Human Interest


Current Archive

COLUMBINE SURVIVOR TO ADDRESS NICHOLLS ACADEMY
Tuesday, June 09, 2009 (131 reads)

THIBODAUX – Craig Scott, a survivor of the Columbine High School massacre that left 15 dead and more than 20 wounded, will serve as keynote speaker at the Louisiana Girls’ Leadership Academy – a program conducted at Nicholls State University for girls entering the 8th through 11th grades.

Sponsored by the Louisiana Center for Women and Government, the three-day academy will kick off Tuesday, June 16, offering ....

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Rose Update
Sunday, June 01, 2008 (227 reads)

By: Bobby Fletcher, Jr., Ph.D.

Now through August is the most stressful time for growing roses in our area. Roses are one of the most popular landscape plants in the United States. Care of these plants through the summer will go a long way in making them perform ideally when growing conditions are more favorable for their optimum performance.

Proper maintenance includes regular watering, mulching, dead-heading and insect/disease/weed control. During droughty periods when there’s no rain for 2-3 weeks, start watering roses every 5-7 days at the rate of 0.5-0.75 inch per irrigation. Water should percolate the soil to a minimum depth of 4-6 inches. Avoid water contacting the foliage to lessen blackspot disease occurrence. Heat stress increases roses vulnerable to blackspot.

Blackspot and other rose diseases will need to be controlled throughout the summer. Rotate fungicides for the best results. Blackspot symptoms include yellowing of upper leaves with development of nearly circular black spots, followed by defoliation of infected leaves. The defoliation results in a weakened bush and subsequent growth retardation. Leaves affected are more commonly toward the bottom of the plant.

SAGO PALM
Sunday, June 01, 2008 (811 reads)

By: Barton Joffrion, County Agent

LSU AgCenter, LCES

This is a very popular ornamental plant that we use widespread in our landscape. We call it Sago palm but it is not a palm at all, but rather a Cycad.

The scientific name is Cycas revoluta. It performs best in full sunlight to partial shade. It is propagated by seeds and suckers taken near the base of large plants. Sago palms have erect, sturdy trunks that are typically about one to two feet in diameter. The leaves are dark olive green and about three to four feet long.

The sago palm has either male or female cones. Male cones protrude and are shaped like a cone or torpedo. Females are “cabbage” shaped.

Get it Growing: Vegetable Garden Update
Wednesday, May 07, 2008 (265 reads)

By: Bobby Fletcher, Jr.

The weather has been beautiful and most home gardens are in full swing. Many residents are working in their yards and getting the spring cleaning done. Some problems have been seen throughout the region that can be avoided by reading and following label directions when pesticides are being used.

The first issue we will discuss is damage to the top growth of tomato plants during this period. We see two types of damage caused primarily by herbicide (weed killer) drift in home gardens. The first is caused by phenoxy herbicides used to control broadleaf weeds in lawns and other turf areas. I have seen this damage several times this spring, and it causes the foliage of the plant to be irregular or twisted. It usually causes the end of the plant as production and growth will cease.

It is imperative that you READ, UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW label directions when using all pesticides, especially herbicides used to kill weeds.

Get it Growing: Citrus Update
Wednesday, May 07, 2008 (292 reads)

By: Bobby Fletcher, Jr.

The warm and fairly dry spring conditions have caused an increase in populations of a certain citrus pest in many home and commercial orchards. The citrus red mite (Panonychus citri) has a small red body with several white hairs (setae) arising from the back and sides of the abdomen. Each female can lay two to three eggs a day and may lay 20 to 50 eggs. The mite eggs are red with white setae in the top center. They can develop from egg to egg in 12 days. Populations increase in spring, late summer and early fall in response to new growth, because they prefer young leaves, but will also infest fruit.

Citrus red mites feed on the cells of leaves and fruit. Damage to foliage produces a pale stippling that is visible on the upper leaf surface. Stippling of the green fruit disappears when the fruit change color. When large populations feed on fruit, the silvering may persist. They have multiple generations and are fed on by a large predator population of mites, lady beetles, lace wings, and the six-spotted thrip.