PICAYUNE – Members of the Crosby Arboretum can tour more than 100 botanical gardens and historic homes across the United States without paying admission.

“The Crosby Arboretum is part of the American Horticulture Society’s reciprocal admissions program, which means our members can go to beautiful gardens all over the country for free,” said Kimberly Johnson, the arboretum’s membership coordinator. “This can save people a lot of money as they travel, or give people a reason to take a day trip to someplace close, such as Longue Vue House and Gardens in New Orleans or the Memphis Botanical Garden.”

The arboretum is located in Picayune and is owned by Mississippi State University and operated by the MSU Extension Service. Several membership options are available, including a $15 student membership, a $30 individual membership and a $40 family membership.

Business owners can purchase business memberships based on the number of employees they have. Some business-level memberships include a free guided tour and discounted rental fees for Pinecote Pavilion.

Other membership benefits include a gift shop discount and free or discounted admission to arboretum events. Upcoming events include a children’s workshop about the water cycle April 20 and an Earth Day celebration April 27.

Memberships are valid for a calendar year.

To locate gardens participating in the reciprocal admissions program, visit http://www.ahs.org/gardening-programs/rap.

For membership information, go to http://www.crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu or call Johnson at (601) 799-2311, ext. 10.