LSHS Winter 2005 Newsletter

Annual Conference Scheduled……January 12th in Lake Charles

The Louisiana State Horticulture Society Annual Conference is scheduled for Wednesday January 12th at the LSU AgCenter’s Calcasieu Parish office. Local arrangements chair Robert Turley has done an excellent job with the program and we are looking forward to a great event.

Speakers confirmed are David Creech from the Stephen F. Austin State University Arboretum in Nacogdoches, TX, Buddy Lee (developer of the Encore azaleas) from Independence, Jeff McMillian from Bonny Plants in DeRidder and Allen Owings from the LSU AgCenter. We are also pleased to have Bill Young, former head of the Department of Horticulture at LSU, from DeQuincy joining us for a presentation on changes in Louisiana horticulture over the past 30 years.

After lunch, Nathan Dondis, current vice president of the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association, will host us for a tour of his business, Greengate Garden Center. It is shaping up to be a great event – and we forgot to mention grilled steak and all the fixins’ for lunch!!!

Registration will begin at 8:30 am with the program getting under way around 9 am. A registration fee of $10/person will be charged to cover minor expenses. Please plan to pay your 2005 dues also if you have not already done so.

Directions to the Calcasieu AgCenter office are included here along with hotel information. We have not blocked or selected a specific hotel. Please RSVP your attendance to Robert Turley at rturley@agctr.lsu.edu or 337/475-8812 or Annie Coco at acoco@agctr.lsu.edu or 985/748-9381 so that adequate local arrangements can be made.

See you in Lake Charles on January 12th.

Directions to the Calcasieu Extension Agriculture Center

On I-10 coming from the east or west, take the 210 Loop.  You will exit at the Hwy. 14 / Cameron Exit (Exit #8).  Turn south onto Hwy. 14 / Hwy. 171.  Stay on this street for about 4 ½ miles (the road will change from 5 lanes to two lanes, continue straight) until you come to Gauthier Road.  Take a right and follow until you come to Gulf Hwy. at a red light.  Burton Coliseum is on the left.  Turn left (south) and go about ¼ mile and you well see the LSU AgCenter sign and the Calcasieu Extension Agriculture Center.  Turn in and find you a parking spot.  AgCenter Ph:  337-475-8812

Hotels in Lake Charles area that are convenient to the Ag Center

Best Western Richmond Suites Hotel, 2600 MOELING STREET, Lake Charles, LA 70615 (Hotel is located at the Interchange of I-10 And U.S. 171).  Welcome to Louisiana's Best Western Richmond Suites Hotel where comfort and convenience gently blend with a friendly and genuinely helpful staff to provide the perfect atmosphere for business or leisure travelers. Your every need has been anticipated with oversize standard and deluxe rooms as well as spacious two-room suites. Our hotel features all the comforts of home including in-room coffee, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, fully-equipped kitchens, with whirlpool tub and fireplace in some suites and Lodgenet Entertainment provides Pay-Per-View movies, Nintendo and express check-out. Visit our fully automated business center, fitness center or relax in the spa, swim in the pool , or sit and enjoy the beauty of the landscaped courtyard.  Ph: 888-872-8356.  

Super 8 Motel, 1350 E. Prien Lake Rd, I-210 - Exit 6B Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles, LA

Includes microwave & refrigerator, in room coffee makers, hair dyer, free HBO, iron & iron board, telephone with dataport, free local calls, free superstart breakfast, pool, guest laundry, and free airport shuttle. 337-477-1606 or 1-800-800-8000.

Holiday Inn Express And Suites, 402 N Martin Luther King Hwy, Lake Charles, LA 70601

Finest and brand new hotel in Southwest Louisiana, offering 81 spacious rooms including Jacuzzi Bathtub Suites. We offer free High Speed Internet with T1 connection; free deluxe continental breakfast; free local calls; business center; fitness center; and meeting room facility up to 50 people. Easy access to I-10, Lake Charles Airport and Sulphur Industries. Downtown Lake Charles and Casinos 3 miles.  Ph:  888-872-8356

Days Inn Lake Charles, 1010 NORTH US 171, Lake Charles, LA 70601

This Days Inn is located approximately five miles from Prien Mall and 10 miles from Lake Charles Municipal Airport. Guests of Days Inn have access to an outdoor pool with lounging area. All rooms have cable TV. Ph:  888-872-8356

Comfort Inn Lake Charles, 921 MARTIN LUTHER KING HWY, US 171 North, Lake Charles, LA 70601.  Easy I-10 access. Walk to restaurants. Easy drive to casinos. Free continental breakfast each morning.  Ph:  888-872-8356.

IMPORTANT NOTES

 2005 Journal Articles to Ed Bush ASAP (ebush@agctr.lsu.edu)

Costa Rica Trip – Annie will provide info on Jan 12^th (acoco@agctr.lsu.edu)

Rose Research Currently On-Going at the LSU AgCenter

(information from Allen Owings, LSU AgCenter – Department of Horticulture, Julian C. Miller Hall, Baton Rouge, LA  70803)

The LSU AgCenter has recently initiated rose studies that may be of interest to green industry professionals, home gardeners and rose enthusiasts. The LSU AgCenter has long had an All America Rose Selections Display Garden, first at the Hill Farm location on the Baton Rouge campus and now at Burden Center on Essen Lane in Baton Rouge. Many modern rose varieties have been evaluated over the years for their landscape performance characteristics and their susceptibility to blackspot and other diseases troublesome to rose gardeners in Louisiana.

A new project is a cooperative effort with Texas A&M University evaluating the performance of "Earth Kind" roses in the Baton Rouge area. These roses are those varieties, primarily consisting of old garden types, that are being recommended by Texas A&M University for their landscapes due to their low maintenance requirements and reduced susceptibility to powdery mildew and blackspot. Some varieties included in this effort are Spice, New Dawn, Louis Philippe, Nacogdoches, Puerto Rico, Georgetown Tea, Mrs. Dudley Cross, Reve d'Or, Ducher, Marie Pavie, Carefree Beauty, Belinda's Dream, Mrs. B. R. Cant, Bon Silene, Maggie, Mutabilis, Isabella Sprunt, The Fariy, Pinkie, Perle d'Or, Cecile Brunner, Caldwell Pink, Kirsten Poulsen, and several others. An initial planting of some varieties was made in 2003 with additional varieties added in March 2004. Unfortunately, powdery mildew has been a major problem on most of these varieties already this spring. Efforts to evaluate the ‘Earth Kind’ roses from Texas will continue through 2005. 

Also, a cooperative effort with Jackson and Perkins is evaluating "own root" roses verses "budded" roses in a landscape setting. Jackson and Perkins began marketing some of their rose varieties "on their own roots" recently - these are being called New Generation roses. Ten varieties are included in this study. The study was initiated in February 2003 and will continue through the fall of 2005. Data from the 2003 season indicated only very slight significant differences in flowering and landscape performance. Many rose growers are now marketing “own root’ rose bushes instead of “budded or grafted” bushes due to efforts to improve establishment, growth and long term performance in the landscape.

New ‘Son’ Series Lantanas from Mississippi

(information from Allen Owings, LSU AgCenter – Department of Horticulture, Julian C. Miller Hall, Baton Rouge, LA  70803)

The relatively new Son series of lantanas from Jim Covington at Clinton Nursery in Clinton, MS have been very impressive in Louisiana and Mississippi plant trials over the last few years. The Son series includes Sonrise, Sonset, Samson, and Sonshine. Sonrise (PP#10865) was the first release in the series and was a Mississippi Medallion plant in 2003. Sonrise has golden yellow flower clusters that change into rosy pink and/or reddish orange and then finish magenta. Sonset (PP#12883) is a mutation of Sonrise and has deeper vibrant red and purple blooms. Both of these varieties reach spreads and heights of 4-5 feet and have very good cold hardiness. Samson (PP#12705) is lower growing and more spreading and has gold and orange flowers. The newest Son series lantana is Sonshine (PPAF) and has two toned yellow and light yellow flowers on plants reaching heights of 3 feet with a spread of 5 feet. Additional information on these exciting new plants is available at www.sonlantana.com

Distinguishing Among Several Bud-Rotting Diseases/Disorders of Palms in Nurseries and Landscapes

(information from Joseph F. Garofalo; University of Florida/Miami-Dade County Cooperative Extension Service, Homestead, FL 33030-2309)

There are several disease/disorders which lead to bud-rot symptoms in palms in nurseries and landscapes. Among these are physiological disorders, insect infestations and parasitic diseases, and some of these have very similar symptoms. In most cases, a field diagnosis is possible using a few basic symptoms which suggest or eliminate one possible cause or another. Additionally, certain problems are especially common on certain species. The diseases which are most often confused include Phytopthora bud rot, Ganoderma butt-rot, and Thielaviopsis bud rot. In some species the confusion may also include Lethal Yellowing and Fusarium wilt. With Phytopthora bud rot, the bud only falls over (appears to melt) and has a foul odor; for Ganoderma butt rot, a button or conk is visible on the lower trunk, or growing from the soil or mulch. With Thielaviopsis bud rot, the trunk falls over, bending well below the tip, near the middle; for lethal yellowing, the shedding of flowers and fruit is diagnostic; and for fusarium wilt, death of the leaflets on one side of the rachis. Nutrient deficiencies which can be confused with diseases include frizzle-top (caused by Mn deficiency, common on queen palms); magnesium deficiency (common on Phoenix palms); and K deficiency (seen on royal palms). Palmetto weevil and royal palm bug are insects which cause symptoms similar to those of diseases; as do lightning strikes and rough handling during transplant. It is important to compare symptoms to determine what tissue should be sampled and submitted to a diagnostic clinic; then draw conclusions based on symptom development, cultural practices, and laboratory results.

LSHS Officers and Board of Directors

Rafash Brew (2004)     Eddie Martin (2004)     Bobby Fletcher (2004)

Ed Bush (2005)     Annie Coco (2005)     Robert Turley (2005)     Sid Guedry (2005)

Carlos Smith (2006)     Stuart Gauthier (2006)     Dan Gill (2006)