MISSISSIPPI STATE – The upcoming Ornamental Horticulture Field Day in Poplarville will allow visitors to tour trial gardens and hear updates from Mississippi State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers.

This Oct. 2 event marks the 35th year the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station has hosted the field day. The day’s program begins at 9:30 a.m. and continues until 2:30 p.m. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The $10 fee, $6.50 for students, covers the cost of lunch and refreshments.

“The main focus of the day’s program is research highlights,” said Gene Blythe, event coordinator and ornamental horticulture researcher with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. “We have 15 short presentations planned for the morning and early afternoon on topics including ornamental plant variety trials, commercial nursery production, entomology and plant pathology.”

Weather permitting, the presentations will be given under tents at various locations around the experiment station.

The field day targets nursery and landscape professionals, Master Gardeners, research and Extension personnel and home gardeners.

Individuals holding a Mississippi Bureau of Plant Industry commercial pesticide applicator's certification (category 3 or 10) that expires within 12 months after the field day can earn recertification credit by attending. Contact Gene Blythe at (601) 403-8774 or blythe@pss.msstate.edu for more information.

The South Mississippi Branch Station is located at 711 W. North St. across from Pearl River Community College and about half a mile from the intersection of highways 11 and 26.

Call Elsie Davis at (601) 795-4525 for more information about this field day.