All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series

Jonquil Jubilee, March 1st in Gibsland

The Jonquil Jubilee

Gibsland, Louisiana

The Daffodil Capital of Louisiana

The festival runs from  10:00 am to 4 pm.

Tickets for the self guided tour will be available at the Jubilee booth for $10.00.  This ticket is your admission to the historic homes and gardens on the tour, and also a map of the various local plantings.

Contact Holly May or Tonya Striplan

                                             (318) 843-6228.

Gibsland is located one mile south of I-20, Gibsland/Athens Exit #61. It's 45 miles east of Shreveport and 56 miles west of Monroe.

Chocolate and Wine under the Stars

Yes, that's an offering at Landry Vineyards in West Monroe. Landry's is teaming up with the Quota Club to offer a special night of tasting chocolate and wine with some fantastic music.

When: Friday, February 28, 2014

Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Where: Landry Vineyards

Ticket Price: $35.00

                             For tickets and information please contact the Quota Club at 557-0931.

Briarwood: Caroline Dormon Nature Preserve

Briarwood was the home of the first woman employed by the U.S. Forestry Service. Throughout her life she loved trees and native plants and created a beautiful sanctuary for nature lovers.  Before her death she willed her property to the Foundation for Preservation of the Caroline Dormon Nature Preserve, Inc. 

Today, visitors can come see the native flora, woodlands,  forest trails, reflection pool and Louisiana iris bog. Click here to view pictures.

Briarwood is open each Saturday from 9 am to 5pm and on Sundays from 12 pm to 5 pm during the months of March, april, May, August and November. It is located at 216 Caroline Dorman Road in Saline, LA. The telephone number is  (318) 576-3379.

Spring Flower Tours

People love flowers and especially at spring time. This winter has been particularly difficult for us southerners, so a show of color is just what the doctor ordered.

I have been scouring the internet for garden tours and here are a few I have found that could be used as a guide to start your own garden tours.

First, lets travel to Arkansas to P. Allen Smith's daffodil tour hosted in February and March. Not only do you get to enjoy the flowers but a meal is included in the price with garden vegetables from his own gardens.

In nearby Mississippi, The Natchez Spring Pilgrimage Tours, includes gardens with flowers and a tour of antebellum homes along with wonderful stories of those who once lived in the homes. The pilgrimage runs from March 8-April 8th.

Texas has lots of garden and flower tours too highlighting wildflowers, dogwoods, azaleas and daffodils.

Visit some of these locations and take notes so you can have a flower tour next year.

A FARMER'S GUIDE TO HOSTING FARM VISITS FOR CHILDREN

What do you need to know to host children on your farm? Some very good points are made in this article by Market Cooking By Kids. The entire article can be read by clicking HERE.

Farm Bill

For the latest on the newly passed farm bill, log  onto The National Agricultural Law Center's  Farm Bill Resources page.  Also visit their  collection of Congressional Research Service reports.  

The farm bill may have incentives for you, so take a look at what is offered.