that was introduced in the Southern Living plant program a couple years ago. It features heavy spring bloom followed by repeat bloom summer into fall. Advertised to be 3-4 feet tall by 2 feet wide with a moderate-to-fast growth rate. Follow typical gardenia growing recommendations.
Vinca Jams 'N Jellies Blackberry was named another AAS Flower Award Winner for this year at the winter meeting of the All-America Selections Board of Directors.
“A most unique and exciting color,” is one judge's comment about this stunning vinca that can appear almost black in some settings. The novel color drew many positive comments from both judges and trial visitors. The velvety, deep-purple flowers are an excellent accent and work beautifully in combination with other flowers that are powder blue, bright pink, white and/or lavender. Mature plants are 12 to 16 inches tall, making them perfect as a medium-height divider. The 1½- to 2-inch, dark purple flowers are offset by shiny, deep green foliage, creating a striking color combination. Bred by Kirin Agribio/PanAm Seed Company.
As with all AAS Winners, this new, never-before-sold entry was trialed by the esteemed AAS Trial Judges, who are trained and experienced horticulture professionals. A complete list of judges and trial sites can be found on the AAS website
www.aaswinners.com.
This newest AAS Winner is available for immediate sale. Commercial growers should inquire with their favorite seed supplier. AAS Winner tags are available from supporting tag suppliers. Consumers will find these seeds as supply becomes available in the coming months with catalog companies, in seed packets, from mail order companies and on various websites. AAS Winners will also be available as young plants in lawn and garden retail stores this coming spring.
November 1, 2011-January 24, 2012
Baton Rouge – 407
Hammond – 448
Alexandria – 445
Lake Charles – 278
Bossier City – 473
Chase/Winnsboro – 552
(Editor’s Note: Many of you have asked about the abundant acorn crop this year. Here is an excellent and informative article written from a wildlife management perspective.)
The 2011 acorn crop may be remembered as one of the most abundant on record. Hunters and outdoorsmen throughout not only Louisiana but across the Southeast have noted that the amount of white and red oak acorns on the ground is as great as they can ever remember.
There has been speculation that these record acorn crops may have resulted from the extreme drought stresses that oaks in many areas of the southeast experienced this past summer. In many cases, the physiological response of a tree subjected to potentially lethal growing conditions is to expend all of its energy into reproduction (i.e. survival of the species at the expense of the individual). Most of the literature, however, tends to suggest that any oaks subjected to drought conditions will produce both smaller sizes and smaller quantities of acorn mast.
The real reason for the success of the 2011 acorn crop may be due to nothing more than good timing and good weather conditions provided by Mother Nature. Good timing refers to the masting cycle whereby oaks produce low or moderate acorn crops in most years, with an abundant crop produced every fourth or fifth year. The species of oak, along with weather and genetics, are believed to play a role in determining when these abundant crops will be produced.
Weather factors favorable for acorn production include dry conditions with low humidity during the flowering period to help insure pollination of the oak flowers. The absence of late-spring frosts is another favorable factor to help in producing an abundant acorn crop. This allows flowers to remain viable during their development period.
The most striking biological difference between our red oaks and white oaks is that red oak flowers take two years to mature, while white oak flowers mature in a single growing season.
The bumper acorn crop for both red oaks and white oaks this year indicates that favorable spring weather conditions were present in both 2010 and 2011. White oaks, which germinate in the fall, are present in such great numbers this year that I‟ve noticed even in areas with moderate deer populations and nuisance feral hogs, wildlife populations have been unable to keep up with consuming these acorns. Wet weather conditions are causing them to germinate as they lie uneaten on the ground.
Wildlife usage of acorns is always predictable because these are the foods of choice every fall and winter. Unfortunately, acorn production is unpredictable, and poor acorn crops can produce 80 percent lowered yields over a bumper year. The 2011 mast crop can be described as a “Bumper Plus,” which will provide food for a variety of wildlife species well into late winter and early spring.
“Ira Nelson Scholarship Award”
John Hoogland, University of Louisiana, Lafayette
“Foret-Meadows-Owings Scholarship Award”
Jacob Reichley, Louisiana Tech University
General Scholarship Awards
Katharine Guitreau, Louisiana State University
Maureen Thiessen, Louisiana State University
Sarah Caldwell, Louisiana Tech University
Jason Stagg, Louisiana State University
Amanda Beerens, Louisiana State University
Pruning Trees and Shrubs – January 27