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A closeup of a poplar tree showing its leaves and flowers

It’s in your kitchen, hallway, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. You probably sit on it, but it’s 200 feet tall! Have you figured it out yet? It’s the yellow poplar tree!


Bats fly against the sky as the sun sets.

Do Bats Help Control Mosquitoes?

June 23, 2023

While scientists know bats eat mosquitoes, the insect makes up only part of their diet. So the question is: Do bats significantly lower mosquito numbers?

A woman in a kitchen holds a glass of strawberry pineapple lemonade.

The Food Factor: Strawberry Pineapple Lemonade

June 20, 2023

Try this fun twist on the classic lemonade this summer.

Post Oak tree

Tips to Identify Oak Trees

June 19, 2023

What do turkey, water, willow, swamp chestnut, and white all have in common? If you guessed they’re all native oak trees in Mississippi, you’d be a winner!

A man and woman stand behind a kitchen counter filled with fruits and vegetables.

5 Tips for Men’s Health

June 13, 2023

June is National Men’s Health Month! Men’s Health Month is about encouraging men to care for their bodies by exercising, eating right, and taking steps to prevent disease. 

Firefly lighting up.

The Science of Fireflies

June 9, 2023

During summer nights, something magical happens. Tiny insects light up the night sky, making summertime just a bit more special than it already is.

Mourning Dove on a branch.

Bird of the Month: Mourning Dove

June 6, 2023

“Coo-OO-oo-woo!” With their rather sorrowful call, the mourning dove sings one of the most recognizable songs.

A woman holds a bowl of corn and cucumber salad.

The Food Factor: Corn and Cucumber Salad

June 6, 2023

This delicious salad is naturally vegan, sugar-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free not to mention fresh and easy to assemble. It’s also budget-friendly, especially if you grow some of these vegetables yourself.

Pink and yellow lantana.

June Landscape Tasks

May 30, 2023

Summertime is officially here! Kids are out of school, and many people are gearing up for summer adventures with the family.

A diamondback rattlesnake

How to Control Snakes Around Your Home

May 26, 2023

Snakes, like other wildlife, need a suitable place to live and enough food to eat. If the area around your home checks these boxes, they may take up residence there. These tips can help reduce the chances of a surprise encounter with a snake around you house.

Tomatoes on a vine.

Tips for Growing Tasty Tomatoes

May 24, 2023

There’s nothing as divine as a homegrown tomato. I’m a sucker for a tomato sandwich or a BLT during summer.

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About Extension for Real Life

Extension for Real Life is a product of the MSU Extension Service’s Office of Agricultural Communications.

That’s a long way of saying we are professional communicators who get to talk about food, families, 4-H, flowers, and farming for a living.

Blog content is created by a core team of communicators, including Susan Collins-Smith, Ellen Graves, Natasha Haynes, Qula Madkin, Michaela Parker, and Jonathan Parrish. But we get by with a lot of help from our friends in Ag Comm and Extension!

You can reach us at 662-325-2262 or extreallife@msstate.edu