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  • A plant has a cluster of yellow and orange flowers.

    Pollinators are drawn to many native plants

    The last group of native plants I want to highlight during Native Plant Month are those that pollinators can’t resist. Some of my favorites in this group are liatris, coreopsis, gaillardia and gaura.

    These plants are beautiful and bring life to my garden through the pollinators they attract. With the right care, they truly thrive.

  • Canning equipment and canned foods sit on a counter.

    Safe canning begins with correct recipes, equipment

    RAYMOND, Miss. -- With a renewed interest in home canning in recent years, advice and recipes are abundant, but experts remind home canners to be sure they use safe practices. The foundation of safe home canning begins with research-tested recipes and the correct equipment.

  • Bags are filled with used clothing.

    Recycle, reuse to reduce textile waste from discarded clothing

    Many Mississippians take steps to live sustainably, but they may not be aware of the impact their clothing choices have on the environment.

    Beyond material sourcing and item manufacturing, what happens when the piece of clothing is retired from the closet can have a significant environmental impact. Textile waste is unwanted clothing and fabrics that are thrown away rather than recycled.

  • A collage depicts clusters of tiny purple, white, yellow and red flowers.

    These sun-loving natives are also garden perennials

    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.

  • Two people are on stage during a presentation.

    AI can help MSU Extension provide better help to users

    Artificial intelligence is the most recent tool in the toolbox for the Mississippi State University Extension Service in its ongoing efforts to provide the best research-backed information to the residents of the state.

    MSU’s Agricultural Autonomy Institute, or AAI, hosted the National AI in Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference on March 31-April 2 in Starkville. ExtensionBot was the first item to be addressed at the conference.

  • USDA program helps growers recoup some losses

  • Closeup of thick, round succulent leaves that are reddish green.

    Certain native plants thrive in shady landscape areas

  • Wispy orange and white flowers bloom in clusters on bushes.

    Native azaleas’ spring blooms are peak of year-round charm

    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.

  • A chart shows the number of acres that Mississippi producers intend to plant in 2025 for the following crops: soybeans, 2.25 million acres, which is 2 percent less than the acreage planted in 2024; corn, 690,000 acres, which is a 41-percent increase from 2024; and cotton, 360,000 acres, which is a 31-percent decrease from 2024’s acreage.

    Producers plan to plant more corn, less cotton

Mississippi State University Extension 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762