Preparing Your Garden for the Fall in Louisiana

Licensed to practice law in Louisiana, William (Bill) Arata has been counseling clients at the Arata Law Offices in Bogalusa for more than 20 years. Outside of work, Bill Arata enjoys gardening.

Consider these tips when preparing your Louisiana garden to thrive in the fall.

-Prune in August. Everblooming roses, also known as repeat blooming roses, include floribundas, hybrid tea roses, and grandifloras, among other varieties. This type of flower blossoms well from October through early December if you prune them back to a third of their height during August. You may still be able to achieve outstanding blooms if pruning is completed by early September.

-Avoid fertilizing with nitrogen. Check for nitrogen before fertilizing landscape plants in September. Fertilizers containing nitrogen can impede hardy growth in shrubs and ground covering as well as trees and lawns. Prolong your plants’ lives through the fall and winter by checking fertilizer labels for nutrient information.

- Select the right edibles. If you have an edible garden, you can start planting broccoli and cauliflower seeds in September. Opt for transplants when planting these in October. The same rule applies to Brussels sprouts. Plants that can start from seeds through October include Chinese cabbage and mustard greens.

Tulane to Kick Off 2016 Football Season with New Head Coach

Owner of the Arata Law Offices, attorney William “Bill” Arata handles insurance disputes through his firm in Bogalusa, Louisiana. In his spare time, Bill Arata enjoys cheering on his home football team, the Tulane University Green Wave.

The Tulane University football team will open its 2016 season against Wake Forest University in North Carolina. The news was released on the Tulane Athletics website in May. The team will be led by experienced head coach Willie Fritz, who joined the school at the end of 2015. His history of rebuilding football programs as well as ensuring the academic and competitive success of his players, will be a valuable asset to the Green Wave, according to the university’s director of athletics.

The Green Wave and Demon Deacons have played twice against each other to date, with Tulane emerging victorious in both meetings. Their last matchup took place in 1995 at the Superdome, and Tulane won by 26 points. The upcoming game will be televised on ESPN3 on Thursday, September 1.

Scouts Convene at the Summit Betchel Reserve

William (Bill) Arata owns Bogalusa, Louisiana–based Arata Law Offices, a plaintiff-oriented firm that handles a range of issues such as divorce, personal injury, and worker's compensation. Aside from his work, Bill Arata spent more than 10 years leading a Cub Scout pack for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The BSA currently owns a parcel of land known as the Summit Bechtel Reserve.

Founded in 2009, the Summit Bechtel Reserve is located in West Virginia's New River Gorge National River area. The BSA purchased 10,600 acres of land to create the reserve especially for the National Scout Jamboree and other scouting activities. Chosen in part for its proximity to the national park, the site is also only a few hours’ drive from other popular destinations, including Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Washington D.C. Scouts who visit the Summit can participate in activities such as kayaking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, skateboarding, and shooting.

The next large event at the Summit Bechtel Reserve is the 2017 National Scout Jamboree, which runs from July 19-28. To learn more about the reserve, visit www.summitbsa.org.