Invitation Oxford - May 2017 by Invitation Magazines

INVITATION Oxford MAY 2017

The Southâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leader in Estate Jewelry and Diamond Solitaires. 1.866.VANATKINS | HISTORIC DOWNTOWN NEW ALBANY | VANATKINS.COM

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST NEW & USED DEALER!

SURPRISE YOUR GRADUATE WITH A SPECIAL GIFT FROM CANNON 100 NORTH THACKER LOOP • OXFORD, MS • 662.234.2311 NobodyBeatsACannonDeal.com

Starting in the mid $300,000’s Contact Mark Cleary (713) 303-8924

Diamond & Platinum Club #1 RE/MAX Team in MS 2014-2015

Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924

Alison Alger (662) 832-1697

Blake Cannon (662) 380-7144

Lee Pittman (662) 645-3695

Markccleary@gmail.com

blake@oxfordvip.com

alisonmalger@gmail.com

lee.pittman1@gmail.com

Shelbi’s Place

$144,900

ShelbisPlace.com

Harrison Square

Oxford’s Premier Luxury Condominium Located in the Heart of Downtown Oxford. Just Steps from the Square!

NEW Homes Starting at

3 Bedroom /2 Bath 5 Floor Plans to Choose From!

Measuring in at just under 1 mile from campus, 800 Park includes luxury features like gas fireplaces, 10 foot ceilings and heart pine floors. Professionally designed, each of the 4 floor plans are one level and have private screened in porches overlooking Pat Lamar Park and Davidson Creek. There is also a pet park that will be exclusive to the 800 Park owners. The 800 Park development has plans to include some specialty retail shops, as well.

COMING SOON 13 Units Pending RESERVE YOURS TODAY!

Act Fast and Choose Your Finishes!

Conveniently located next to the Medical Park as well as just a few minutes from the Oxford Square and the Ole Miss campus. Spacious master bedroom and master bath with her/hers closets, hardwood floors, granite counter tops, stainless appliances! Starting in the low $300k’s

2696 West Oxford Loop $249,000 •Parkway Centre • Joined Together w/Oxford Galleria II • Building Pad W/ Potential for 4690 sq ft

Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924

Markccleary@gmail.com

• Distinctive Open Concept Plans • 1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms • 11’ 6” Ceiling Height on 1st Floor • 10’ Ceiling Height on Floors 2 and 3 • Classic 8’ Solid Core Interior Doors • Private Balcony • High Performance Energy Efficient Windows

• Gas Fireplace • Elegant Wood Flooring • Elegant 3cm Quartz Countertops • Subway Tile Kitchen Backsplash • Custom Designed Cabinetry with Ambient Under Cabinet Lighting • Wet Bar with Ice Maker and Wine Cooler

• State of the Art Controlled Access System in Common Areas • Private Gated Community with Elevator and Reserved Parking Space • Rooftop Terrace with Stunning Views

HarrisonSquareOxford.com

www.TheMillOxford.com

Oxford’s Newest Townhome Development! Located approximately 1.7 miles to the square and approximately 1.9 miles to Ole Miss The Mill offers 3 floor plans to choose from all featuring 3 Bed 3.5 Bath condos with a main level master, granite counter tops, hardwood floors, full stainless steel appliance package and so much more! Amenities accompanying your ownership at the Mill include a resort-style pool, garden terrace, lake and lush landscaping.

Floor Plans Starting at $230,000

LEGACY R EALT Y

Search the entire Oxford Market at www.MarkClearyOxford.com and www.OxfordVip.com •662.234.5621 1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 Each office independently owned and operated. All information deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and subject to change without notice.

Ice House #302 2 Bed 2.5 Bath

$585,000 108 Oxford Creek 4 Bed 3.5 Bath

1101 Brighton Village 2 Bed 2.5 Bath

$190,000 403 Shakespeare Ln. $465,000 CR 2015 4 Bed 4.5 Bath 3.2 Acres

116 Edgewood 3 Bed 2.5 Bath

$249,900 0 Hwy 6 Batesville $1,600,000 905 Fleur de Lis 58 Acres 3 Bed 3.5 Bath

403 Sadie Cove 3 Bed 2.5 Bath

$219,900 104 Calton Hill 3 Bed 2.5 Bath

$369,999 2589 Harris Dr 3 Bed 2 Bath

$195,500 Autumn Ridge #3 3 Bed 2.5 Bath

$xxx,xxx 104 Brighton Village $247,000 6211 Charleston Court Drive 3 Bed 3.5 Bath 3 Bed 2 Bath $280,000

$140,000 107 Hot Spur Lane 2 Bed 2.5 Bath

$260,000 74 Aspen Loop 4 Bed 4.5 Bath

$225,000

$242,500 205 Turnberry 3 Bed 2 Bath

$165,000 343 Turnberry 3 Bed 2 Bath

$165,000

$219,000 497A CR 101 1.5 Acres

$145,000 800Park #22043 3 Bed 3 Bath

$470,000

332 Countryview $149,900 Old Taylor Place K3 $154,500 607 Park Ln $101,000 Lot 2 CR 215 $30,000 Lot 13 Rosemont Loop 3 Bed 3 Bath 2 Bed 2 Bath 2 Bed 1 Bath Woodson Ridge Farm Rd., Abbeville $124,900

LEGACY R EALT Y

621 Bickerstaff $595,000

BUILDING AND REMODELING RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND CONDOS IN OXFORD, MS.

MAY 2017

46 ON THE COVER

IN EVERY ISSUE

EVENTS

Allen and Chantel Kimbrell’s modern house on Avent Street, with its glass center, glows beneath the Oxford sky at dusk.

Letter From the Publisher

Pure Barre Pop-Up Class

What’s Happening

Children’s Book Festival

Community Corner: Isom Center

UM Big Event

In Season: Edible Flowers

Reads, Beats and Eats

114

Out and About

Kate Freeman Clark Reception

120

I Am Oxford: Sarah McLellan

Sweet T’s Bakery Watch Party

Leisure Lifestyles Fashion Show

Pampered Paws Egg Hunt

photographed by Joe Worthem

FEATURES 46 Porch Sitting Season

76 The Dirt on Composting

Mattie Pegues Bruce Birthday

With a front porch view, these families are welcoming the arrival of spring.

Create naturally fertilized soil that helps your garden grow and benefits the environment.

Grove Bowl

56 Where Love Grows

78 Planting Guide

Miss-I-Sippin’

The Wilsons, who have been married for more than 50 years, enjoy spending time in their year-round garden in Oxmoor Place.

This handy chart with dates from the MSU Extension Service will help you know when to plant which spring and summer vegetables.

Daniel Souvigny Piano Concert

100

OTS/CHS Banquet

102

Willie Price Art Gallery

63 Repurposed

82 Small-Town Slowdown

104

St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl

A change in career paths led Ryan Pierce to start his own furniture-making business.

A cozy and colorful home in Water Valley provides a quiet haven for a busy family.

106

D.A.R. Veterans Luncheon

108

Jack Gurner Reception

68 In Their Element

91 May Flowers

110

Dwight Yoakam Concert

A contemporary house, tucked away between St. Peter’s Cemetery and Avent Park, is home to the Kimbrell family.

The Memphis Botanic Garden offers 96 acres of vibrant gardens, educational programming and festive special events.

112

Theatre Oxford Production

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

COSMETICS

FRAGRANCES

B AT H

82 2 6 5 N O R T H L A M A R B O U L E VA R D, S U I T E P. / OX F O R D / ZO E OX F O R D.CO M

307 SOUTH LAMAR BOULEVARD / OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI / SHOPCICADA.COM

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

27 SOLD

Spring, a time for renew why not welcome the season Oxford Condominiums

Oxford’s newest premier development, Waterstone, is located in Grand Oaks

408 Andalusia will 401 Bickerstaff #10 908 Subdivision which is home to The Country Club of Oxford. The development beHighpointe located just 4Bed/3.5Bath 4Bed/4Bath 3Bed/3Bath Attention to all details! Great deal in Highpointe! You will not get closer to the off the main thoroughfare that transects the neighborhood. The triangular shaped This charming home has This condo is in great Ole Miss campus in such a well everything you want with condition and features planned condominium! living. 3Oaks bedrooms withDrive. 3 baths. development will be surrounded by the golf course (on two sides) maintenance-free and Majestic

Grand Oaks neighborhood is one of the premier residential developments in Oxford, Mississippi. The neighborhood has diverse residential options including attached and detached condominiums, garden homes and estate family residences. Prices vary from the low Cross Creek Centerpointe (Levee Road) $200,000 to over $1,000,000. Grand Oaks is also home to TheCountry Club of612Oxford. The13 CR3Bed/1.5Bath 4Bed/4.5Bath One of Oxford’s best kept Beautiful Craftsman style Charming cottage located on secrets! Very conveniently Country Club includes a Jim Fazio designed golf course, full service clubhouse with dining, a tree covered lot with a located and several great home in popular Northpointe Subdivision. Inviting convenient location. new plans to be built tennis complies, aquatic center and health club. It is a private club with severalfireplace different levels with exposed brick Great investment property! to your liking. and open entertaining plan. of membership fees and dues. Wellsgate

Waterstone is a 35 unit detached condominium neighborhood. Nationally recognized Dalhoff Design Group has created a plan that promotes a tight knit community feel with several lakes and green spaces throughout. Each lot offers unique views of either the golf course, lakes or community green spaces. The home’s will be architecturally designed and will vary in size from810 Brentwood 2202 Longspur Pointe 2200-2600 square feet with an emphasis on outdoor living spaces. The interiors will be Mature CrepeCove Myrtles line the 4Bed/3.5Bath entrance to this private estate Grandiose southern estate home located in home complete with a pool! high end finishes with creative and unique touches. Wellsgate subdivision. This home has it all!

waterstoneofoxford.com

Offered by Kessinger Jamey Leggitt 662-832-7620 or visit jameyleggitt.com

Developed by

18007 Country wood Cove

Splendid home on a quiet cul-de-sac in Wellsgate! This home has a pool, beautiful kitchen! Everything you want!

236 St. Andrews Circle

You have waited for this address! Absolutely wonderful neighborhood!

Lot 36 Fazio Drive

2403 West Wellsgate

228 PR 3049 The Soleil

813 Park Drive

100 Fern Cove

8002 Lake Cove

158 & 164 Turnberry

5 Lots in Grand Oaks

265 CR 425

Lot 30 Crail Cove

1205 Wood Duck Cove

6 CR 376

wal, new life.... n in a new home! 802 Birkdale 708 Ridgewood Manor

stonebridge

Lot 104 Majestic Oaks

VISIT JAMEYLEGGITT.COM

3Bed/2Bath Such a well planned community of carefree living. Units are selling as quickly as they are built.

4 Bed/ 2.5 Bath Southern charm at it’s best! Close to parks, schools, and downtown!

ING

PEND

300 Winner’s Circle

4Bed/3.5Bath Steeplechase is the location of this soon to be constructed dream home.

313 Fox hollow cove

4Bed/3Bath Taylor-Greene is the location for this well-planned home. So many great features!

37 Fazio

N IDNG PENPDE ING

1605 Jackson Ave #4 4 Bed/3.5 Bath Just a minutes’ walk to the SQUARE!!

12028 Water Ridge

Jamey Leggitt

Cell: 662-832-7620 Visit jameyleggitt.com jamey@kessingerrealestate.com

PEND

210 Siena Lane

1014 Augusta

ING

PEND

420 Deer Run

5Bed/3Bath Space galore! This home was built by the builder for his family to reside-well done!

ING

ING PEND

220 Timberlane

IN PEND

NEW DESIGN

NEW HOMES

NEW EXISTANCE

thevillagesofoxford.com

Lot 35 Fazio Drive

Jamey Leggitt • 662-832-7620 jamey@kessingerrealestate.com

STARTING IN THE MID $230,000's

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

THE PUBLISHER

truly believe our lives are often reflected in the seasons. I always feel awake in the spring and, it seems to me, so is the world around us. Maybe you have planted a seed, a plant or even a tiny tree and allowed it to bloom and grow. Somehow I always feel connected to the blooms and their beauty. This month, we want to share with you some ideas that bloomed for us long before they arrived here in these pages. We begin preparing for our Home and Garden issue a year in advance, and we love seeing ideas come together to make this magazine. We hope you do too. Our journey with Ann and Harold Wilson started last spring, when our staff photographer Joe Worthem took his first pictures of the couple’s spectacular garden in Oxmoor Place. He went back six more times to capture their year-round treasure full of roses, daffodils, azaleas, daisies and so much more. It’s also home to Ann’s own patented plant, the ‘Miss Anne’ verbena. Turn to page 56 to see Worthem’s beautiful photographs and read more about the Wilsons, who have been married for more than 50 years and love to spend time in their garden together. It’s truly where love grows. We’ve also had our eye on a particular

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Our Home and Garden issue features an Oxmoor Place garden (top) that boasts a variety of flowers and plants yearround, a modern house full of artistic detail on Avent Street (left) and a decked-out front porch on South Lamar (right).

house for a long time now. If you make the drive from St. Peter’s Cemetery over to Avent Park, maybe you’ve noticed the striking modern home where the Kimbrells live. The house, which the Kimbrells say was inspired by a Kevin Costner movie, is truly a sight to see, with its all-glass center and expansive wings on both sides. We knew right away we had found our cover for this issue. Peek inside and meet the family on page 68. As you enjoy this season, take Invitation

Oxford to your favorite patio for a read. If you’re like the families on page 46, spending time on a front porch is key to a happy spring. It’s the perfect place to say hi to neighbors passing by or watch the sun set on another day. However you choose to spend this spring, thank you for sharing your time with us.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

INVITATION Oxford

INTRODUCING: “The Villages”

publishers

Phil and Rachel West

editorial

EDITOR IN CHIEF Lena Anderson CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Emily Welly EVENTS EDITOR Mary Moreton STAFF WRITER Ginny Cooper McCarley CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Caitlin Adams Lanie Anderson Sunny Baker Melanie Crownover Toni Overby EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Katherine Henson COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson

office

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE (662) 234-4008

art

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Hallie Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Erin Austen Abbott Joey Brent Paul Gandy Jessica Richardson

production

LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM CAMPUS! 3BR/3.5BA WITH 1800 SQ FT STARTING AT $224,900 • 4 UNITS TO A BUILDING WITH 5 BUILDINGS READY BUY AUGUST 2017 • CUSTOM CABINETS, FULL APPLIANCES PACKAGE, WOOD FLOORS, GRANITE TOPS & BLINDS ALL COME STANDARD • FEILDSTONE FEATURES WOODED NATURE TRAILS, TWO LAKES, A BEAUTIFUL ENTRANCE, RUSTIC CLUBHOUSE AND A POOL!

LAKE FRONT HOME INWellsgate

• BEAUTIFUL, FRANK TINDELL DESIGNED HOME • LOVELY LIVING ROOM WITH VAULTED CEILING OPENS TO A GOURMET KITCHEN

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Emily Suber

• SPACIOUS COVERED PATIO WITH INDOOR/OUTDOOR MASONRY FIREPLACE

advertising

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Stacey Raper Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham

• 4BR/4.5BA / 5156 SQ FT / $699,000

• PARTIALLY FINISHED, WITH THE BENEFIT OF FINISHING IT TO YOUR SPECIFIC TASTE

INVEST G R E ATP R O P E R T Y ! M E N T

ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Zach Fields Becca Pepper ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Oxford or to buy an announcement, visit invitationoxford.com. To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com. Invitation Oxford respects the many diverse individuals and organizations who make up north Mississippi and strives to be an inclusive representation of all members of our community.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

NEW TOWN HOMES FOR SALE

4BR/4.5BA 1877 SQ FT FOR $194,500 ! GRANITE THROUGHOUT, STAINLESS APPLIANCES, FULL WASHER/DRYER, REAL WOOD FLOORS! LOCATED JUST 4 MILES WEST OF CAMPUS OFF HWY 6. GREAT FOR STUDENTS, WEEKENDERS, OR INVESTORS! BIG BEDROOMS WITH LARGE WALK-IN CLOSETS AVAILABLE SPRING 2017! INVESTORS HAVE RECEIVED $2000 MONTH IN RENT!

OVER 60 SOLD!

Matt McGraw

662-801-5170 matt@kessingerrealestate.com www.oxfordhomesonline.com

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

MAY 2017

5/1

Yoga in the Gallery Hosted by RebelWell, the one-hour yoga class is held every Monday. The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited. Bring your own mat. 8:30 a.m., University of Mississippi Museum museum.olemiss.edu/yoga-in-the-gallery

5/2 TUESDAYS AND SATURDAYS Oxford Community Market

The farmers market features fresh local produce, handmade products and live entertainment. Cash, credit cards and EBT cards are accepted. Runs through November. 3-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, Old Armory Pavilion For more information, call 662-816-7413, email oxcmkt@gmail.com or search Oxford Community Market on Facebook.

5/20 Tunes & Tails The sixth annual event, hosted by the Oxford-Ole Miss Rotary Club, features an all-you-can-eat crawfish boil with drinks, entertainment and family-friendly activities. Benefits Doors of Hope. 3-7 p.m., Old Armory Pavilion Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door, free for children ages 12 and under tunesandtails.eventbrite.com

5/6

Juleps & Jockeys United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County hosts its inaugural Kentucky Derby watch party featuring Southern cuisine, live music, a silent auction, a hat contest and mint juleps. 3-7 p.m., Oak Hill Stables For tickets, $50, visit unitedwayoxfordms.org.

5/4-7

Oxford Pride Presented by the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies and OutOxford, the fourday celebration includes a dance party, live performances, a parade and a film screening. Turn to page 20 for more information. oxfordpride.rocks

5/5

St. John’s Catholic Church Drawdown This year’s fundraiser benefits the Poole, Farese and Perry families. Attendees can enter for a chance to win $10,000. The event also includes drinks, food, a silent auction and live music. For tickets, call Suzanne Helveston at 601-4791506 or Kelley Kaigler at 662-832-5455.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

5/12

Double Decker Bus Tour Explore historic Oxford and the University of Mississippi campus with a guided tour on a double-decker bus. 2-3 p.m., Oxford Visitors Center Tickets $10 To reserve a spot, call 662-232-2477.

5/13

University of Mississippi Convocation  Jon Meacham speaks at the 164th UM graduation ceremony. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author is a renowned presidential historian, a contributing writer for The New York Times Book Review and a contributing editor at Time magazine. commencement.olemiss.edu

5/17

John T. Edge Reading & Signing The local award-winning writer reads from his book The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South (Penguin Press), which explores the ever-evolving connection between food, race and culture. Now available for pre-order. 5 p.m., Off Square Books squarebooks.com; johntedge.com

5/25-28

World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest The international music competition, which originated in Peoria, Illinois, in 1975, returns to Oxford for its second year. Along with piano contests in both regular and junior divisions, it features workshops, guest artist concerts, a sing-along variety show, a double-decker bus tour of the city, the Ring of Ragtime performance on the Square and a chance play in the Old-Time Orchestry. oldtimepianocontest.com

5/26-28

Landscaping Camp The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation’s Retiree Attraction Program hosts its first landscaping camp. The event includes educational seminars and tours of the UM campus, the city of Oxford and various personal homes, led by landscaping expert and published author Jack McManus. Registration fee $375. To sign up, go to oxfordms.com/retire-inoxford/landscaping or contact Rosie Vassallo at rosie@oxfordms.com or 662-234-4651.

Ole Miss Baseball  5/2-3 vs. University of Louisiana Monroe 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 4 p.m. Wednesday 5/12-14 vs. Texas A&M 6:30 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday, noon Sunday Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field

Ole Miss Softball  5/3 vs. Southern Mississippi 6 p.m., Ole Miss Softball Complex May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

SARAH ISOM CENTER written by Lena Anderson

Through both academic courses and various outreach programs, the Sarah Isom Center at the University of Mississippi is educating and promoting research about issues of gender and sexuality and advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the community. In addition to offering multidisciplinary academic courses for a minor or a graduate certificate in gender studies, the Isom Center holds several special events, including the annual Isom Student Gender Conference. “Education can occur in different cultural spaces, and these types of events allow us to build a bridge from the university to the community and to bring people together in an engaging and creative way,” said Theresa Starkey, associate director of the Isom Center. The Isom Center, along with a team of local sponsors, will host Oxford’s second annual Pride Weekend May 4-7. The celebration, designed to create an inclusive, welcoming space for members of the LGBTQ community, features several events around town, including a Pride parade on Saturday, May 6. Last year’s inaugural parade had more than 300 participants and an estimated 200 spectators. The event made a lasting impression on those who took part. “It was amazing and one of my favorite Oxford moments,” Starkey said. “We’ve tapped into this sort of momentum that’s out there. People want to be engaged and bring positive change to the community.” A percentage of the proceeds from all the events will benefit the Isom Center’s LGBTQ arts and culture fund. For more information, go to oxfordpride.rocks.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY THERAPY PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION

INDIVIDUAL, COUPLES & FAMILY THERAPY

MEDICATION PRESCRIPTIONS AND MANAGEMENT

We are Oxford's premier Mental Health Clinic with over 10 clinicians practicing a diverse range of therapies, treating issues such as:

Our Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Krisna Hervey, has the ability to prescribe and monitor the behavioral drugs used for mental health illnesses such as:

Depression Relationship Problems PTSD Work & Career issues Stress Management Conflict Resolution L Military & Law Enforcement

Anxiety Marriage Counseling Faith Based Counseling Grief Counseling Sex Therapy Addictions and Revovery Medic Medication Management

Major Depression Anxiety Disorders OCD Bi-Polar Disorder

Eating Disorders Psychotic Disorders ADHD for children and adults Conduct Disorders

NEW LOCATION - 304 ENTERPRISE DRIVE SUITE B Same day appointments often available. Call or schedule online today!

(662)371-1711 | www.oxfordcounselingcenter.com

EDIBLE FLOWERS written by Sunny Baker

hether purposefully planted or found in the wild, edible flowers can make summertime meals even more interesting and delicious. “Edible flowers are appealing to the senses. They are soothing to look at, touch, taste and smell,” said Lauren Paige Tate, who lives in New Albany with her husband and three children. In 2013, Tate attended the University of Mississippi’s Food Day of Service, a biannual event that brings together local food activists, and soon began implementing lessons she learned there at home. “I was very inspired by the calling and purpose of serving our communities and bettering our food system within our state,” she said. The Tates got started with raised beds and chickens, and they now maintain a 1,000-square-foot garden plot and have added

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

geese and goats to their barn. In addition to tending berry bushes and vegetables, Tate loves to grow and cook with edible flowers. “They remind me of my childhood on the coast of Alabama. Picking honeysuckle by the creeks that led to the river was a favorite pastime of mine,” she said. “You could smell the blossoms from a mile away when they were beginning to bloom.” While sucking honeysuckle right off the vine is one of the best ways to enjoy it, Tate has found it makes a great ingredient as well. “I infuse them in honey for our tea,” she said. “I also add them to homemade ice cream or make a simple syrup with the blooms.” Tate also makes preserved jams and teas with rose petals, which have a floral taste and medicinal effects that Tate says can be beneficial to the immune system. Other edible flowers

common to Mississippi include nasturtium, which has brightly colored, spicy petals; white clover, which is high in protein and grows wild in almost every backyard; and kudzu blossoms, which have a taste similar to crabapple. If you prefer not to risk a snake bite wading through the kudzu jungles to gather the blooms, Teresa Holifield of Pontotoc Ridge Blueberry Farm sells her Kudzu Bloom Jelly at area farmers markets throughout the summer months. Tate suggests making summer meals more fun by having dinner guests or children help harvest edible flowers. “Kids love to prepare what they eat,” she said, “so let them join in on the fun and beauty of foraging and preparing. I have found that the more they help out and experience the plant, the better relationship they have with that plant and all-around relationships with food.”

White Clover Pudding

recipe adapted from gathervictoria.com

1 Tablespoon organic unflavored gelatin 1¼ cups water, divided 2 cups white clover blossoms (snip petals from the flower head, discarding any browned petals) ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice (from about 2 large oranges) 4 Tablespoons honey (preferably white clover honey) Pinch of salt 1 cup heavy cream, whipped to stiffness (or substitute 1 cup Greek yogurt) Dissolve the gelatin in ¼ cup water. In a small saucepan, combine clover blossoms, 1 cup water, orange juice, honey and salt; slowly bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in gelatin until completely dissolved. Let stand for 10 minutes. Place, covered, in refrigerator until mixture begins to jell. Whip heavy cream until it stiffens. Fold whipped cream (or yogurt) into the jelled clover mixture. Spoon into a clear glass serving bowl, and refrigerate until set.

Kudzu Bloom Jelly

recipe by Teresa Holifield, Pontotoc Ridge Blueberry Farm

4 cups kudzu juice (see recipe below) ½ cup lemon juice 2 packages pectin 5 cups sugar 8 half-pint mason jars

Put kudzu juice and lemon juice together in a pot, and bring to a boil on the stove. Add pectin, and bring back to a boil. Add sugar, stirring to keep from sticking, and bring to a third boil. Cook for 4 minutes, still stirring. Check the consistency with a spoon. When the mixture coats the spoon, it’s ready. Fill and seal hot mason jars according to instructions for canning. Jelly keeps for 6 to 8 months in or out of the refrigerator.

Kudzu Juice 4 gallons boiling water 4 gallons kudzu blooms

Honeysuckle (opposite page), white clover (top) and kudzu blooms (above) are more than just pretty flowers; they’re also delicious to eat and drink. From teas and juices to puddings and jellies, these native plants are tasty spring treats.

Pour boiling water over kudzu blooms, and steep overnight. Strain twice to make kudzu juice. May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI

M AY 2 5 - 2 8

Adam Swanson,

Tom McDermott

4-TIME CHAMPION

Bryan Wright

William McNally,

Paul Asaro

2016 CHAMPION

RAGTIME - TRADITIONAL JAZZ HONKY-TONK - BOOGIE - AND BLUES! THE BEST IN

PURCHASE TICKETS NOW!

oldtimepianocontest.com (662) 915-2036 â&#x20AC;¢ oldtimepianocontest@olemiss.edu

Find us on

@oldtimepiano

NEW LOTS NOW AVAILABLE Mississippi's #1 Awarded Homebuilder 17 Custom Floor Plans Available From the Low $300's New Homesites Selling at Record Pace

View more photos at invitationoxford.com.

PURE BARRE POP-UP FITNESS CLASS RebelWell hosted its second pop-up fitness class April 1 in the Grove. Led by instructors from Pure Barre Oxford, the communitywide event was free and open to all ages. photographed by Joey Brent

Christen Seibert and Victoria Schmittinger

Peyton Clark and Neely Meadors

Blair Bravo, Sunny Eicholtz and Maggie Blane

Purvis Cornish and Sarah Sigro

Dr. Michael Turner Airlock • Banana Republic • BeBe • BMW • Burberry Callaway • Calvin Klein • Coach • Cole Haan • Costa Converse • Diesel • Flexon • Fossil • Guess Harley Davidson • Hugo Boss • Jonathan Adler Juicy Couture • Kate Spade • Lacoste • Liz Claiborne Liberty Sports Glasses • Lilly Pulitzer • Lucky Brand Marc Jacobs • Maui Jim • Michael Kors • Nautica

Nike • Nine West • Oakley • Original Penguin Ray Ban • Spine • Vera Bradley Medicare, BCBS, VSP, Aetna, almost all Health Insurance and Most Vision Insurance

*Gift Certificates available for all occasions.

Call 662-234-0400

1110 North Lamar Blvd.Oxford MS

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Eleanor and McClellan Davis with Julia Field

Angela Brown and Hannah Dunlap

Judy and Andrew Wood with Madison Newton and Natalie Wood

Erika Robinson and Sarah Snowden

Kayla Worley and Caitlin McKinnon

2017

Spring Preview

View more photos at invitationoxford.com.

CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL Sponsored by the Lafayette County Literacy Council and Junior Auxiliary of Oxford, the festival was held March 31 at the Ford Center. More than 600 area first- and fifth-graders attended a program with authors Chris Grabenstein and Chris Van Dusen.

Joy and Hud Clark

Shirley Cate and Erin Miller

Sarah McLellan, Vicki Fowlkes and Elizabeth McLellan

Corynne Michelletti, Michelle Ard and Micah Oglesby

SNOCONES

@liveloveoxford

Brooke and Chamblin Gibson

Sarah Frances Hardy and Chris Van Dusen

Donations are welcome & will benefit

CRYE-LEIKE OXFORD REAL ESTATE WILL MATCH DONATIONS UP TO $500

OXFORD REAL ESTATE

MAY 22ND 2:30 to 5 PM 28

Anna Belle Pannel, Lizzie Chapman and Jayde Daniles

Joey Jones, Hayes Leach, Gabe Cramer, Brody Everett and Lindsey Leach

Come enjoy Free with your friends at

Andrew Grant, Henry Klimetz, Julia Jackson, Alan Howell and Graeme Alger

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

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UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI THE BIG EVENT University of Mississippi students held a day of service March 25. The students participated in community service projects at various locations. photographed by Jessica Richardson

Libby Crocker and Karsyn King

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Shaun Sternklar and M.K. Scarpa

Cody DeGroot and Jack Smitherman

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Abi Wheeler and Jordan Lowery

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READS, BEATS AND EATS The Lafayette County Literacy Council held the third annual Reads, Beats and Eats April 8 at Isom Place. The garden party included live music by Damien Walsh and Ricky Burkhead and food by A&N catering. Beverages were provided by Marketplace Wine and Spirits and Jackson Beer Company. photographed by Joey Brent

Barbara Wortham, Shaniyjah Wilson and May Pegues

Josette Nelson, Katherine Beard, Mary Moreton, Amy King and Jennifer Erwin

Chelsea and Steven Bennett with Paul and Jessica Watkins

David and Susan Shaw with Paige and Wesley Henry and Austin and Mitchell Lindsey

Laura Dean and Emily McCauley

Damien Walsh and Ricky Burkhead

Becca Walton and Rebecca Cleary

Taylor Hollingsworth and Kurt Pollack

Kyle and Laurie Beth Ellis

Nadia McIntosh and Sarah Siebert

Mike Merchant and Jennifer Kincaid

Jennifer Romero and Curtis Wilkie

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

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KATE FREEMAN CLARK’S LASTING IMPRESSIONS An opening reception for Kate Freeman Clark was held March 28 at the University Museum. The Holly Springs artist’s exhibit, Lasting Impressions, will run through July 22. photographed by Joey Brent

John Stuber and Sam McClatchy

Marilyn and Richard Frey

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Milly West and Polly Taylor

George Reedy with Vicki and Walter Webb

Dwayne Myers, Lane Westfaul and Maia Miller

Michelle Perry, McKenna Wierman and Debbie Nelson

Mark Miller with Martin and Dawn Donnelly and Kelvin Buck

Price Parker and Marti Funke

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May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

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SWEET T’S BAKERY CAKE WARS WATCH PARTY A Cake Wars Champs watch party was held March 26 at the Powerhouse. Sweet T’s Bakery of Oxford competed on the Food Network show and won with a Disney princess-themed cake. photographed by Joey Brent

Mary Margaret Andrews and Margot Thomas

Nicole Robison with Drew, Steven and Pene Russell

Jeff and Kathleen Taylor

Brittanni and Randy Bundren with Hudson Nelson

Rejenna Cheney with Tiffany and Eli Jordan

Carla and Mark Smith

Greg King and Jordan Russell

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

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LEISURE LIFESTYLES FASHION SHOW Leisure Lifestyles hosted a fashion show and lunch March 23 at the Powerhouse. The event showcased spring fashion from Belk department store, with proceeds benefiting Leisure Lifestyles of Oxford. photographed by Joey Brent

Kayla Hewlett, Javaris Rodgers and Taylor Burton

June Rosentreter, Deb Helms, Sylvia Lenhosf and Ann O’Dell

Lynne Buchanan and Betty Bloom

Julia O’Haver and Cynthia Roy

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Pam Lawhead and Anne Milburn

Laura Ramsey, Brianne Livingston and Sherry Bond

Myra Hughs, Nikki Dutton, Sherri Robinson and Diane Shurden

Polly Mullen and Sandra Summers

Reba Bland and Ann Phillips

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Rita Carli and Bill Mobley

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DOGGIE EASTER EGG HUNT Pampered Paws Animal Hospital hosted the second annual Doggie Easter Egg Hunt April 2. The event included games, prizes, food and live music. photographed by Joey Brent

Alexis Meyers and Justin Mills with Monroe

Justin and Sarah Breithaupt with Indy; Charley and Brooklee Tynes with Van

Kylie and Kendall Glass with Bo and Biggie

Mary Katherine Phillips, Allie Alright and Lynlee Addy with Beckett and Flea

Savannah Sairley, Amanda Charest, Sarah Zimmerman and Naomi Simmons

Catherine Camargo and Christian Powell with Peyton

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Jason and Makenzie Clark with Gracie

Jonlyn Reeves and Matt Webb with Nella and Cash

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

View more photos at invitationoxford.com.

MATTIE PEGUES BRUCEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 100TH BIRTHDAY A celebration for Mattie Pegues Bruce was held March 25 at Providence Missionary Baptist Church. Family and friends gathered to honor her with food and fellowship. photographed by Joe Worthem

Shante Hilliard-Bush and William Houston

Johnny and Minnie Frost

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Verna B. Latham and Sharon Smith

Joyce Archie and Mae Buford

Cenova McGee with Sally and Chester Starks

Mary Houston and Sheena Edwards

Mattie Pegues Bruce with Sonya and Tiffany Smith, Audra Moore and Tameka Smith

Latoya, Anson and Ontavaus Dukes

Willie Hilliard and Randolph Buford

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

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GROVE BOWL The University of Mississippi 2017 Grove Bowl spring football game was held April 8 at VaughtHemingway Stadium. Defensive player Marquis Haynes was awarded the Chucky Mullins Courage Award and will wear Mullinsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; number 38 jersey throughout the 2017 season. photographed by Joey Brent

Collin, Chrissy and Richard Chandler

Michelle and Brad Hill with Hannah Williamson and Clancy Smith

Kim Newman, Arnold Bartling and Travis Newman

Cindi Baddour and Talmage Jordan

Larry and Ladora Eubanks

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Stephanie, Cullan, Candence and Justin Strickland

Jasmine, Kim and Billy Angel

Neal Rockhold and Jessica Redd

Morgan Coker, Amaya John, Pam Quick and Melissa Coker

Isaac and Triston Estrada with Madison DeMotts

Cal, Chris, Libby and Archie Adams

Evan Ingram and Chad Kelly

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These families know the front porch is the best place to relax and enjoy the arrival of spring. written by Ginny Cooper McCarley photographed by Joe Worthem

hether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beginning the day with a cup of a coffee and the newspaper or ending it with an ice-cold beverage and a chat with a neighbor, Southerners know everything is better with a front porch view.

The Pittman and Tompkins Family The front porch where Scott Tompkins and his wife, Mona Pittman, often sit to have

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

a drink and watch the traffic on the Square is more than just a place to relax. The stately South Lamar home, built in 1905, has a story to tell. Rumor has it William Faulkner once rode a mule past the porch, through the front door, and right up the winding, wooden stairs that lead to the second story of the house. Pittman and Tompkins moved into the

home nearly two years ago and have enjoyed decorating the outdoor space to make it their own. The large, wraparound front porch is divided into sections, including a small bistro area where the two often enjoy dinner and a drink. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a little candle chandelier out there and a little round-top table, and some-

This wraparound front porch on South Lamar is where Mona Pittman and Scott Tompkins spend many warm nights enjoying dinner and drinks together. It’s also a prime spot for people-watching on football game days as fans make their way to the Grove and Vaught-Hemingway stadium.

times we’ll go out and have dinner and a glass of wine,” Pittman said. Both Pittman and Tompkins note that one of the most entertaining parts about their front porch is the chance to sit outside and watch football fans on weekends in the fall. “It’s a fabulous opportunity to sightsee,” Pittman said, laughing. “Especially on gameday weekends. You can imagine the traffic we

get [up and down South Lamar], and sometimes it can be quite amusing.” “We watch all the girls walk to the Grove in high heels, and walk back from the Grove carrying their high heels,” Tompkins added. The couple also enjoy relaxing on the large, pillow-strewn bed swing that Tompkins hung himself. Their daughters, who range in age from 11 to 21, also spend time lounging

on the front porch. “The kids love to just come and hang out,” Pittman said. “It’s a fun spot for them to hang out with their friends as well.” In addition to hanging the porch swing and making some of the furniture on the back porch, Tompkins has enjoyed redoing the landscape, planting azaleas and camellias and shaping up a large dogwood tree. After it is all done, he often relaxes on the porch, admiring the fruits of his labor. “I just like to sit out there and look at the yard and see all my hard work come to fruition,” he said. Another thing the family loves about living in the house is decorating it for holidays. “To decorate this porch for Halloween is the most fun thing,” Pittman said, noting that they – and all the other houses on South Lamar – hand out candy to upwards of 500 trick-or-treaters. “That to me is the essence of that porch, having the opportunity to decorate it for Halloween and for Christmas.” Most days of the year, however, find the tight-knit neighborhood a bit less busy. Neighbors often walk by, and Pittman enjoys saying hello. “People go on walks every day,” she says. “They go about the same time, so you see the same people coming by, and it really is lovely to have that. It gives you a great sense of community, but it’s also the special little place where you can be outside and take in all the beauty that is here in Oxford close to the Square.” May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

The Thornton Family On warm summer evenings, the Thornton family can be found relaxing on their front porch; enjoying the roses, camellias, and hydrangeas growing in their yard; and waving to their neighbors. Katherine Thornton and her husband, Chris, were immediately drawn to the porch when they first purchased the home, nestled in the quaint, 46-house St. Charles Place neighborhood, in 2010. “We are lucky to live in a neighborhood where we enjoy great neighbors and beautiful homes and are within five minutes of the Square,” Chris said. And now, with the addition of their daughters, Maddie, 5, and Ellie Rose, 2, the family spend even more time outdoors. “It’s not a very big porch, but it has become an area that – even when I’m checking the mail – I have two little girls who follow me out there and just want to play,” Katherine said, noting that there are often toys and flower petals dotting the space. “It’s where we go.” The porch features one of the Thorntons’ favorite new additions to the home: large, light-blue wood shutters that can open and close, allowing natural sunlight to stream into their home in the summer and blocking drafts in the winter. In addition, there are old-fashioned metal chairs for every member of the family, including two child-sized chairs for the girls. The porch even includes a built-in art area: The girls often use the concrete floor as a canvas for colorful pictures and drawings, which can be easily washed off. “Our house is not that big, so [the porch] is just an extra area to enjoy,” Katherine said. “What we have suits us right now, and it serves its purpose. When we’re home, we try to live in it.” The Thorntons are not the only family in the neighborhood that spends time outside. On summer evenings, many couples and families can be found walking around the neighborhood or enjoying a drink outside. “People tend to migrate to their porches after dinner,” Katherine said. “If you went for a walk around the neighborhood, you would see people sitting on their porches.” The neighborhood is filled with winding

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

The front porch of their New Orleans-inspired home in St. Charles Place is where Katherine and Chris Thornton enjoy spending time with daughters Ellie Rose (2) and Maddie (5). The girls like to sit in their matching green child-sized metal chairs, ride bikes in the front yard and make artistic chalk creations on the concrete slab.

roads of New Orleans-style homes. And while the architecture is similar, it’s the porches that reveal each family’s style. “If you go around and look at the front porches, everybody has their own little touch on it,” said Katherine, who describes her style as classic with a bit of whimsy. “It’s almost like your personality on the outside.” For Katherine, long evenings on the porch

are a way to spend time with the people she loves and hark back to a simpler time when quality time with family was most important. “I feel like it was maybe a lost pastime, but people are going back to the basics. You don’t need a 5,000-square-foot house anymore,” she said. “You just need to be with your family and see each other all the time. That, to me, makes me feel like Oxford is still a small town.”

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May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

The Dieffenbach Family Donna and Greg Dieffenbach have lived in and designed a number houses around the country and have especially enjoyed their new home in the Plein Air community in Taylor. Plein Air, which consists of more than 40 homes and is still growing, features turnof-the-21st-century-style cottages, all of which have generous front porches.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Having lived in a variety of major metropolitan areas during their careers, Greg, a retired human resources executive and Donna, an interior designer, chose the Plein Air development for its desirable country location and laid-back approach to living. “Growing up in Memphis, I visited the Oxford area many times over the years and have really enjoyed the people and the

community,” Donna said. She picked the Southern cottage design in part for its traditional style and front porch that allows plenty of room for relaxing during the day. She decorated the porch in a traditional style with rattan and lots of cushions to emphasize comfort. “It’s a very traditional, casual, comfortable porch and a very usable space,” she said.

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The view from their Plein Air front porch in Taylor is a favorite of Donna and Greg Dieffenbach. The couple enjoy spending time with Tangy, the neighborhood cat, who can often be found there soaking up the sun on one of the cozy chairs.

It is also used by a frequent front porch visitor – the neighborhood cat, Tangy, a long-haired ginger cat who lives primarily on the Dieffenbachs’ porch but wanders around throughout the day, following the sun. “We just love to sit on our porch, enjoy the views of the green space, the sights and songs of the birds, and our wonderful neighbors,” Donna said. “We’re really happy to be here.”

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People from around the world gather in Taylor to celebrate the culture and history of Southern front porches. written by Toni Overby photographed by Joe Worthem

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Campbell McCool, developer of the Plein Air neighborhood in Taylor, brought to life the first annual Conference on the Front Porch last October. The idea for the conference came easily to McCool, who describes Plein Air as a “front porch neighborhood,” adding that porch design was central to the development. “The more I looked into the history of the front porch, the more I realized it was not just an appendage on a house. It is representative of a way of life, a communal aspect of neighborhood development,” McCool said. To pull off this two-day event, he first enlisted the help of R. Scott Cook, a Texas attorney who authored a series of writings on front porches while a student at the University of Virginia. The study, titled The Cultural Significance of the Front Porch in America, provided a wealth of information on the history of front porches in the country. As the keynote speaker for the conference, Cook focused on the reasons Americans are fascinated by the front porch. “Memories of front porches are a big part of our attraction to them,” he said, noting that as society expanded its means of transportation, the time spent on front porches dwindled. Attributing the decline in front porch visits to our growing desire for privacy and the rush of modern life, Cook urged conference attendees to consider returning to front porch living. “We need each other. We need community, and the front porch is a small bridge to achieving that,” he said. Along with several other lectures, guests enjoyed dinner at Grit restaurant, located at The Mill at Plein Air. Owners Angie Sicurezza and Nick Reppond created a menu with Mississippi flair: Each item was specific to the state.

Attendees of the first Conference on the Front Porch last October enjoyed Johnny McPhail’s one-man production of Tennessee Williams’ The Last of My Solid Gold Watches, along with dinners provided by A&N Catering and Grit restaurant of Taylor. This year’s event will be held Oct. 18 and 19 in Plein Air. For tickets, visit theconferenceonthefrontporch.com.

After dinner, guests enjoyed a front porch play by local actor Johnny McPhail, who performed a one-man rendition of Tennessee Williams’ The Last of My Solid Gold Watches – a favorite moment of the conference for many of the attendees, including Michael Dolan, editor of American History Magazine. “People were raptly at attention to catch the master’s words as McPhail hurled them into the dark,” Dolan said. “Time and again through the conference, Campbell and his team delivered these unforgettable flashes of brilliance.” Day two of the conference included another series of lectures along with an outdoor dinner, catered by A&N, also owned by

Sicurezza and Reppond. A long wooden table decorated in fall décor set the scene for the dinner, which was followed by a porch concert featuring Adrian Dickey at the Taylor home of Sparky Reardon. McCool deemed the conference a success. “People couldn’t get enough of it,” he said. “Everyone had a story of their favorite porch growing up. Someone even said, ‘We need more front porches and less Twitters.’ ” Risa Darby, Plein Air office manager and resident, predicts this conference will bring more tourists and potential residents to Taylor and the Oxford area. “The front porch conference reminded us why we live at Plein Air,” she said. “It’s about knowing your neighbors and

looking out for each other, the way I remember it when we were growing up.” McCool has high hopes for the 2017 conference. “I’m more convinced than ever that this will be an ongoing annual event,” he said. “The front porch will always be the benchmark, the touchstone. We may expand into front porch and food, front porch and music, front porch and race. But what the front porch represents will always be at the center.” This year’s Conference on the Front Porch will be held Oct. 18 and 19 at Plein Air. The schedule of events and list of speakers will be announced soon. For more details about Plein Air and to purchase tickets for the conference, visit theconferenceonthefrontporch.com. May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Harold and Ann Wilson, who have been married for more than 50 years, are enjoying the view from their year-round garden in Oxmoor Place. written by Lanie Anderson photographed by Joe Worthem

A garden was a non-negotiable feature for Ann and Harold Wilson as they began building their home in Oxford. In 2013, the couple moved five and a half hours from their Fairhope, Alabama, home to Oxford, where their only son, Lane, lived. Although their waterfront house in Fairhope boasted 10 acres of land, they embraced the challenge of downsizing both their home and their garden in the Oxmoor Place subdivision, located on the north side of town. With less than an acre, the Wilsons were attracted to the natural aesthetic of a cottagestyle garden, which emerged during the late 18th century in England as a reaction to the growing popularity of neatly trimmed estate gardens. Because their property is located on a slope, local landscape architect Matthew Copp ensured that the Wilsons’ house and garden would have ample water control and exposure. Robert Kubler, owner of Homestead Farms Nursery & Greenhouses in Coldwater, designed retaining walls made of Arkansas fieldstone that created winding tiers and perfected the peaceful mood of the garden. When placing the flowers, the Wilsons were meticulous. They wanted to be involved in the garden’s layout, and in doing so, they planted 99 percent of the plants in the space.

Harold and Ann attribute their ability to pair plants to their years of experience in both retail and wholesale merchandising. “Designing a garden is like the skill of designing one’s home or a store window,” Ann said. “Each piece has a specific place in order to complement the space. That is how a garden should operate, with balance and pleasing to the eye.” Harold and Ann retired in September 2016, but for 27 years the couple owned a showroom in the Dallas World Trade Center called Harold Wilson & Associates Inc., a wholesale company that specializes in women’s apparel. During that time, they sold to many well-known stores throughout Mississippi and Texas, including Maison Weiss, Nella, Neiman Marcus and J.E. Neilson Co. “I reflect on that time with Harold when we are sitting in our garden,” Ann said. “I am very thankful to have been a part of the Dallas World Trade Center.” The couple enjoys relaxing together in the garden, and although gardening is a team effort in the Wilson household, Harold admits that Ann is the expert. He said that throughout their almost 54 years of marriage, Ann has always had an “obsession” with gardening. “Ann always had a deep, abiding interest in the really technical parts of gardening,

Ann and Harold Wilson (pictured) began designing their garden after relocating to Oxford in 2013. The year-round garden features Ann’s patented Verbena canadensis variety, ‘Miss Anne’ (pictured opposite page).

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

Along with a variety of roses, heirloom daffodils, blackberry bushes, ‘Conversation Piece’ azaleas (the top azalea in the South) and Shasta daisies, the Wilsons’ garden boasts blue ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea (below left) and ‘PowWow’ echinacea (below right). The couple was strategic in planting flowers that would attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

flowers, plants and trees,” Harold said. “I really learned about plants and gardening by osmosis. My knowledge [on the subject] is not in the same stratosphere as hers.” The Wilsons’ living room contains bookshelves full of Ann’s books on gardening. She attributes her green thumb and love of the outdoors to her mother, who was a gardener, and her father, who enjoyed nature and birdwatching. Ann enjoys being a member of the Oxford Garden Club and the Tres Amigas Birders, a group of women who travel throughout Mississippi and observe a variety of birds. “Gardening speaks deeply to my soul,” Ann said. “I love every plant, every butterfly, every wiggle worm – all of God’s creations.” Cottage gardens like the Wilsons’ are usually natural in appearance and feature an assortment of native plants, herbs, roses, heirloom plants, perennials and more. Ann strategically

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

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May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

“Gardening speaks deeply to my soul. I love every plant, every butterfly, every wiggle worm – all of god’s creations.” -Ann Wilson

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

chooses plants that contribute something to the garden, such as fruit, fragrance, nectar or pollen. While walking along the stepping-stone path that travels up and around the tiers of the garden, visitors see a variety of plants, such as roses, heirloom daffodils, blackberry bushes, ‘Conversation Piece’ azaleas (the top azalea in the South), Shasta daisies, Koreanspice viburnum (one of the most fragrant flowers in the world) and Russian sage. Ann also caters to the animals in the garden; she has bird and rabbit baths, bird feeders and flowers that she deems “butterfly and hummingbird magnets.” Ann’s favorite flower of the garden is her very own patented plant: ‘Miss Anne’ verbena (the spelling of Anne is the original spelling of her name). Ann discovered the plant after attempts to grow perennial white verbenas. She had ordered every perennial white verbena she knew, but none returned the following year. “We were traveling, and I happened to see a white plant blooming on a hillside,” Ann said. “We stopped the car. I got it and propagated it. I grew it for about 10 years, and it was wonderful. It was a perennial white verbena.” She eventually applied for a United States patent. She sent clippings of the flower to PlantHaven International in 2004, an agency that searched the U.S. to ensure the perennial white verbena did not already have a patent. Ann was awarded a patent in 2005. The ‘Miss Anne’ verbena is available for purchase only at Homestead Farms Nursery & Greenhouses. The couple consider gardening their fulltime job now that they are retired. Two lawn chairs are at the center of their garden, and they make sure to spend time there, relaxing and enjoying the fruits of their labor. Ann credits the longevity of their marriage to sharing one another’s passions. She joked that she learned about football and Harold learned about gardening during their 54 years together. “Harold is my world. We put each other first and share the same interest,” Ann said. “That is what has brought us to these two cozy lawn chairs in our garden.” Ann and Harold like to spend time in their Adirondack chairs, located in the center of the garden, to admire their bounty, which includes ’Quietness’ Griffith Buck roses (top right), ‘Star Gazer’ Oriental lilies (middle row, third from left) and ‘Red Volunteer’ daylilies (bottom left).

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Repurposed

written by Caitlin Adams photographed by Paul Gandy

A change in career paths led RYAN PIERCE to start his own woodworking and furniture-making business.

took an acceptance letter to law school for Oxford resident and University of Mississippi graduate Ryan Pierce to realize his true calling didn’t include a corporate lifestyle. “I tried the desk job,” Pierce said. “I think I’m too antsy of a person for that life.” The legal assistant, who craved fresh air and manual labor, had dabbled in woodworking for a few years. Unenthused about a future in courtrooms, he saw an opportunity to turn his hobby into a full-time career. In 2015, he declined his law school offer and left his 9-to-5 job to establish Ryan Pierce Furniture. Now his days are spent in his home studio, knee-deep in sawdust and slabs of wood.

It was a natural transition for Pierce, who says he has been constructing things with his hands since he was a child. “The course of my life has been in one creative direction or the other, except for that stint where I thought I wanted to be a lawyer,” he said, laughing. Without any formal training, Pierce relied on books, mentors, and trial and error to perfect his skill set. “It’s a craft which I think one can teach oneself,” he said. “I found that the things that I have learned weren’t always helpful in the end because I end up doing them my own way – putting my own touch on them.” Ironically, one of Pierce’s first orders came

from the job he left behind, when a lawyer commissioned a piece for her home. “It kind of just snowballed after that,” Pierce said. “Oxford is a place with a lot of culture, and people like custom pieces. It felt like a good fit.” Pierce was immediately met with enthusiasm from inquiring customers. His style – which he identifies as Shaker-style, modern furniture – is crafted to stand the test of time. His clean, simple lines were exactly what some local home and business owners were in the market for. “It centers itself on functionalism rather than ornamentation,” he said. “That’s my draw. I think simplicity is elegant.” May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

Ryan Pierce Furniture’s simple design aesthetic and use of quality materials have garnered much attention from local businesses. Pierce has created custom pieces for a number of local establishments, including The Lyric, Saint Leo and The Edison since he started his custom furniture business in 2015.

The bread and butter of his business is pieces that he creates to fit a family’s personal aesthetic, such as dining room tables, benches, coffee tables and bookshelves. Pierce uses hardwoods like oak, walnut and maple, which can withstand the spills and scratches inflicted by toddlers and dinner parties. “My hope is for each piece to take on a story in the course of the family,” he said. “I want them to become heirlooms, passed down through generations.” Pierce’s portfolio also boasts a few commercial pieces around town, from the sign out-

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

side The Edison (a co-working office space on University Avenue) to the tabletops that hold pizza and pasta at Saint Leo on the Square. “I knew I was looking for something more handmade rather than just getting any table you could order off the internet,” said Emily Blount, owner of Saint Leo. Pierce’s quality and attention to detail drew Blount to his pieces as she was cooking up design plans for her new space. She knew his modern designs would blend seamlessly with the restaurant’s exposed-brick and white plaster walls.

“There’s a modern simplicity to his work,” Blount said. “Coupled with that, he has a classic and organic respect for the material. I felt like that went hand in hand with what we were doing.” After years of perfecting his craft, Pierce’s favorite piece remains one of his first commissions. He was only on his fifth piece when management at The Lyric Oxford approached him with what was then a daunting request: a display case. “It was way beyond what I thought my skills allowed for at the time,” Pierce said.

He got to work on an early, modern style made mostly of spalted red oak and glass. Although it was out of his comfort zone, his work paid off. Pierce still visits the piece in the concert venue’s lobby, where it now serves as the ticket counter and is stocked with T-shirts and cigarettes for sale. “I still have to check in on it from time to time,” he said, laughing. The business, which he currently runs out of a shed he built in his backyard, is growing at a rate faster than Pierce ever imagined. It’s for this reason that he and his wife, Hannah

McCormick, a private art teacher and commissioned artist, have purchased a new home with space for a bigger shop. It will allow for larger, more efficient tools that will help Pierce expand his order capacity. “I’m just limited right now,” he said. “There’s so much potential, but I need the space.” The couple plan to move into their new house later this month. Meanwhile, Pierce isn’t letting a lack of square footage constrain him. He recently teamed up with another local woodworker, John Haltom of Roxie Wood-

works, to build their own sawmill, complete with a kiln to dry lumber. The expansion allows both men to lower their overhead while using 100-percent salvaged lumber. Although it’s still in its infancy, the business gives Oxford residents a way to get their wood hauled away for free. The men see it as a beneficial service to the community and a way to reuse what would otherwise go to waste. “We’re offering this opportunity for fallen trees to become something again,” Pierce said. For more information, visit ryanpierce furniture.com. May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

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The Kimbrells enjoy spending time together as a family in their modern home near Avent Park. written by Ginny Cooper McCarley photographed by Joe Worthem

The Kimbrells’ eclectic style is represented in their art, which features travel souvenirs like the large silk tapestry that hangs in the entryway (pictured right).

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

DESIGN INSPIRATION CAN COME FROM MANY DIFFERENT PLACES.

For Allen and Chantel Kimbrell, it was Kevin Costner’s 2007 thriller, Mr. Brooks, that tapped into their creative side and led them to build their striking modern home on Avent Street. While watching the film, they kept rewinding to focus on the house at the center of the story: a contemporary structure with a glass center and two wings. The Kimbrells, who had owned a lot in the neighborhood for several years, immediately brought a photo of the house to Oxford architect Cory Alger of Alger Design Studio, P.A., and asked if he could design a home with a similar layout. “We had the lot for about three years, and we just didn’t know what we were going to do,” Allen said. “We had some plans; we ditched the plans, and then we basically tripped across this concept of the two sides

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

and the glass box in the middle. We handed it off to our local architect, and he made it work for us.” For Alger, part of the fun of the design process was working to make the Kimbrells’ dreams a reality. “They’re great people, and we had a very good working relationship,” Alger said. “I got to help them get the vision they wanted. We had a great dialogue, and it went really well.” The location of the lot, which is at a slightly lower elevation than some of the surrounding houses, allowed the couple to add height to their house without it seeming out of place. “The house has some vertical elements,” Alger said. “Since the site sits a little lower, we were able to get a taller structure whose size fits the scale of the neighborhood.” When designing the home, the couple made sure that livability was at the forefront of the layout. With three kids – Add, Rivers and Avery – and two dogs, it was important that the home be not only beautiful but also comfortable. “It had to be able to take a beating,” Allen said, laughing. “That’s just part of it.” They accomplished what they set out to do; the finished home soon became a neighborhood hangout for their kids and other friends. “For years, until they started driving, this is where the kids loved to come and hang out and shoot basketball,” Chantel said. “I’d have a houseful in the backyard. It’s so fun.” The house sits on a lot that is almost an acre and a half, dotted with mature trees and a creek running down the side. The couple love to enjoy

The modern aesthetic is woven throughout the interiors – from the light fixtures to the kitchen’s concrete and black granite countertops – while family heirlooms provide a sense of history. Abundant large windows flood the rooms with natural light.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

the beautiful view, and they designed the home with large sliding glass doors and walls of windows to let in the fresh air. “We wanted a house that was easy to open up, a house that could really breathe,” Chantel said, noting that the master bedroom even has a balcony with a sliding glass door that they often leave open. “It feels so nice; it’s just like you’re sleeping in a tree house.” Allen and Chantel’s eclectic design and modern aesthetic influenced more than just the architecture. Inside, the home is filled with interesting elements and beautiful artwork. “Our aesthetic is kind of the same,” Chantel said. “We both like unique things. I like things that tell a story, that have a history, and most of the pieces in our home do tell a story.” Many of the pieces are heirlooms from Allen’s family, including a solid wood farm table in the family room that his grandfather once used to work on carpentry projects. The table still has a notch cut out on one end where a work saw was mounted. The home is also decorated with international elements, many of which are souvenirs from Allen’s grandparents’ many travels. Two of Allen’s grandmother, who was an artist, collected Asian art, and the Kimbrells display these treasures, including paintings, vases and furniture, throughout the house.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

Chantel’s favorites are a large silk tapestry inside the front door and a series of matador prints that hang in the family room. “I just like the eclectic pieces,” Allen said. “On my dad’s side, my grandparents traveled a lot, and on my mom’s side, my grandmother was an artist and loved Asian pieces, so it’s kind of a built-in preference.” Both Allen and Chantel agree that their favorite room is Allen’s study. Lined with gold grass cloth wallpaper, a comfortable leather couch, and warm wood bookcases, the room is “great on a cold winter’s day,” said Chantel. “It just feels so warm and cozy all the time.” The house also features original design elements, such as a large chimney pot crafted by local potter Yerger Andre that sits on top of the home’s chimney. “I love having that little piece of art up there,” Chantel said. Every aspect of the design – the open floor plan, the vaulted ceilings in all the bedrooms, the clean lines – was carefully thought through when designing the home. “The bedrooms were all built where you’re up and away, and the whole bottom of the house is just for rambling about,” Allen said. “It was built with the idea of having three kids and two dogs. It’s really something they could grow up in.”

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

“

Our aesthetic is kind of the same. We both like unique things. I like things that tell a story, that have a history, and most of the pieces in our home do tell a story.

-Chantel Kimbrell

”

The cozy vibe of the study, with its gold grass cloth walls, comfortable leather couch and wood bookcases, makes it the couple’s favorite room.

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May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

Create naturally fertilized soil that helps your garden grow and benefits the environment. written by Ginny Cooper McCarley

For novice gardeners, the concept of composting can seem a little daunting, but according to master gardener and Oxford Community Garden volunteer Beckett Howorth, it doesn’t have to be. “You can make a science out of it if you want to, but you can still do it pretty well just being casual about it,” Howorth said. For the casual composter, the process is fairly simple: Save kitchen scraps, leaves and grass clippings; then throw them in a pile in the yard or add them to a composting receptacle. To create nutrient-rich compost and aid the decomposition process, the pile should contain both brown and green matter, explained Tiffany Bensen, ecologist and volunteer garden manager for the Oxford Community Garden. Brown matter – which is high in carbon – can be anything from wood chips or dry leaves to shredded newsprint and cardboard, while green matter – which is high in nitrogen – includes kitchen scraps, animal manure and grass clippings. To prevent the compost from developing a sour smell, be sure to turn the pile occasionally with a shovel or pitchfork to provide oxygen for the microbes that are breaking down the matter into soil. Without oxygen, anaerobic microbes, which do not require oxygen, take over. “When anaerobic microbes take over, they release gases that stink,” Bensen said. She also suggests using a small amount of woody debris, such as sticks and long plant stalks, to create air pockets where oxygen can circulate in the compost pile. “The benefit is that these keep the pile aerated for you, but it takes longer to break that stuff down,” she said. The important aerobic microbes also require a bit of moisture, so if there is no rain for a long time and the pile begins to dry out, add a small amount of water. “Water keeps the microbes active so the organic matter decomposes better and faster,” Bensen said. Compost is not only a way to make nutrient-rich soil but also a great way to decrease waste and recycle. “We like cutting down on the amount of waste we take to the street,” Howorth said. “We enjoy contributing a little less to the landfill.” There are certain things, however, that

should not make it into the pile. Meat and milk products, newspaper with colored ink, and diseased plants or weeds from a garden should all go in the trash instead. Depending on the contents of the compost and how big the pile is, usable compost soil should be ready in about six months. “If you start in the spring, by the end of summer you’ve got some compost to use,” Bensen said. Another benefit of composting is it improves the health of the soil, especially in the South, where much of the soil is high in clay and not ideal for growing vegetables. “Composting is a way to add nutrients to your soil and to get things in there that will help the earthworms, who in turn enrich and improve your dirt’s capacity to hold moisture,” Howorth said. Though composting may seem possible only for those with a big backyard, vermi composting, a form of composting in which worms break down the waste, allows those with a small space to compost using just a container and scraps. Howorth and Bensen both suggest beginners search the internet for resources on how to get started and what exactly to use. To learn

more about the Oxford Community Garden Association and for upcoming workshops and tutorials, follow Oxford Community Garden Association on Facebook or visit oxfordcga.org.

For rich soil without the wait, the University of Mississippi’s composting program provides a low-cost alternative to making it from scratch. The program, which began in 2013, uses preconsumer food waste from campus dining facilities, along with wood chips and leaves, to create nutrient-rich soil. The decomposed material is used in gardens both on- and offcampus and is also sold to people throughout the community. Since the program began in 2013, more than 78,000 pounds of food have been recycled, said Lindsey Abernathy, project coordinator for the Office of Sustainability. The finished compost is available for sale by the cubic foot or cubic yard. For more information about the program or to purchase the soil, email green@olemiss.edu. May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

Warm-Season Vegetable

Planting Guide dates provided by Mississippi State University Extension Service

vegetable planting range Beans, snap bush Beans, snap pole Beans, lima bush Beans, lima pole Corn Cucumbers Eggplant Muskmelons Okra Peanuts Peas, Southern Peppers Pumpkins/Winter Squash Spinach, New Zealand Summer Squash Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes Watermelons

April 14 - May 10 April 14 - Aug. 1 April 28 - July 15 April 28 - July 5 March 31 - July 15 April 28 - Aug. 10 April 28 - July 15 April 28 - June 1 April 28 - July 15 April 14 - May 15 April 28 - July 20 April 28 - July 15 April 28 - July 1 April 14 - May 15 April 28 - Aug. 10 April 28 - July 1 April 28 - July 20 April 28 - June 1

For more advice on spring and summer gardening, call the Lafayette County Master Gardener Help Center at 662-234-4451, available 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

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May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

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small-town

SLOWDOWN A cozy and colorful home in Water Valley provides a quiet haven in the life of a busy family.

written by Ginny Cooper McCarley photographed by Erin Austen Abbott

hen Erin Austen Abbott first considered buying a house more than a decade ago, it was a purely financial decision. “I added up the rent in all the cities I had lived in, and I realized, ‘I could have already had a house paid for by now,’ ” she said. While living in Memphis, Abbott, who grew up in Oxford, knew she wanted to move back near her hometown. However, because her job at the time involved touring with bands all around the world, she shied away from living in a town where she’d be more inclined to have a busier social life and instead

began searching for the perfect home in nearby Water Valley. “I wanted a place where I could just be by myself for a little while before I had to get back in the van or back in the bus,” she said. “There was nothing going on that would distract me from having that solo time.” Abbott was immediately drawn to a historic home on Kimmons Street, which was the first to be built on its block and is named for the home’s original owner. She made an offer right after seeing it. “I was driving around one day, and I saw this house, and I just knew – that’s the house

I’m going to live in,” she said. “I made an offer. That same day, there were seven other offers that came in on the house, but they had already accepted mine.” Though the home was built in 1890, only three other families have owned it in more than a century, a trend of longevity Abbott intends to continue. Since the purchase in 2005, Abbott’s life has changed quite a bit: her husband, Sean Kirkpatrick, moved in in 2010, and the couple have a 4-year-old son, Tom Otis. “This is where we want to be,” Abbott said, noting plans to add a second bathroom

Art is very important to Erin Austen Abbott and husband, Sean Kirkpatrick. Their collection includes work from Lamar Sorrento, Kate Roebuck, Daniel Long, Frances Berry and Butch Anthony. Photographs by Abbott and pieces by the couple’s son, Tom Otis, age 4, also contribute to the décor of their home in Water Valley.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

“

We are homebodies by nature. Our schedules have us going in so many directions all day long, so when we have the chance to be home and enjoy some peaceful family time, we take it.

– ERIN AUSTEN ABBOTT

”

and eventually convert the attic into another bedroom. “We plan to stay in this house for a long time.” Part of the draw of small-town living, Abbott noted, is the financial freedom she originally envisioned. “I wanted a place where I could potentially be able to afford to go live other places for a few months out of the year if I wanted to,” she said. “We can still afford to do that, living here. We have the ability to go somewhere else [for a few months], since the cost of living is still so affordable.” The six-room home with 15-foot ceilings and original hardwood floors is filled with treasures that reflect Abbott and Kirkpatrick’s well-traveled life. A quilt covering the couple’s bed is a find from a trip to India in 2003; original paintings and photographs of friends and family fill the walls; and heirloom treasures, such as curtains from her grandmother’s home, are carefully placed throughout the space. Abbott, who describes her aesthetic as “grandma chic,” enjoys filling her bright home with both vintage and modern elements. Even the colors on the wall reflect her deliberate design. After buying the home, she drew up a floor plan of the entire house and glued paint chips onto the mock-up, making sure that the colors would coordinate. “By doing that, I can see how it would flow from one room to the next. I want to be able to sit [in the living room] and look

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Tom Otis’ bright and sunny bedroom and playroom are full of vintage treasures, including a dollhouse Abbott had as a child. Mother and son restored the miniature house together and left no detail overlooked – including lining its tiny rooms with wallpaper. May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

through the rooms and have the colors feel like they flow well together,” she said. Tom Otis’ room is Abbott’s favorite in the house. Originally a sunroom added on in the 1950s or ’60s, the cozy bedroom filled with bright light from the rows of windows looks out onto mature oak trees. “It really feels just like a tree house,” she said. Abbott’s commitment to good design is evident even in her son’s bedroom. His gray-blue walls are covered with artwork that Abbott has been collecting since he

was born, including pieces by Kate Roebuck and Mike Prater, along with Tom Otis’ own artwork. “We talk about [his art],” Abbott said. “Instilling a love of art in him at an early age is really important to me. Art is not something you have to be scared of. It is part of who he is and what he knows.” Her passion for decorating has also been passed down to her 4-year-old, who loves to draw up floor plans for imaginary houses and talk about décor. He has the travel bug, too, and keeps a shelf full of souvenirs from the

family’s cross-country trips. Though the travel-loving family are always ready for their next big adventure, they appreciate slow, quiet nights at home too. “I try to cook every night so we can enjoy a meal together and catch up on the day,” Abbot said. “By Tom’s bedtime, we all pile into his bed and read several books, all curled up, cozy, together. We are homebodies by nature. Our schedules have us going in so many directions all day long, so when we have the chance to be home and enjoy some peaceful family time, we take it.”

Some of Abbott’s favorite pieces in her home include a quilt she purchased on a trip to India in 2003 and original artwork by Water Valley artist Coulter Fussell.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

living room

GALLERY

ater Valley was a much quieter town when Abbott bought her house there more than a decade ago. Now, it is home to her latest business venture, the Living Room Gallery. Located in an old house next door to Yalobusha Brewery, the gallery will host a new art exhibit every two months. The first one, which opened March 3, featured early work by renowned photorealist painter Glennray Tutor. On May 12, an exhibit showcasing the work of Oxford-based artist Jonathan Kent Adams will open, and Abbott plans to use the summer months as a chance to display her original photography series. Design is an important aspect of the new gallery, as well, and something Abbott plans to

change with each exhibit. A deep-blue velvet sofa will serve as an anchor throughout all of the shows, but the accessories will rotate according to which artist is currently being showcased. “For each art exhibit, which will change out every two months, I’m making it feel like you’re walking into a living room, but a very minimal living room. You’re still in a gallery,” Abbott said. “The couch [from Article] will be the basis of each show, but I will change out the rug and the accessories around the couch.” The gallery will also feature a truncated version of Abbott’s boutique shop, Amelia, and will offer a variety of classes, including smallbusiness tutorials, photography courses and chef dinners.

The Oxford location of Abbott’s boutique shop, Amelia, will close its doors May 13. Its permanent location is now in Water Valley, next door to Yalobusha Brewery. The space also holds Abbott’s Living Room Gallery.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

1405 East Jackson Avenue Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm

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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF THE MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN

Just a short road trip away, the Memphis Botanic Garden offers 96 acres of vibrant gardens, useful educational programming and festive special events.

written by Melanie Crownover

Since 1953, the Memphis Botanic Garden has cultivated peaceful greenery in one of the midSouth’s most bustling cities. As summertime draws near, the park and its plants are preparing for visitors. “There’s always something new in bloom no matter when you come, but this is one of the most colorful times of year to make a visit,” said Mary Helen Butler, director of administration at the garden. “Everywhere you look, it’s so alive.”

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

"We try to open our doors and invite everyone in to enjoy the nature we preserve here." -Mary Helen Butler

There are 29 display gardens on the premises, including a serene Japanese garden with a koi pond, a hands-on sensory garden, 4 acres of wildflower woodlands and one of the largest herb gardens in the Southeast. The garden’s 232,000 annual visitors are also drawn to special events such as Monday Mud Pies – a weekly children’s social gathering starting in May – and gardening classes for children and adults.

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

live at the garden

The garden is also the ideal setting for an adult night out. Its Live at the Garden summer concert series (pictured) has brought big-name artists such as Harry Connick Jr. and Darius Rucker in years past. Other evening events include performances by the city symphony and ballet, wine tastings and date-night campfires. For this summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newly released schedule, call 901-636-4100 or visit memphisbotanicgarden.com.

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

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May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

View more photos at invitationoxford.com.

MISS-I-SIPPIN’ BEER FESTIVAL Yoknapatawpha Arts Council held the ninth annual Miss-I-Sippin’ Beer Festival March 24 and 25. The event featured breweries from around the Southeast and included a brewer’s dinner, community crawl and beer tasting at the Old Armory Pavilion. photographed by Joey Brent

Linda and John Robinson

Sarah Herschede and Doug Crochet

Tyler and Brittany Lake

Alex Presley and Jordan Sudduth

Jeff and Caitlin Maciejewski with Lea and Nathan McCartney

Alec Dunn, William Fisher and Blake Cocanougher

Sarah Strickland, Jane-Anna Caldwell, Michelle Glasscock, Anjani Patel, Catherine Camargo and Christian Powell

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Beau and Heather Wilson

Tyler McMurry and Kacy Covington

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

View more photos at invitationoxford.com.

DANIEL SOUVIGNY PIANO CONCERT Three-time Ragtime Junior World Champion and piano virtuoso Daniel Souvigny performed a concert March 24 at Nutt Auditorium featuring a chronology of blues, ragtime and early jazz. photographed by Joey Brent

Dianne Fergusson and Susan Hayman

Esim and Jim Payne

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Rebecca Avery and Ben Banahan

Susan Dempsey and Gail Hercules

Donna Levine with Eve and Richard Gershon

Dave and Jody Leonard

Rex Harrison Brunt and Ian Hominick with Billy and Wanda Lamb

Gabriela Pestana and Hunter Callahan

Hayley Schrock and Jay Partain

Urgent care May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

View more photos at invitationoxford.com.

OTS/CHS FUNDRAISER BANQUET Students who graduated from Oxford Training School or Central High School gathered for a fundraiser banquet March 11 at the Lafayette Civic Center. photographed by Joey Brent

Shamia and Murlean Pegues

Margie N. and Spencer Mathis

Gladys Austin, Felicia Pegues and Mary Howard

Vivian Price and Patricia Brassel

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Chester Starks, James Milliner and John Price

Faye and Bramlett Murphy

Alice Pegues, Almelia Frierson, Ora Baker and Jaqueline Vinson

Luster and Gwen King

Don and Marcia Cole

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WILLIE PRICE ART GALLERY

Students at Willie Price Lab School held an art show April 7. The Willie Price Art Gallery displayed studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; individual and class paintings. Individual paintings were sold for $5, and the larger class paintings were auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting Oxford Love Packs. photographed by Joey Brent

Mary Kathryn, Millie and Lewis Herrington

Scott and Betty Schornhurst

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Misty and Eden Cowherd

Jason, Molly and Amy Hardin Shirkey

Cindy, Audrey and David Jaung

Jessica and Jade Marie Beggs

Will, Beth, William and Sharron Hunt

Brooke, Bennett and Michael Worthy

Lee and Bailey Mize

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ST. PATRICK’S DAY PUB CRAWL The eighth annual Oxford Pub Crawl was held March 18 at various locations on the Square. Participants wore green for the St. Patrick’s Daythemed event, which was sponsored by Jameson. photographed by Joey Brent

Brett Russell, Jerret Chism and Ellen Bryant

Ben Palmer, Rebecca Rupff, Jenna Campbell and Casey James

Amanda Golz and Joe Dickey

Rhealene and George Donechie

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Frank Hiway and Rocky Otte

Meg Cordell with Lane and Jody Harper

Billy and Elizabeth Ponliot with Eddie and Cindy Noland

Heather Outlaw, Cody Morgan and Kim Patterson

David and Betty Barkett

Nate Juda and Kristin Schutz

Charlie Haley and Adrian Smith

Lindsay Lannom and Ashleigh Ray

Jenny Monneyham, Ellen Sultzbech and Kelly Bell

Natalie Bialota, Jason Plunk and Becca Vanderford

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VETERANS LUNCHEON The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held a luncheon April 6 at St. Andrews Church to honor Vietnam War veterans. The event was part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. photographed by Joey Brent

Andrew Weist and Sally Malone

Gail Hercules and Laurie Triplette

Mary White, Christine Reiner and Connie Lilly

Regina Tutor and Joe Singletary

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Haywood, Pam and Hollis Crowder with Wendy Taylor

Charlie and Evelyn Spillers

Sam Jones, Carter Hillmer, Lawson Brinews and Shanotra Bowen

Leo Windham and Jerry Bratton

Sarah Harris and Pat Miller

What will your next front door look like?

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1923 University Ave. Oxford, MS 38655 662.234.5621 Each office independently owned and operated.

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JACK GURNER PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT A reception for photographer Jack Gurner was held April 7 at Bozartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gallery in Water Valley. The exhibit, On the Street: Memphis 1978-1983, features his work at the Memphis Press-Scimitar. photographed by Joey Brent

Jessie Gurner and Margaret Daum

Phillip Loria and Mary Sexton

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Binnie and Robert Turnage

Ian Whittington and Claire Byrne

Jack Gurner and Ed Croom

Alexe van Beuren and Kagen Coughlin

Lucia Holloway, Pam Timmins, Linda Maynor and Vicki Bell

James and Betsy Person

Ashni and Adrienne Brown with Zion David

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May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

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DWIGHT YOAKAM CONCERT Singer-songwriter Dwight Yoakam held a concert April 9 at The Lyric. He performed songs from his new bluegrass album, Swimminâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Pools, Movie Stars. photographed by Jessica Richardson

Aston Corder and Eric Sanderlin

Gunner Lishman and Morgan Beard

Paul and Tammy Hood

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Beverly Trout and Jaime Adams

Destiny Vick, Leslie Polling and Brandy Haugh

Kevin and Christy Freeland

Spencer and Natalie Turner with Lee and James Rantzow and Ashley and David Wallace

Melissa and Kevin Medlin

Jill and John Noblin

re- opening

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2017 ANNOUNCEMENTS

Seed

engagement

One-third page ($50) Includes one photo & up to 150 words

10:00 - 6:00 Mon-Sat. 662-380-5051 *Open Sundays of home baseball weekends

wedding

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(previously Furniture World)

Half page ($90) Includes one photo & up to 200 words Full page ($150) Includes three photos & up to 300 words Two pages ($275) Includes five photos & up to 500 words

Please email all high-resolution photos and text to Emily Suber at emilysuber.invitationoxford@gmail.com. Invitation prints engagement announcements year-round. Wedding announcements will be printed in the June/July Bridal issue. Please make checks payable to Invitation Oxford (note ANNOUNCEMENT on the memo line), and mail to: P.O. Box 776, Oxford, MS 38655 or visit invitationoxford.com to pay online.

WWW.CMREHOMES.COM CARRIE FULLER (901) 487-1299

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May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

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VANYA AND SONYA AND MASHA AND SPIKE Theatre Oxford presented the play Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike April 6 at the Powerhouse. The production was directed by Matthew King and produced by Jennifer Murchison. photographed by Joey Brent

Arthur and Eloureen Lewis

Scott and Emily Burton

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Jacob Hall and Jaime Adams

Nick Thompson and Caity Maddox

Meg Jenkins and Amy Pearson

Caroline Rosser and Michael Williamson

Joe Turner Cantu, Eddie Upton and Matthew King

Gaye and Steve Case

Jonathan and Carmen Mattox

A style for every point of view

We are excited to announce our new monthly email newsletter. Subscribe for free at invitationoxford.com.

Custom Window Treatments Oxford: 662-281-0586 • Tupelo: 662-823-6455

www.budgetblinds.com • A Locally Owned and Operated Franchise

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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED ON PAGE 116

MCDONALDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EASTER EGG HUNT

Cheyenne Clayton and Quanda Johnson

Natalie, Grady and Olivia Lewellen

Dwayne and Harmony Savage

DELTA GAMMA ALUMNAE EASTER EGG HUNT

Leigh Carole Mullins, Alden Low, Emily Maxey, Jill Stevens and Jenna Lovelace

Stephanie Love and Sarah Alden

Brock and Lea Ellen Welborn

LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS TEAM SENIOR DAY

2017 LHS Tennis Team

Abby Arrington, Will Carter, Debbie Swindoll, Cara Anne Sallis and Rachel Reed

L.O.U. READS COALITION MEETING

Ashley Sheils and Edy Dingus

114

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Alison Crain and Kurt Brummett

Suzanne Ryals and Nancy Opalko

HOLCOMB DUNBAR GRAND OPENING

Jack Dunbar and Mike Watts

Brad Best, Ben and Marjorie Matlock and Jonathan Masters

BOOKS & LEARN WITH PRISON WRITES INITIATIVE

Betsy Chapman, Louis Bourgeois and Bekah Chapman

Marie Bennett and Diana Cissell

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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 114

DISQUIETUDE ART EXHIBIT

Seth Kellum, Will Halcomb and Jessica Richardson

Marisa Andropolis and Hannah Holland

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS KICKOFF MEETING

Robyn Tannehill and Dianne Fergusson

Terrell and Mac Halcomb

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER OPEN HOUSE

Ginny Schornhorst and Susan Romig

Pam Meeks and Catti Beals

Jeff Busby, Jack Gadd and Pat Patterson

MUSTARD SEED GRAND OPENING

Casey Goff Martin, Kathy Brummett, Kimberly Bumgardner, Christy Parker and Pete Brummett

Paul, Shannon and Mallory Myrick

NORTH OXFORD BAPTIST CHURCH PARTY IN THE PARK

Cullen and Nicole Roberson

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Candy and Swayze Pollan

Bradley Roberson and Josh Simer

McKenzie and Wyatt Williamson

LIBRARY AUDITORIUM DEDICATION

Sugar Magnolia

Hanna Lee, Victoria Penny and Melissa Daniels

Dotsy Fitts, Beth Estes, Patty Lewis and Jolee Hussey

LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL PROM

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Oriana Shaw and Ransom Whitehorn

Alexus Weekley and Hogan Linzy

May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

117

Disney princess camps June 12-16 & July 10-14 Ages 3 & up

PRINCESS CAMP, SUMMER & FALL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Early Bird registration discounts available *Sibling discounts available

Visit our website for class schedules & registration dixiedanceandtumble.com or call (662)236-1032

BRIDAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Half page ($90) Includes one photo and up to 200 words Full page ($150) Includes three photos and up to 300 words Two pages ($275) Includes five photos and up to 500 words Please email all high resolution photos and text to Emily Suber at emilysuber.invitationoxford@gmail.com Wedding announcements will be printed in the June/July Bridal magazines. Please make checks payable to Invitation Oxford (note ANNOUNCEMENT on memo line) and mail to: P.O. Box 776, Oxford, MS 38655 or pay online at

invitationoxford.com 118

INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

CAVITY FREE CLUB DIPLOMATE, AMERICAN BOARD OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR

March WINNER

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May 2017 | INVITATION OXFORD

119

SARAH McLELLAN interviewed by Lena Anderson photographed by Joe Worthem

As executive director of the Lafayette County Literacy Council, Sarah McLellan is helping improve the quality of life in Oxford and Lafayette County.

Q: What are the goals of the Literacy Council? A: To provide professionally developed and administered literacy education; promote a love of reading to children and families; serve as a literacy resource and information clearinghouse; and become an excellent organization with which to work and volunteer.

Q: Is illiteracy a problem locally? A: Oxford has a reputation for being a literate town, and people are surprised when they hear of the illiteracy rate. For example, the percentage of adults in the county who can’t read well enough to fill out a job application has been estimated to be above 25 percent [Lafayette County Literacy Council Needs Assessment].

Q: Who does the council serve? A: The council was founded 21 years ago, and at that time the main focus was adult literacy. Over time, the council focused more on children’s programs. However, the council decided in the past five years that the need was still there for adult literacy and added the ABLE (Adult Basic Literacy Education) program, which provides one-on-one tutoring by trained community volunteer coaches.

Q: How else does the council promote reading among children? A: The council joined the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program in 2010, through which any family in Lafayette County, regardless of income level, could have a free book mailed monthly to their child under the age of 5. This program has grown to over 850 children. To volunteer with the council, sign up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library or get assistance through ABLE, email McLellan at lafayetteliteracy@gmail.com.

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INVITATION OXFORD | May 2017

Losing weight begins with gaining support.

lebrating National Nurses Week

May 6-12,

16.

To learn more about our program, call 662-513-9671.

Baptist North Mississippi Weight Loss Center is the first accredited weight loss center in the region, so we understand losing weight requires support. Our bariatric surgeons, Dr. Walker Byars and Dr. Scott Therrien, have successfully helped many patients lose weight through surgery. Our team of specialists, including nurses, pulmonologists, and dietitians provide pre- and post-operative support. Get better with Baptist.

northmiss.baptistonline.org

Get Better.