Feral hogs and vegetables are commonly not topics for the annual conference, but times are changing, say horticulturists.

"Recent national surveys and local observations show an increased interest in home and food production, so we added both a home vegetable gardening talk, and one on growing fruits in the home landscape," says Keith Hansen, Texas AgriLife Extension Service horticultural agent for Smith County.

Registration is $15, payable at the door, at 7:30 a.m. at the Tyler Rose Garden, 420 Rose Park Drive, in Tyler. Speakers will being at 8:30 a.m., and the program will include at 3:20 p.m. with the awarding of door prizes.

Billy Higginbotham, Texas AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, will talk about controlling deer and wild hogs. Hansen will review mole control in yards.

Monte Nesbitt, AgriLife Extension fruits specialist, College Station, will discuss "Fruit Gardening in the Landscape."

Detailed programming can be found on Hansen's Web site at easttexasgardening.tamu.edu.