Celebrating Mississippi
Magnolias Mark Bicentennial
Photos by Kevin Hudson
On December 10, 1817, Mississippi officially joined the United States of America as the 20th state. Two hundred years later, the state governor, legislators, and other elected officials encouraged residents to commemorate the bicentennial. Officials with the Mississippi State University Extension Service heard the message loud and clear.
Extension Director Dr. Gary Jackson reached out to the Mississippi Master Gardener volunteers, a group of avid gardeners trained by Extension personnel on the most up-to-date horticultural research and recommendations. Jackson asked the volunteers to partner with local elected officials and community stakeholders to plant Magnolia grandiflora in prominent public areas to commemorate the bicentennial.
The Master Gardeners responded with enthusiasm by planting trees that will beautify public spaces for years to come.
PLANTING MEMORABLE MAGNOLIAS
LAUDERDALE COUNTY
Meridian Community College
BOLIVAR COUNTY
Entrance to Cleveland bike trail
WASHINGTON COUNTY
E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center (formerly Greenville Public High School)
LEE COUNTY
Oren Dunn Museum
PEARL RIVER COUNTY
Leola Jordan Park
NESHOBA COUNTY
Neshoba County Middle School
JACKSON COUNTY
Jackson County Courthouse