NATIONAL FOREST ADVENTURES
SEASONAL HERBS FOR SPRING
April is one of my favorite months of the year.
This is the designated time to celebrate both the linemen who power our lives and some of our state’s high school juniors who will become future leaders of our state.
First, about those linemen. April is National Linemen Month. Although we have a month where we spotlight our hardhat heroes for the crucial service they provide to members each day, every day is Lineman Appreciation Day at an electric cooperative.
The work they do is dangerous and physically demanding. Linemen work nontraditional hours and outdoors in di cult conditions. The job requires enhanced technical skills, years of training, and hands-on instruction.
The specialized skills, experience, and mental toughness required for the job means all linemen need to be experts who can’t a ord to make errors.
Considered one of the most dangerous jobs in our nation, lineman aren’t the only ones making a sacrifice.
The families of linemen have to stand by as their loved ones head out to work on birthdays and holidays. They work long days and nights, sometimes for days at a time.
Lineman are the heart and soul of our electric co-ops. We thank them for their hard work and dedication to community daily.
So, if you see a lineman out and about in the community, tell them how much you
appreciate what they do. Reach out this month or anytime. Without linemen, there is no power in our lives.
Now about those high school students I mentioned above.
Last month we held Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s 36th Cooperatives Leaders Workshop in Jackson. A group of 82 high school juniors from all over the state gathered to learn leadership skills, meet their elected state lawmakers, and were encouraged to serve their communities through action.
These students, who were sponsored by their local electric cooperatives, represent the future of Mississippi.
We want these students and co-op members to go back to their communities and utilize the leadership skills they learned at the workshop to give back and make a di erence.
I believe they will. Both Mississippi and our local communities will be better places as a result.
We hope you enjoy the April issue.
A state of caring, a people whose compassionate heart finds ways to share this beautiful place we’ve been fortunate to have been born in.
A state of sharing, God’s many blessings.
Thankful are we and thankful we want you to be as you share with us our Mississippi.
Surely, God has blessed our Mississippi and its people who call it home.
by Anna Presley, a resident of Moss Point and a member of Singing River Electric
by Michael Callahan
Executive Vice President/CEO Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi
Mississippi’s national forests make great day trips
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The Eudora Welty House and Garden in the historic Belhaven neighborhood of Jackson. Photo by Chad Calcote.
Central Electric Power Association, Coahoma Electric Power Association, Coast Electric Power Association, Delta Electric Power Association, Dixie Electric Power Association, East Mississippi Electric Power Association, 4-County Electric Power Association, Magnolia Electric Power, Monroe County Electric Power Association, Natchez Trace Electric Power Association, North East Mississippi Electric Power Association, Northcentral Electric Cooperative, Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association, Pontotoc Electric Power Association, Singing River Electric, Southern Pine Electric, Southwest Electric, Tippah Electric Power Association, Twin County Electric Power Association, and Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association.
Communicators from Mississippi nabbed six 2023 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Spotlight on Excellence awards recently. The Spotlight on Excellence Awards program recognizes a body of outstanding work produced by electric cooperative communicators and marketing professionals from across the country.
Matt Bush, of Southern Pine Electric, won a silver award for the co-op’s 2022 annual report in the Best Annual Report to Members category.
In the Best Wild Card category, Amy Gri n of Cooperative Energy won the gold award for the Cooperative Energy Summit: Learning Experience. Justin Jaggers, with Northcentral Electric, won the silver award for his creation of a virtual reality tool used at career fairs.
Jason Patterson, of Yazoo Valley Electric, won a gold award in the Best Individual Ad category for his “Power in our Team” ad. Northcentral’s Justin Jaggers also won a gold award in the category for his “Don’t Miss a Moment” ad.
The communications sta at Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi — led by Vice President Lydia Walters — won a gold award in the Best Total Communication Program category for their work on rebranding and adding digital components to the Cooperative Youth Leaders events.
A huge boost in government spending on the nation’s infrastructure is increasing the already overwhelming demand for transformers and other crucial equipment needed by electric cooperatives, experts told local co-op leaders recently at PowerXchange.
The supply chain issues spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic caused production and deliveries to stop or slow down significantly for about 18 months, but challenges have continued in part because demand for transformers, electrical conductor, steel wire, and other material is at an all-time high, said Tim Mills, president and CEO of ERMCO, a manufacturing enterprise owned and operated by Arkansas co-ops.
Pearl River Community College (PRCC) recently broke ground on the Hancock Aviation Aerospace Workforce Academy, adjacent to Stennis International Airport and the Hancock High School Career & Technical Center.
The 36,000-square-foot training center will include a 18,000square-foot hangar to provide skilled workforce development for the aviation and aerospace industries.
“After years of e ort and support across multiple administrations, local, state, and federal partners, we are excited to see construction begin at Stennis International Airport on Pearl River Community College’s Workforce Academy. This institution and training programs will serve our existing and future industries creating opportunities for our regional workforce,” said Blaine LaFontaine, CEO of the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission.
The academy is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, RESTORE Act grant money, an EDA Disaster Supplemental grant, Gulf Coast Restoration money, and a Coast Electric Power Association grant. The $2,475,000 hangar is also partially funded by a Coast Electric Power Association grant.
The construction of the $9,421,500 academy, which began Feb. 1, is projected to be completed in June 2024 with classes starting August 2024.
“There’s a massive gap between supply and demand,” Mills said. “What changed? Did supply drop or has there been a marked change in demand? The latter, I think, is what’s happening now.”
Demand has been driven up in part by an increase in new housing developments and by billions of dollars in new federal infrastructure spending, which is spurring competition for the same materials, said Chris Perry, president and CEO of the Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and United Utility Supply Cooperative Corp., which is owned by member co-ops in 17 states.
Perry cited demand created by the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law of 2021, which is making a historic investment in upgrading the nation’s highways, roads, and bridges, deploying broadband service, and funding electric vehicle charging networks that require more transformers and electrical system improvements.
In addition to increased federal spending on infrastructure, the electrification of everything from transportation to heating and air conditioning and water heaters is also increasing the need for transformers and other electrical system equipment, Mills said. A rise in natural disasters is having an impact as well, he said.
The industrial sector can significantly boost output, Mills said, “but the question is, in what time period?”
“Can we get there? Yes. Will it be fast and overnight? I don’t think so.”
NRECA
After a dreary winter comes every gardener’s favorite time of year: spring! Here are some hot plants you should try this season. Some varieties are fairly new, while others are making quite a comeback.
First up are two unique varieties of Buddleia, commonly called butterfly bush. These varieties are perennial and attract loads of butterflies during their long-season blooming. They prefer full sun and are heat tolerant and deer resistant.
Pugster is a dwarf Buddleia variety, perfect for smaller flower beds and containers. This compact beauty grows to only about 2 feet tall and wide. But don’t let the size fool you; the buds are still very large and fragrant. There are five di erent colors of Pugster to choose from.
Grand Cascade is a full-sized Buddleia bush with enormous flower panicles that cascade in a weeping form. By enormous, I mean panicles are 12-14 inches long and 4 inches thick. The bush grows 5-6 feet tall and spreads 7-8 feet wide.
Grand Cascade loves full sun and attracts tons of pollinators such as hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
If it’s a unique vine you’re looking for, look no further than Petrea volubilis, or Queen’s Wreath.
This vigorous vine is considered a tropical, so it must be protected from frost. The draping, lavender flowers resemble wisteria. Unlike wisteria, it blooms profusely multiple times a year. Queen’s Wreath can tolerate full sun to partial shade.
For an eye-catching ground cover or “spiller” in containers, try Lysimachia nummularia Goldilocks, commonly called Creeping Jenny.
This hardy perennial is sure to create a focal point, with its long, chartreuse to golden-colored strands. It prefers part to full sun and well-drained soil. Its unique growing habit, along with its bright foliage, creates a perfect contrast when planted among darker plants.
Arbequina olive trees are wonderful additions to any container, orchard, or landscape. The stunning grey-green foliage is attractive and evergreen.
Olives grow in well-drained soil and flourish in large containers. Turn your patio into an Italian villa using a few large pots with fruit-bearing olives. The black olives can be brined and enjoyed or left on the tree for aesthetic value. It’s important that they receive full sun and very loose soil.
Cold-hardy avocados are extremely popular edible trees. They have beautiful foliage, and who doesn’t love a perfectly ripe avocado? While there are many varieties, opt for one that is considered cold hardy down to 20 degrees. These varieties do best in Mississippi and can be grown similarly to citrus trees, either in the ground or a container.
Some good varieties to try are Lila, Joey, and Fantastic.
Last, but not least, the showgirls of spring are petunias.
The gorgeous Headliner Series is not one to miss. Night Sky looks straight out of a Van Gogh painting. Its deep purple blooms with white splotches makes each one unique. This petunia has a mounding and trailing habit and likes part to full sun.
Pink Sky o ers the same freckled charm in a medium-pink shade. Elevate your beds and containers with these specialty, long-season
Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, six huge national forests conserve more than 1.2 million acres of Mississippi including some of the most scenic and diverse habitats in the Magnolia State. During the season, many people hunt these forests for deer, turkey, squirrels, and other game, but all of them o er additional outdoors recreational activities.
Combined, these forests contain more than 2,000 acres of lakes and ponds, 650 miles of fishable streams, 265 miles of trails for nonmotorized hiking, biking and horseback riding, plus 90 trail miles for o -road vehicles. Other activities include picnicking, birdwatching, canoeing, swimming, camping, and many other ways to enjoy nature.
Named for Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the founder of Natchez, Mobile, and New Orleans, Bienville National Forest covers 178,541 acres of pine and oak forests east of Jackson. The upper reaches the Leaf and Strong Rivers run through the forest. Many people fish at Marathon and Shongelo lakes. Equestrians can ride the Shockaloe Horse Trail.
Delta National Forest covers 60,898 acres in the fertile Mississippi Delta region near Rolling Fork. The only primarily bottomland hardwood national forest in the nation, Delta o ers people a glimpse of the once vast swamps formerly along both sides of the Mississippi River floodplain. These hardwoods provide homes to delta fox squirrels.
“In the Mississippi Delta Region, some squirrels are mostly black all over or a rusty red color with a yellowish belly,” explained Rick Hamrick, a Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks small game biologist.
Named for the 16th-century Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, the national forest covers 518,587 acres of mostly pine forests southeast of Hattiesburg. The forest contains two wilderness areas, the Black Creek Wilderness and the Leaf River Wilderness. Black Creek carries the National Wild and Scenic River designation, the only such stream in Mississippi with that designation.
Two National Recreational Trails, the Black Creek Trail and the Tuxachanie Trail, o er hikers more than 60 miles to enjoy.
Holly Springs National Forest covers 155,661 acres in two sections near the town of Holly Springs. The land consists mostly of reclaimed agricultural land with rolling hills now covered in pine forests. The property also contains a bottomland hardwood swamp at the confluence of Tubby Creek and the Wolf River near Ashland. Several lakes provide fishing and swimming opportunities. The property also o ers some trails for hikers.
Named for the Homochitto River, Homochitto National Forest includes 191,839 acres of forests between Natchez and McComb. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps reforested most of the land. Several streams flow through the forest.
Named for the Tombigbee River, this national forest includes two sections totaling 67,005 acres southwest of Tupelo. The forest contains at least five Native American mounds built about 900 years ago. The forest regrew from abandoned farmland and contains rolling hills covered in pine and hardwood trees.
These lands belong to all of us. More than 2.6 million people annually take advantage of opportunities to visit their six Mississippi national forests. You could be the next one.
by John N. Felsheroutdoors topics. Contact him at j.felsher@hotmail.com.
John N. Felsher is a professional freelance writer, broadcaster, photographer, and editor who lives in Alabama. An avid sportsman, he’s written more than 3,300 articles for more than 170 different magazines on a wide variety of outdoors topics. Contact him at j.felsher@hotmail.com.
“It’s like a car show, but for planes.”
That’s how Gateway Christian Academy Principal Gwen Taylor described the school’s annual fundraiser, Wings over Wiggins, when discussing the popular event.
Held each year at Dean Griffin Memorial Airport in Wiggins, the idea for the fundraiser was hatched by Taylor, air traffic controller Cathy Kaupp, and school board member and air traffic controller Jason Hooper as a fun way to bring awareness to aviation to the community and the state.
“You would be surprised how many people in Wiggins have no idea that we even have an airport,” Kaupp said.
“This is a fundraiser but also education for the community. Kids, big and little, enjoy getting up close to the aircraft, taking photos, and talking to the pilots.”
This year’s event, which is free to the public, is April 15.
Because of the size of the airport runway, the event can only feature small, twin-engine planes.
“We usually have Pipers, Cessnas, Beech, and Diamond aircraft,” Kaupp said.
Pilots from Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama fly in for the event and some do fly bys with smoke as they leave.
The event also features a remote-controlled aircraft demonstration by professional showman Mike Sauls and a sky-diving demonstration by All American Sky Divers which does two or three jumps throughout the day.
Past years have seen crowds from 300 people to 700.
The first year of Wings over Wiggins — 2015 — had 15 planes on hand for visitors while recent years have seen 25 planes or more.
Kaupp, who is also a pilot, said her favorite part of the event is not the most obvious.
“I’m a pilot and air traffic controller, so you would think my favorite part would be the planes. That’s my second favorite part. My favorite part is the smiles I see on the faces of children as they look up to watch the planes take off and land. I am a lover of aviation and want to instill that love in the next generation,” Kaupp said.
“It only takes one time sitting in the pilot’s seat of an aircraft to get the ‘aviation bug.’”
What: Wings over Wiggins.
Why: A fundraiser for Gateway Christian Academy (The event is free but food, drinks, commemorative t-shirts, and mugs are sold.)
When: Saturday, April 15. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Dean Griffin Memorial Airport in Wiggins.
For more info: 228-669-8777 or visit Wings over Wiggins on Facebook.
ago, Persians, Tibetans and Mayans considered turquoise a gemstone of the heavens, believing the striking blue stones were sacred pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and most valuable turquoise is found in the American Southwest–– but the future of the blue beauty is unclear.
On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise. Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.
We found a limited supply of turquoise from Arizona and purchased it for our Sedona Turquoise Collection . Inspired by the work of those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant cabochon features a unique, one-of-a-kind matrix surrounded in Bali metalwork. You could drop over $1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for just $99
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Belonging to a cooperative, such as Southern Pine, comes with many benefits. We contribute to the local, rural economy, and decisions are made by directors and managers who know community leaders by name — not from an anonymous location hundreds of miles away. As a not-for-profit, we are not motivated by profits, but rather by principles that help provide a better way of life for our members, the communities we serve, and the rural way of life. We provide jobs within our territory, o er competitive pay, work hand-in-hand with students, schools, seek economic development opportunities, work with our farmers, support local businesses, and participate in grass root campaigns to keep rates competitive and a ordable. Though a lengthy list of work accomplished by a co-op, it is not all-exhaustive. Co-ops make a di erence in countless ways each day.
Southern Pine, like all cooperatives, is unique in many ways but one distinctive component of membership is the return of capital credits to members. Southern Pine has retired capital credits to our members each year, except in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina struck the service territory. Over the years, Southern Pine has returned millions of dollars in capital credits, providing tangible evidence of our members’ ownership in the co-op.
As a new member, some of this terminology might not be familiar to you, and we wanted to take this opportunity to remind our members about this important benefit and to provide some definitions.
Capital Credits represent each member’s ownership in Southern Pine. The amount of capital credits a member may have is determined by how much electricity they purchase — the more purchased, the greater your capital credits balance.
A member’s capital credits may be paid (retired) by the Board of Directors at such time as a determination is made that the financial condition of the cooperative will not be negatively impacted by doing so. The amount paid each year varies because operating expenses and revenue also vary.
When the financial condition of the cooperative allows, Southern Pine retires (pays) capital credits to active members by applying a credit to the member’s account(s) or by issuing a check to inactive former members. When this “retirement” occurs, any member who purchased
electricity from Southern Pine during the period being retired is eligible to receive their pro-rata capital credit.
Checks to inactive former members are mailed to the last known address Southern Pine has on file. This is why it is important to make sure we have your current address, even if you leave the Southern Pine service area.
Our mission is always to provide our members with safe, a ordable, and reliable electric service. The amount retired to members depends upon the financial condition of Southern Pine and its strategic plan for growth and operations. This will vary according to each year’s financial and operational conditions.
For 85 years, Southern Pine has focused on providing electricity to rural areas and enhancing the quality of life for our members. Paying capital credits is just a part of what we do to remind our members of the values that make a cooperative unique and that you, as a member owner, help us Bring the Power.
by Chris K. Rhodes
This month we’re celebrating the amazing linemen who power our lives! Day in and day out these dedicated men work to serve our members by providing safe, a ordable and reliable electricity. It’s no easy task, but they do the job with a servant’s heart.
Holidays, game days, birthdays, anniversaries, other special occasions –no matter the day or night, when the call comes in, these men always answer the call. We are grateful for their dedication and service to our members and to Southern Pine. Please join us in thanking these hardhat heroes that keep bringing the power every day.
More than 47 years ago, Willie and Glynda Rivers opened a garden center and nursery. Over the years, the whole family has gotten into the business. That little family business has grown into a retail and wholesale nursery that serves all of Mississippi and parts of Louisiana, Rivers Market in Byram, and the newest addition — Rivers Market in Brandon.
Amber Rivers, Willie and Glynda’s granddaughter, now operates Rivers Market in Brandon. Amber graduated in 2021 from Mississippi State University with a degree in business administration. Amber said she always knew she wanted to work with the family because “working with family is the best.” Rivers Market is located on Highway 18 between Puckett and Brandon and is a beautiful place to visit and shop.
The market features fresh produce in the summer, frozen foods, canned items, and unique gift items for every room in the house.
They also have a great inventory of outdoor items. “We focus heavily on local gift and food items,” said Amber. “The most popular items are home décor, especially during the holiday season.” Amber adds that the market is transformed during the Christmas season and features eight Christmas trees and all kinds of holiday decorations.
When it comes to her customers, Amber said she loves working with the people who visit the Market. “We get a lot of local shoppers, people who taught me in school, and friends and classmates. We love what we do, and it brings us so much joy when people come in smiling or when they get on Facebook and tell us they love what we’re doing,” she said. Rivers Market is one part of the family business, and when you visit, that’s exactly how you are treated — like family.
A group of 82 high school juniors from all over the state gathered in Jackson from March 1 to March 3 for the 36th Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Cooperative Leaders Workshop.
The program instills leadership skills, inspires creative thinking, encourages community service, and introduces students to legislative elected o cials from their communities.
The conference was held at The Westin in downtown Jackson.
The students earned the trip to the workshop following a competitive selection process sponsored by their local electric cooperative. They will
travel to Washington, D.C. in June for a six-day youth leadership tour.
Southern Pine students Ruby Sage Rogers, Carlee Harrell, Claire Hennington, and Emma Grace Thomas spent the three days in Jackson with other students from around the state. They met with their state lawmakers, toured the state capitol, participated in problem solving activities, and attended speeches by motivational speakers who urged them to serve their communities.
Gov. Tate Reeves and Secretary of State Michael Watson spoke to the students during the workshop.
To some, sunglasses are a fashion accessory…
Drivers’ Alert: Driving can expose you to more dangerous glare than any sunny day at the beach can… do you know how to protect yourself?
Thesun rises and sets at peak travel periods, during the early morning and afternoon rush hours and many drivers find themselves temporarily blinded while driving directly into the glare of the sun. Deadly accidents are regularly caused by such blinding glare with danger arising from reflected light off another vehicle, the pavement, or even from waxed and oily windshields that can make matters worse. Early morning dew can exacerbate this situation. Yet, motorists struggle on despite being blinded by the sun’s glare that can cause countless accidents every year.
Not all sunglasses are created equal. Protecting your eyes is serious business. With all the fancy fashion frames out there it can be easy to overlook what really matters––the lenses. So we did our research and looked to the very best in optic innovation and technology.
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Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that most (74%) of the crashes occurred on clear, sunny days
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Rating of A+
by Tammy Ramsdell
It took some convincing.
Eudora Welty, whose humility was as well known as her wit, couldn’t imagine that strangers – long after her death – would want to visit her home and garden in Jackson.
But the visitor’s log – quite fittingly – tells its own story.
There, line after line, are signatures and addresses from across Mississippi, the United States, and the world.
Some are fans of one of the most acclaimed authors of the 20th century, who was born 114 years ago, on April 13, 1909, and died July 23, 2001.
But others are like Kellee Strong and Robert Godbey, of Fort Worth, Texas, on vacation recently.
They knew of Welty, but little more.
“I’ve never read her,” Strong said, almost sheepishly. But in the small gift shop in the Visitor Center, they purchased a collection of short stories.
Well acquainted or not, Jessica Russell, director of the Welty House and Garden, said the goal is to “meet guests where they are.”
Last year, about 8,000 people visited, Russell said, a number trending upward as international travel rebounds from the pandemic. Translated into more than 40 languages, Welty’s storytelling has long appealed to a global audience.
Such appeal, however, reaches beyond words.
Welty was an accomplished photographer, gardener, and artist. Her love of theatre and music – and a devotion to family and friends – are also evident throughout the tour.
The 1925 Tudor Revival at 1119 Pinehurst St., open to the public since 2006, was given to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and contents were donated by Welty’s two nieces. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2004.
The house is one of the most intact literary homes in the country, Russell said.
Residing in the house parents Christian and Chestina had built, Welty for 76 years both created memories and drew upon them.
From her upstairs bedroom, she would write. Her first story, “Death of a Traveling Salesman,” was published in 1936. The novel “The Optimist’s Daughter” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973, and the best-selling memoir “One Writer’s Beginnings” was released in 1984. A prolific writer, Welty published more than 40 short stories along with several novels. Her photography was also published.
From the garden painstakingly designed by her mother, she would plant and weed. The garden today is one of only two public botanical gardens in Mississippi, on the American Camellia Society Gulf Coast Camellia Trail and is an American Daffodil Society display garden.
From her expansive side porch, with a glass of bourbon in hand, she would enjoy the company of local friends and neighbors. And from the first floor, she would entertain high-profile friends, including journalists Roger Mudd and Jim Lehrer and writers Willie Morris and Richard Ford.
What she would not do, however, was display her many awards, Russell said. In addition to the Pulitzer, Welty won several O. Henry
Awards, a National Book Critics Circle Award, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. They are on exhibit in the Visitor Center – not her home.
Though Welty spent an incredible seven decades at the same address, it was not a planned decision. And while deeply intertwined in community, she traveled extensively, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Graduating at age 16, Welty attended what is now Mississippi University for Women and then the University of Wisconsin. From there, she enrolled as a graduate student at the Columbia University School of Business and embraced life in New York City.
Learning of her father’s leukemia, Welty returned home shortly before his death in 1931. And here she stayed, offering comfort to her mother and younger brothers Edward and Walter, and finding work.
One such job during the Great Depression was as a junior publicity agent with the Works Progress Administration.
“She traveled to every county in the state,” Russell said. Photography was a skill she honed from her father, and her photos, many from rural and remote places, were exhibited and later published.
There’s also a lot of “rural community” in her writing, Russell said, and reflected in her garden.
Of course the greatest confluence of all is that which makes up the human memory – the individual human memory. My own is the treasure most dearly regarded by me, in my life and in my work as a writer.
– Eudora Welty, “One Writer’s Beginnings”Photos by Chad Calcote
Welty kept a pair of clippers in her trunk and raised camellias “tenderly from stolen cuttings,” Russell said. And when she sold a story, she would often use the money to buy camellias.
Most in her garden “stand from some story sold,” Russell said. More than 30 varieties are part of the garden, along with tea and climbing roses, daylilies, daffodils, flowering shrubs, and trees.
Welty, Russell said, “really celebrated all parts of her state” and brought what beauty she could to the garden.
Intended as a labor of love, not a show garden, Welty’s mother designed it to produce a 12-month succession of bloom.
“Chestina conducted her perennial border like a symphony... Besides orchestrating the timing of all these flowers, the designer of a successful perennial border must also choose for height, color, and texture, striving for contrast, harmony, and unity,” writes Susan Haltom, Welty Garden restoration consultant and co-author of “One Writer’s Garden: Eudora Welty’s Home Place.”
The garden’s restoration, started in the 1990s, offers a “living connection” to Welty, Russell said, and volunteers, called Cereus Weeders (after Welty’s Night-Bloooming Cereus Club), play a pivotal role in its upkeep.
On April 1, the club held its annual heirloom plant sale to benefit the garden.
Steven Yates, associate director/marketing director at the University Press of Mississippi, is also an avid photographer and award-winning author.
As such, it was a profound experience “to stand in a space where Welty created and thought, to see the rooms arranged faithfully to a working writer’s habits,” said Yates, the Juniper Prize-winning author of “Some Kind of Love Stories,” the Knickerbocker-winning “Sandy and Wayne: A Novella,” and most recently the novel “The Legend of the Albino Farm.”
Some 5,000 books can be seen throughout the house – a visual, Russell said, that often strikes visitors.
Yates read from his second novel, “The Teeth of the Souls,” a sequel to “Morkan’s Quarry,” at the Eudora Welty House and Museum. The honor, he said, “completed a beautiful circle.”
His name, too, went into the visitor’s log.
“In college, ‘Photographs,’ Eudora Welty’s mighty book, appeared on ‘CBS Sunday Morning.’ A pal and I hurried out and purchased it for a dear, retiring professor of ours in the Ozarks, Robert Henigan at Missouri State.
“Later, Jackson poet and novelist James Whitehead taught me at Arkansas, and I then got a job at University of Arkansas Press, which first published Welty’s student, Ellen Gilchrist.”
Yates said the first time he stepped into her Welty’s study, facing out was a book of Barbara Howes’s poetry, which he had mailed to Welty when he was a publicist at Arkansas.
“A book I had sent her, a book that she had kept. As a writer, every corner of the Eudora Welty House sends a near sacred shiver through me.”
1119 Pinehurst St., Jackson Reservations are recommended. Email info@eudoraweltyhouse.com or phone 601-353-7762.
House tours: 9, 11 a.m., 1, 3 p.m., Tuesday–Friday 1, 3 p.m. Saturday
Visitor Center and Garden hours (free, self-guided, not house tours): 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 12:30-4 p.m. Saturday
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Every season has a set of flavors. Fall and winter showcase full-bodied flavors, while the warmer months of spring and summer deliver a fresher and lighter taste best found through seasonal herbs. In celebration of the spring season (looking to the summer), introduce seasonal herbs to your dishes to add a fresher taste to your favorite meals.
Chives are the onion’s sweeter cousin, with a milder and fresher taste, but don’t stand up well to heat. Use chives to garnish soups and salads. Sprinkle chives over baked or roasted potatoes, stir them into crab cakes, or add them to butter for a tasty spring spread.
Cilantro compliments sweet and savory flavors and can add a fresh twist to drinks, dressings, guacamole, rice, tacos, and smoothies. But, not everyone is a fan, for some cilantro tastes like soap or dirt due to genetics. Be mindful before serving up cilantro to a large crowd.
Popular in Greek and Italian cuisines, look for crisp and brightly colored leaves when shopping for dill. This feathery fresh green herb adds a fragrant bite to vegetable dips or egg salads. Dill also pairs well with wild-caught salmon, beets, eggs, and yogurt. Many use it for homemade pickles too.
One of the few herbs perfect for dinner, dessert, and cocktails! Mint has a sweet and spicy scent that is almost universally known and is easy to grow at home. Use fresh mint daily, and add flavor to your favorite tea.
There are over 30 varieties of Basil. The most common found in stores is sweet Basil. Sweet Basil is a versatile spring and summer herb that is best used raw in salads or soups as it does not withstand heat well. Classic basil dishes include Caprese salads and homemade spaghetti sauces, but it is also delicious with fresh strawberries in salads and over-seared salmon.
Parsley has a lot of benefits beyond aesthetics. Parsley is high in vitamin K with anti-inflammatory properties. Combine parsley with lemon for a savory and springy seasoning for white fish like cod. Put chopped parsley on everything: grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes, pasta, or grain dishes. Don’t toss the stems of any herb! Use stems to boost salads, soups, broths, pestos, and pasta sauces. You paid for the whole bunch. You should get your money’s worth.
6 fish fillets or more (Flounder, Cod, Crappie, Tilapia)
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon butter melted
Garnish (optional) fresh parsley
1. Mix together in a bowl or a jar: lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, onion powder, black pepper, and salt to taste, and chopped parsley. Stir or shake the jar well.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
3. Pour marinade over fish, drizzle the melted butter over the tops and cover the baking sheets with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
4. Bake for about 25 minutes.
5. Serve immediately with a drizzle of any leftover marinade and fresh chopped parsley.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups basmati rice or white rice
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
2 1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon salt
Finely grated zest of one lime
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 cup lightly packed chopped cilantro
1. Brown the rice: Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan on medium high heat. Add the raw rice and stir to coat with the olive oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice has started to brown. Add the garlic and cook a minute more.
2. Add water, salt, and lime zest to the browned rice. Bring to a rolling boil, and then cover and lower the heat to low and allow to simmer.
3. Cook undisturbed (DO NOT STIR) per rice package instructions, then remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork.
4. Pour lime juice over the rice and toss with chopped cilantro.
1. Chop herbs finely to release more oils, enhancing the fragrance.
2. Sprinkle a variety of herbs in or on top of salads, pilafs, or omelets.
3. Toss any vegetable with fresh herbs before or after roasting.
4. Rub meat, fish, or seafood with fresh herbs before cooking.
5. Add herbs to the end of cooking for a more distinct flavor and at the beginning for more blended flavors.
6. Parsley and cilantro are delicate; chop right before use.
by Rebecca TurnerRebecca Turner is an author, registered dietitian, radio host, television presenter and a certified specialist in sports dietetics with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A lifelong Mississippian, she lives in Brandon and has spent the last decade offering nononsense nutrition guidance that allows you to enjoy good health and good food. Her book, “Mind Over Fork,” challenges the way you think, not the way you eat. Find her on social media @RebeccaTurnerNutrition and online at www.RebeccaTurnerNutrition.com.
Todd Tilghman concert. April 7. Quitman. Tickets are $12 at the Clarke County Chamber of Commerce o ce at 100 Railroad Ave. The concert will be held at the Quitman High School Auditorium, 210 South Jackson Ave. Details: 601-776-5701 or 601-917-7756 for info.
The Barnyard Marketplace Easter Spring Fling. April 8. Poplarville. Lots of Easter themed items, crafts, food trucks, boutiques, jewelry, soaps, oils, face painting, and more. The Easter Bunny will be giving out stu ed Easter eggs to the small children. Bring a camera to take a pic with Hoppy the Bunny. From 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The PRC Master Gardeners will be teaching a class called, “How to Make Wildflower Seed Balls for the Pollinators.” The class begins at 11:30 a.m. and space is limited to 15, ages 7 to 12. Check in at Master Gardener Booth. The Arc of Pearl River County needs Mardi Gras beads. Drop o is at The Crispy Treat Booth. Brother’s Keeper needs cereal, canned fruit, and pantry items. Drop o at their booth. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 259 Buck Kirkland Rd. Details: 504-234-3579.
Clarke County Farmers Market. April 15. Quitman. From 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. continuing every third Saturday in each month thru October. Sponsored by the Clarke County Chamber of Commerce. Details: 601-776-570.
Horticulture Education Event – Native plants. April 29. Poplarville. Pearl River County Master Gardeners and 4-H Jr Master Gardeners will host the event at the Poplarville City Park Pollinators Garden at 300 West Clendon St. at 10 a.m. The topic: Why use native plants in your home landscape? Patricia Drackett, director of the Crosby Aboretum and a Mississippi State University associate extension professor of landscape architecture will give the presentation. Details: 601-403-2280.
Barn Sale/Antiques and Collectables. May 5 and 6. Oak Grove. More than 85 collectors with trailer loads of antiques and collectables. Concession stand will have breakfast and lunch. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is $2. Price good for both days. Barn Sale auction is May 5 at 5:30 p.m. 4799 Old Highway 11, Purvis, (Oak Grove). Details: 601-818-5886 or 601-794-7462.
Divide Memorial Methodist Protestant Church Springfest. May 6. Monticello. Vendors still needed. Event will be held rain or shine. Food, auction, entertainment, and shopping. Details: 601-405-4975.
A rummage and bake sale. May 6. Brandon. The event will be held at Nativity Lutheran Church at the corner of Crossgates Boulevard and Old Brandon Road. The event will be held indoors o ering clothing, furniture, household goods, and baked goods. Church proceeds to benefit social ministry outreach programs such as Harbor House, Center for Violence Protection, Stewpot Ministries, Rankin County Human Resource Agency, VA Volunteer Services, and the Mississippi State Hospital. The event is free. Details: 601-825-5125.
Historic Highway 11 Yard Sale. May 18 to 21. Meridian to Bristol, Virginia. Vendor sites available in Meridian, Russell, and Kewanee in Mississippi as well as Cuba, York, and Livingston in Alabama. Visit msantiquealley.com. Details: 601-917-3727.
Cruisin’ the River’s 32nd Pride & Joy Car Show. May 20. Columbus. The event will be held at Lock & Dam East Bank. Registration is open from 8 a.m. to noon with a $20 registration fee per vehicle. First 50 registrations receive a free dash plaque and T-shirt. Awards presented at 1 p.m. Trophies and cash prizes awarded. Spectators get in free. Concessions available. Proceeds support local charities, including Golden Triangle Outdoors and an area nursing home’s Christmas ministry. Details: 662-574-2678 or 662-251-2702.
Harrison County Gem and Mineral Society Show. May 20 and 21. Biloxi. The event will be held at the Joppa Shriners Center at 13280 Shiners Blvd on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details: 601-947-7245 or go to Facebook com/gulfportgems.
Greater Shelby Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of North Mississippi Meet and Greet. May 20. Olive Branch. The event is an excellent opportunity to meet club members and learn about activities that you can do with your dog. The location is Kimberlin Farms, 8650 Center Hill Rd. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details: 901 482-2922.
Daylily Open Gardens. May 29. Hattiesburg. The Hattiesburg Area Daylily Society will host open gardens. The event gives the public an opportunity to see large numbers of daylilies growing and blooming in private gardens. The gardens are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free. Some gardens sell daylilies. For a list of gardens and directions go to hattiesburgdaylilly.com. Details: 601-466-3826.
Holy Land Tour. Oct. 27 to Nov. 5. Join Ronnie and Beverly Cottingham for their 23rd year to host the trip. Departures from Jackson or New Orleans. Details: 601-770-1447 or email rbcottingham@ bellsouth.net.
open to the public will be published free of charge as space allows. Submit details at least two months prior to the event date. Submissions must include a phone number with area code for publication. Email to news@ecm.coop. Events are subject to change.
A surprise series of events confined me to the house on several occasions here lately. I usually don’t mind being at home. All of my “play-purdies”are here — old radios and records. Only problem, when you don’t feel good, you don’t feel like playing with them. (I’m much better now BTW.)
A lot of my day-to-day work had to be gathered from the internet since travel was di cult. Mr. D at the Old Country Store in Lorman sent me a text that his “World’s Best Fried Chicken” is about to be introduced in New York City. It will be sold from food trucks. This New York City expansion was put on hold back in 2020 because of COVID-19. But, at last, it is about to become a reality.
too — old dresses, shoes, and medicine on the shelves.
I did a television story about the store back in the early 90s, and asked Mr. Breithaupt if he had ever been tempted to modernize. He told me that a tour bus loaded with visitors from Europe had just left and another from one of the riverboats docked at Natchez was due. He pointed out those buses passed a hundred “modern” stores on the way there. If he changed, they’d pass his store, too.
There is something about the past we find fascinating, and perhaps even comforting. The Old Country Store has it. McFerrin’s Store in Mantachie had the same attraction before it burned down. Gibbs Store in Learned straddles the past and the present with old stu on display and great steaks on the weekend. The Simmons-Wright Company at Kewanee east of Meridian preserves the same feel. I expect there are a bunch more stores just like them.
Arthur Davis (Mr. D) was living in Florida when his son was attending Alcorn State University. One weekend, he drove to Mississippi for a visit, and discovered the cavernous Old Country Store building in Lorman up for sale. He figured he could find a use for that much space situated right on a busy highway — Highway 61 between Port Gibson and Natchez.
It took a try or two before he hit on turning it into a restaurant and serving up his grandmother’s recipe for fried chicken. It didn’t take long for the world to find his bu et and Mr. D serenading the patrons, singing “Grandmama was the cornbread cooking queen, and I’m the chicken cooking king.”
The Old Country Store had already been a tourist destination. For years, Ernie Breithaupt had run it. Not as a restaurant, but as an actual old country store. There were soft drinks, and potato chips, and stu you’d find in any convenience store. But the old stu was still there,
But congratulations to Mr. D on the expansion into the Big Apple. New York City needs to get ready for a treat! And thinking of Mr. D’s chicken is just the incentive I need to recuperate and get back on the road — to Lorman.
by Walt Grayson
Grandmamawas the cornbread cooking queen, and I’m the chicken cooking king.
