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News Filed Under Lawn and Garden

People look at plants in a garden.
September 12, 2023 - Filed Under: Master Gardener, Lawn and Garden, Flower Gardens

Garden enthusiasts of all ages are welcome Oct. 21 to Fall Garden Day at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mississippi State University facility.

Three potted plants have green leaves with stripes or spots.
September 11, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

During a recent visit with a friend, I admired her stunning indoor plants. She mentioned some of their names, and I realized that a couple of them had outdated names that have been recently updated. Plants, like all living things, are constantly evolving and changing.

A stone and steel ant sculpture is beside a path through moss.
September 4, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

I recently visited a beautiful moss garden at the home of Jack and Nadine in Petal. As I entered the garden, I was welcomed by a charming moss garden sign and a variety of ant sculptures scattered throughout the area, adding a delightful and whimsical touch.

Orange, purple, and yellow mums.
August 29, 2023 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden, Flower Gardens

September is one of my favorite months. The scorching hot temps will soon turn into nice cool weather, and the leaves will start to change colors.

August 28, 2023 - Filed Under: Pesticide Applicator Certification, Insects, Pests

MISSISSIPPI STATE , Miss. -- A Mississippi State University Extension Service specialist has been elected to the executive board of the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators. Gene Merkl, program manager for pesticide safety education for the state of Mississippi, will serve as president-elect for the nationwide organization. His service on the board is a three-year commitment.

Delicate, pink flowers and tiny, green berries line a branch.
August 28, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

I have noticed that more gardeners than ever are interested in having native plants in their landscapes. This trend just makes sense. Native plants occur naturally in a region without being introduced by humans. They are adapted to their region and do not require a lot of maintenance or upkeep.

One native plant you might like to include in your landscape is the American beautyberry.

A kale plant grows in a garden.
August 25, 2023 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden, Vegetable Gardens

Fall is around the corner, but you don’t have to give up fresh produce from your garden.

An old wheelbarrow filled with flowers sits on a tree stump.
August 21, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Recycling objects and turning them into container planters can be fun, and it is a unique way to add visual interest to your landscape. If the object can hold soil, it can be used as a planter.
An old wheelbarrow turned into a beautiful container planting adds a whimsical, country feel to any garden space.

marigolds planted with other ornamentals.
August 18, 2023 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden, Vegetable Gardens

You’ve likely heard of companion planting, but do the principles work?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no; and other times maybe.

A delicate, threadlike flower is white and light pink.
August 14, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

The Barbie movie has been a popular topic lately, and pink seems to be showing up everywhere we turn. If you’re a fan of the doll or the movie, try some pink in your landscape. Although Barbie’s pink world is plastic, a landscape celebrating pink can be full of life and pollinators.

A mailbox stands at one end of a flower garden.
August 7, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

I think a mailbox garden is a great way to welcome visitors to your home. Since it stands out at the road, it is a nice way to add beauty even before you get to the house.

My friend Tim has a mailbox garden that he started in 2011. Over the years, he has transformed it into a beautiful garden with multiple layers of interest.

Blue hydrangea bush.
July 31, 2023 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden, Flower Gardens

August is typically a busy month for many people! The kids are back in school, and people are returning to their fall routines after summer.

A bee hangs onto the bottom of a cluster of tiny, purple flowers.
July 31, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

I recently visited the home of Marian Hill in Tupelo and toured her beautiful pollinator gardens full of plants buzzing with activity. There were several varieties of yarrow, some bachelor’s buttons and Stokes’ aster planted throughout.

A dog sits in a swimming pool
July 24, 2023 - Filed Under: Insects, Lawn and Garden, Pests

If you’ve ever had an encounter with a horsefly, you know they are annoying. If you’ve ever been bitten by one, you know it hurts! So, how can you keep these pesky critters from spoiling your outdoor summer fun? The answer probably isn’t what you want to hear. 

A large, creamy white bloom has a woody, yellow center cone.
July 24, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

It’s no wonder Mississippi is called the Magnolia State. The Southern magnolia is an iconic symbol in our landscape and across the Southeast. I have many great childhood memories of my sister and me climbing and playing in my grandparents’ large magnolia tree in their front yard. Its numerous, small-diameter branches made it a great tree to climb.

asian lady beetle
July 21, 2023 - Filed Under: Pests

Believe it or not, fall is right around the corner. I know, I know, you probably just rolled your eyes as sweat dripped down your face from the summer heat.

Grass blades are green with random yellowish patches.
July 17, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

I recently visited the Magnolia Botanical Garden at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona, and I saw some impressive ornamental grasses at this Mississippi State University location. Ornamental grasses are great landscape choices and can add color and interesting texture to any garden.

A man and a woman help a child plant seeds in a small pot of soil.
July 17, 2023 - Filed Under: Leadership, Community, Master Gardener, Lawn and Garden

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Six years ago, John Malanchak combined his love of science, passion for teaching and a call to serve others into a project he named Dominic’s Garden. The project, which serves people with disabilities in the Jackson metro area, was recognized in June with an award at the International Master Gardener Conference in Overland Park, Kansas.

Purple flowers bloom from a container at the center of a garden.
July 10, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

I recently visited with my friend Doyce Deas in Tupelo and was amazed by her beautiful, shady backyard garden. Some people struggle with the challenge of growing plants in shady areas of their yard, but not Doyce. She has done a great job of selecting plants that grow well in the part-shade and shade of her yard.

July 3, 2023 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden

And just like that, our mild, rainy summer has turned hot and steamy. 

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