Lifestyles Columnists
Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening and The Lawn Guide – Midwest Series. Visit www.melindamyers.com to learn more.
Lawn Renewal & Renovation Tips to Create a Perfect Lawn this Season
The extreme heat and drought of 2012 was hard on lawns and gardens. “Many gardeners are facing a blank slate of bare soil, masses of dead patches that were once lawn or a bit of grass interspersed ...
Apr 18, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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Little Ruby alternanthera (PHOTO/Dan Gill)
Little Ruby alternanthera gives summer-long color
The foliage of ornamental plants generally plays a supporting role to their colorful flowers. Leaves, in all their many different shades of green, typically provide a backdrop for the flowers that ...
Apr 17, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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Bret Funk is the owner of InfinIT Technology Group in Zachary. His column, Tech Talk, appears exclusively in the Zachary Plainsman-News and online at Zacharytoday.com. (PHOTO/Submitted)
TECH TALK: Is Online Shopping Safe?
Few people can avoid shopping online these days, but many users continue to express concerns about safety. And with good reason: In 2011, approximately $3.4 billion of online revenue loss was due ...
Apr 15, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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Downey mildew has become a problem on impatiens in recent years. Fungicide control options are difficult for most homeowners. (PHOTO/Allen Owings)
Colorful bedding plants bring shady landscapes to life
As the peak of the spring bedding plant season arrives, we may need a few warm-season flowers in our shade areas around the landscape. Most of our warm-season flowers prefer full sun or more sun th...
Apr 12, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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Agapanthus africanus (PHOTO/Dan Gill)
Beautiful blooms of blue
Blue, particularly true blue, is a color relatively rare among garden flowers. Blame the pollinators. Remember, flowers are not produced by plants for our enjoyment. Many plants must attract pollin...
Apr 09, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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Super Mom Checklist: Don't leave home without this stuff!
Baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, cheerleading, football, dance, karate...where do we find the time? Attention, Super Moms! Be prepared for everything - you won’t always be able to leave the...
Apr 09, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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Little Ruby alternanthera (PHOTO/Allen Owings)
Joseph’s coat provides colorful foliage; Little Ruby variety named Super Plant
Joseph’s coat, which includes several species of Alternanthera, is one of those old garden plants that is becoming new again. These are foliage plants for the landscape. As the story in the Bible r...
Apr 08, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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LSU AgCenter program provides outlet for military kids
Before the LSU AgCenter’s Operation Military Kids program began, Louisiana children who were not connected to a military base felt detached and alone, but this is changing, according to Christina L...
Apr 05, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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Serena angelonia (PHOTO/Allen Owings)
Angelonias offer good landscape performance
Gardeners have long desired flowers that are low maintenance in their landscape. But they also want these flowers to last spring through fall. Actually, it’s possible to select plants that will per...
Apr 02, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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If you try to make your plate look like this, you're on your way to a healthier lifestyle. (IMAGE/LSUAgCenter)
Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day
"Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day" was the theme for the 2013 March National Nutrition Month, sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association). To do ...
Apr 01, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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TradeWinds hibiscus (PHOTO/Allen Owings)
Tropical hibiscuses add to spring, summer landscapes
In Louisiana, we are ideally located to grow many plants that are adapted to more tropical and semi-tropical climates. This is especially true south of Interstate 10 and Interstate 12. Even for tho...
Mar 29, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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Vegetable gardens can provide a bountiful harvest throughout the year in Louisiana. (PHOTO/Dan Gill)
It’s time to plant spring vegetables
Louisiana gardeners begin to plant spring and early summer vegetables this month. Watch the last freeze date in your area and be prepared to cover or protect tender plants in case of an unusually l...
Mar 28, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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