Lawn and Garden
Mississippi’s bountiful sunshine, rain, and quality soils make the Magnolia State a wonderful place to grow all kinds of flowers, trees, fruits, and vegetables. Don’t have a green thumb? Interested in becoming a Master Gardener? Need to get a soil test? The MSU Extension Service has experts on all kinds of garden-related topics and issues, from plant disease and weed specialists to county agents who know what thrives in their local areas. Get tips on gardening through the seasons, how to avoid “crape murder,” and more!
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News
Next up in my series celebrating April as Native Plant Month are those that thrive in sunny landscapes.
One of my favorites is yarrow, a tough, drought-tolerant perennial that does especially well in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, yarrow is very low maintenance and even thrives in poor, sandy or rocky soils.
I often get asked which plants thrive in the shade, so today I want to discuss some native selections that do just that.
April is Native Plant Month, making it the perfect time to celebrate the beauty and importance of native species. Native azalea is one of my favorites, and it is currently putting on a spectacular show.
Throughout this month, I’ll highlight other native plants that thrive in our region.
Success Stories
Fenton Pope looked around his native Covington County a quarter-century ago and saw what he believed was an alarming amount of farmland out of production.
Known around Cleveland, Mississippi as “The Rose Lady,” Jane Dunlap marked 30 years as a Master Gardener in 2024, but her home county lacked its own chapter for the first half of that span.
More than 80 grade-school students from Choctaw Tribal Schools visited Mississippi State University in March to participate in Choctaw Preview Day.
