Darlene Underwood is a Mississippi master gardener, national accredited flower show judge and Garden Clubs of Mississippi third vice-president. Reach her at darlene.underwood@att.net.
A sloped hillside may offer scenic views, but it also can present some of the biggest landscaping challenges. Slopes are more susceptible to soil erosion and drainage issues, and a steep or uneven hillside can be difficult to navigate — making landscape installation and maintenance more difficult. It’s important to evaluate your property to find the […]
In 2025, estimates of Mississippi’s deer population reached 1.6 to 1.75 million. With an average density of 33 per square mile, the deer density for our state is the highest in the southeastern United States. Whitetail deer are prevalent along the Coast, and some subdivisions are considered deer sanctuaries. Their populations have exploded to the […]
America — how wonderful that we will mark its 250th birthday this year! While America’s official birthday isn’t until July 4, there are several gardening-related ways you can commemorate and prepare for the milestone today: National Garden Clubs and Keep America Beautiful are collaborating on a campaign to encourage people to pick up 250 pieces […]
We are so lucky to live in an area populated by overwintering birds. As gardeners, we’ve left last summer’s seed heads for our feathered friends to have cover and food midway through cold weather, but by January, these resources are starting to deplete. Feeders help sustain them until they fly back to their summer range. […]
Pumpkins and gourds come in all forms and colors. They’re everywhere this time of year, from edible pumpkins and decorative gourds to bi-color Emini-pumpkins and huge prize winners weighing in at over 400 pounds. The U.S. produces about 990,000 tons (more than 2.1 billion pounds) of pumpkins annually. It’s estimated that about 1 billion pounds […]
Whether you have an elaborate kitchen garden or a small patch for raising veggies, things will start to slow down in the fall. Check off these chores to prepare for next season. CARE FOR YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN • Clean out beds. Removing all plant debris helps prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in your garden […]
Although September here on the Coast is still very warm, we can expect cooler temperatures around mid- October. So, now’s the time to finish the gardening season strong by prepping your garden for winter. Some essential outdoor chores to add to your fall to-do list include: Giving permanent plantings such as trees, shrubs and perennials […]
If you garden and enjoy plants, chances are you love birds, too. Although most birds nest in spring, some birds hatch more than one flock a year. Providing nesting areas encourages our feathered friends to visit and maybe stay while raising their young. WHAT KIND OF BIRDHOUSE DO BIRDS PREFER? Birdhouses should be made of […]
As homes and commercial buildings crop up in ever greater numbers, consuming hundreds of acres of woodlands and wetlands, wildlife is struggling to find places to live. Summer is a wonderful time to get outside with your children and create a wildlife habitat in your backyard. A backyard refuge for birds, bees and small animals […]
As a child living in rural Mississippi, I dearly loved the feeling of walking to Gaines Creek through a “cathedral” of overhanging trees and vines. This time of year, many of us enjoy admiring and smelling the flowering climbing vines that seem to be in full bloom everywhere. While lovely, these vines can create a […]
