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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!


Stink bug on a leaf.

Common Garden Pests

May 19, 2023

If you have a home garden, you know the pain of managing the pests that feast on your crops. Luckily, you won’t have to guess what bug is snacking on your plants! We’ve gathered information on common pests found in Mississippi gardens to help you identify and manage the bugs that are giving you problems!

A woman holds a bowl of chicken and fruit salad.

The Food Factor: Chicken and Fruit Salad

May 16, 2023

Chicken and Fruit Salad is an easy and refreshing summertime lunch or dinner.

A man sits with his chin proped on his hand

May: Mental Health Awareness Month

May 11, 2023

Life can be overwhelming sometimes, and stress is a normal part of life. Too much unchecked stress can lead to physical and mental health challenges that must be addressed. Know the signs to watch for and learn what to do when you or someone you know needs help.

Jars of spices lined up in a V formation.

Salt-Free Seasonings in 3 Steps

May 11, 2023

One of the first steps in controlling high blood pressure is to reduce the extra sodium in your diet. Many people think sodium and salt are the same thing, however, they are different. Sodium is a mineral that occurs naturally in foods and is sometimes added during manufacturing. Table salt is a combination of the minerals sodium and chloride.

A house sparrow.

Bird of the Month: House Sparrow

May 5, 2023

Have you ever noticed the small birds hopping around parking lots scrounging for food and wondered what kind they were? There’s a good chance they were house sparrows. 

Cranberry Balls

The Food Factor: Cranberry Oatmeal Balls

May 2, 2023

Cranberry Oatmeal Balls are chewy bites of deliciousness. They provide a nutritious energy boost while satisfying your snack cravings!

A black lawn mower mowing a yard.

May Landscape Tasks

April 28, 2023

May is here and you know what that means, it’s go time! 

A monarch butterfly on an orang flower.

Nectar Plants for Mississippi Butterflies

April 25, 2023

There’s nothing as magical and whimsical as a garden filled with colorful butterflies. They’re fun to watch, but they also play an important role in our environment.

Black swallowtail caterpillar on a plant.

Larval Plants for Mississippi Caterpillars

April 21, 2023

Did you know that certain plants provide food to certain butterflies? Just like adult and baby humans eat different things, the same applies to butterflies!

A woman in a kitchen.

The Food Factor: Tuna Melt Burger

April 18, 2023

This Tuna Melt Burger is great for lunch or dinner, and it's easy cleanup!

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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