By Paul A. Thomas
University of
Georgia
Published on 05/20/03
Top 10 new superstars at UGA Trial Gardens
Paul Thomas is a horticulturist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Experts/Sources:

CAES collaborates with grassroots organizations to steward heirloom collards
06/18/25 Emily Cabrera
The Heirloom Collards Project is a nationwide, community-driven effort to preserve and evolve heirloom collard varieties through seed saving, education and collaborative research. The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has joined the effort to promote seed sovereignty and strengthen resilient food systems across the South, engaging students in hands-on seed stewardship.

How to safely use manure in your garden
06/16/25 Emily Cabrera
Each year, as planting season approaches, one of the most common questions Robyn Stewart receives is how to safely and effectively use manure in home gardens. Stewart, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Lincoln County, said the benefit of incorporating manure into garden soil is that it provides some fertility and nutritional value, but the real advantage is in the addition of organic matter, which improves soil composition and drainage.

Forecasting the storm: Expert tips for hurricane preparedness
06/13/25 Jordan Powers
June marks the start of hurricane season in Georgia — and there’s no better time to prepare than on a sunny day. In this episode of Cultivating Curiosity, we’re joined by Pam Knox, agricultural climatologist and director of the University of Georgia Weather Network, to unpack what hurricane season means for Georgia residents. Pam breaks down the difference between weather and climate, how El Niño impacts hurricane activity, and how Georgia’s farmers rely on real-time data from UGA’s 90 weather stations across the state.

Wayne-Sanderson Farms gift boosts total support to $4.1M for UGA Poultry Science Building
06/12/25 Jordan Powers
Wayne-Sanderson Farms has announced an additional $2 million donation for the new Poultry Science Building at the University of Georgia. The gift brings project support from the Georgia-based poultry producer to $4.1 million. The combined gift will name the Poultry Science Building student lobby, a 1,300-square-foot space for students to study and network with industry partners. Situated on UGA’s South Campus, the 70,000-plus square-foot Poultry Science Building provides nearly double the space per student in each classroom than the previous facility.

Stay ahead of mosquito season in Georgia
06/10/25 Elmer Gray
As summer approaches and regular rainfall continues, now is the time to focus on managing local mosquito populations. During recent work around my home, I found mosquito larvae in nearly every object that could hold water: the birdbath, plant trays, dog water bowl, garden buckets — you name it. If they are in my yard, they are probably in yours, too. Mosquitoes require standing water for their eggs, larvae and pupae to develop.

Are Asian needle ants your backyard’s next invasive threat?
06/09/25 Savannah Peat
Make room, Joro spiders. There’s another invasive species taking over Georgia yards this summer. The Asian needle ant is becoming infamous as a “medical pest.” Although this type of ant has been around in the U.S. since the 1930s, its spread through the Southeast marks a significant danger for those with allergies to other insects like wasps or yellowjackets, said Dan Suiter, an Orkin Distinguished Professor of Urban Entomology in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension.