, and form. Their extensive collection of more than 200 container plants, inground shrubs and trees, and …
