,. eal Estate
ACenter draws cudos
HA] ID - The LSU AgCenter's landscape horticulture re-
search program at its Hammond Research Station is receiving re-
gional attention, according to Regina Bracy, resident coordinator
at the station.
Visitors are coming from a multi-state area, some from as far
away as Florida, to inquire about the various projects at the sta-
tion, Bracy said. The areas where plants are evaluated are laid out
to look more like gardens than research projects.
After visiting other southern state's research stations, Bracy
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and others agree the Hammond station is most like an actual gar-
den. "We conduct plant evaluations in several gardens including
some exposed to sun, others in shade, the Margie Jenkins Azalea
Gardens and an urban forest," she said.
At a recent field day, George Hackney, president of Hackney
Nursery in Quincy, Fla., stopped to see the research at the station.
He came back later with his sales team from Louisiana and Florida
to discuss research results and to tour the station's garden trials.
"He also told Gary Knox at the University of Florida about our
program," Bracy said. "Knox has made trips to the station with
volunteers to see firsthand the work that's being done here."
Knox, a professor of environmental horticulture, said he is in-
terested in setting up a program similar to the Hammond Station
at the North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy.
"We have very similar type stations and similar goals," Knox
said. "We want to display traditional and new plants and showcase
the best of existing plants:"
After seeing what they have in other southern states, its evident
the setup in Hammond is unique said Allen Owings, LSU AgCen-
ter horticulturist at the station.
"Tour groups enjoy the garden layout much more than the 'bed-
ding plants in rows' technique seen at other trial locations," Ow-
ings said.
The Hammond garden was designed by Dr. Neil Odenwald,
Louisiana State University professor emeritus and co-author of
"Identification, Selection and Use of Southern Plants for Land-
scape Design."
"He laid out beds that curled and curved and envisioned walk-
ways, water features and resting areaK" Bracy said of Odenwald's
design. "We wanted to duplicate the growing conditions experienced
by homeowners and landscape professionals in their landscapes."
A special garden at the station is the Margie Jenkins Azalea
Garden. In September 2006, the first azaleas planted in the garden
were Robin Hill varieties selected by Margie Jenkins, for whom the
garden is named.
"Also included in this first planting were 23 cultivars of Robert
'Buddy' Lee's Encore azaleas. Later the Crimson azaleas - Majesty,
Queen and Princess - developed by another Louisianian, Richard
Odom, of Country Pines Nursery, were added to the garden. The
size of the garden was doubled in 2007 with the addition of South-
ern Indian azaleas," Bracy said.
The urban forest at the station has 32 species of trees that were
planted after Hurricane Katrina.
"We planted them with adequate space between them because
we want people to see the growth patterns and decide whether it
will fit into their landscape plans," Bracy said.
HOME PHONE
THE PONCHATOULA TIMES, SEPTEMBER 9, 2010, PAGE 5
Official Journal
T Ponctou[a Times
Ponchatoula Area Recreation
District #1 Chairman and Board
The PARD #1 Board held a regular meeting on Monday, July 26, 2010. The
meeting was held in a conference room at Holly & Smith due to electricity being
turned off in PARD Office. The meeting was called to order at 6:36 p.m. and roll
was called.
Present: Byers, D. Dufreche, Rocquin (6:40 p.m.), Wheat
Absent: Palmer
Guest: R. Dufreche, Holly, Beckers, Scherer
Dufreche made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 22, 2010 regular
meeting and the July 6, 2010 special meeting. Byers seconded the motion. All
board members present were in favor and the motion passed.
Byers made a motion to accept the check register. Dufreche seconded the mo-
tion. All board members present were in favor and the motion passed.
R. Dufreche informed the board that PARD had been provisionally approved for
$91,587 for the FHWA Recreational Trails Program for Louisiana grant. There are
additional steps that need to be taken prior to receiving authorization to begin the
project. Wheat thanked R. Dufreche for guiding us through this process.
Rocquin arrived at 6:40 p.m.
Wheat stated that the Fireworks Show was a huge success. The Ponchatoula
Strawberry Festival Cookoff and Hot Dog Eating Contest were welcomed addi-
tions. The Strawberry Festival was a big help in setting entertainment and other
things up prior and during the Fireworks Show. Wheat thanked the following
Fireworks Show sponsors: First Guaranty Bank, Ponchatoula Lions Club, City of
Ponchatoula, Whitney Bank and Berryland Motors.
The Holly and Smith group updated the board on the gymnasium progress.
B. Watts and L. Pierson are planning to head the Fall Baseball Program. They
are requesting to have games on Tuesday and Thursday nights in the fall. There
was discussion of lights and an employee staying. In addition the board discussed
field charges and security guard fees.
Rocquin made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Byers seconded the motion.
All board members present were in favor and the motion passed. The meeting
adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
s/William E. Wheat, Jr. s/Cathy M. Brignac
William E. Wheat, Jr., Chairman Cathy M. Brignac, Secretary
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