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280 Magnolia St Magnolia, MS 39652
(601) 783-2441

4th of July is next Thursday. Where are the decorations celebrating our country’s founding and freedoms? Other cities in the area have banners, flags and associated decorations prominently displayed.

Magnolia, which was once recognized as the most beautiful city in Mississippi has nothing!!!

Can we at least spruce up our United States and State flags in the downtown park? Perhaps the city could initiate a project to “spotlight” the flags at night for all those who pass by on Highway 48 wo . . .

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST-- Hotel Pass Christian’s private balconies offer birds-eye views of the beach and accompanying sunrises and sunsets. (Photo courtesy of Hotel Pass Christian)

I’ve always loved the Mississippi Gulf Coast for its unending natural beauty stretching as far as the eye can see... among hundreds of other attributes, of course. But there’s a feature remains one of the primary reasons I visit as often as possible. It’s the fact that just when I think I’ve seen and explored everyt . . .

Our best writers follow a script that rarely fails them: They write of territory they know.

Carla Heffner-Carlisle’s stories in her latest book, “Another Country,” detail her life’s journey from McComb to a 1,000-acre estate in England on land once occupied by the Romans.

She’s well-versed to write from both sides of the pond separating these nations and has packed a lot of Mississippi and British life into this compendium, the third volume of “Writings from Country Life,” a magazine equiva . . .

Several weeks ago, the Magnolia Farmers Market Pavilion became unusable and dangerous to the public. Shoddy workmanship and perhaps the lowest bidder have created a situation where a heavy crossbeam has fallen. Thankfully no one was injured!!

At a time when several of the area’s farmers are harvesting their crops and the pavilion should and could be used for its intended purpose - A FARMER’S MARKET - the city facility remains unusable and dangerous. Delays in repairs and attention to city str . . .

For the first time in seven years, the Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams at Southwest will be under new leadership. FitlifeSportsplex Tennis Pro Dean Clower takes over for Joyce Mabry, who was the coach since the sport returned to Southwest.

Since taking over the role in early June, Clower has felt many different emotions. “Excitement, opportunity, growth, continuing a program that Coach Mabry (coached),” he said.

Clower adds that he is extremely grateful for the work that Mabry put in during h . . .

CHILLED DESSERTS FOR SUMMER-- Three-ingredient, no-freezer-needed homemade strawberry ice cream is the perfect summertime treat.

First, the bad news: It’s hot. Even worse, the official start of summer is still days away. But things are not all gloom and doom. There are numerous recipes containing words like “frozen,” “frosted,” “cool,” “chilled” and perhaps the best one this time of year: “no bake.”

In case you haven’t guessed, I’m not a hot weather person. In fact, I live for our all-too- . . .

I love and actually plant mimosa trees. There, I admitted it, exposing myself to be both endearing and loathed.

I long ago stopped trying to appease the “you can’t grow that here” naysayers, who believe if you want to plant something that has the propensity to spread and take over, gotta stick with natives. But I figure that in these days of so many over-polarized topics I can sneak this fairly mild one by the non-native plant vigilantes.

Sure, as with quite a few other plants that are bot . . .

Most every new home built in America today comes with a two car garage, 3 to 5 bedrooms and a kitchen that could hold the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. But something is missing in their structure. I’ll bet you can guess what it is. It’s a front porch.

Lots of things have gone by the wayside in architectural design in our towns and cities over the decades. Things like sidewalks, trees, buildings low enough to let the sky show overhead. But to me, one of the most important is the front porch.

The p . . .

Like most Americans who didn’t grow up on a production farm or ranch, I didn’t know much until a later age about the term “Farm Bill.”

That changed for me upon moving to Leland to operate the local weekly newspaper in the late 1970s. A gentleman farmer there — a Delta planter — advised me early-on to always look out for changes in the federal legislation that governs U.S. agriculture.

“Around here, there’s a large group of people who will appreciate every word you write or publish concerning . . .

STRAWBERRY PIE, PERFECT FOR SPRING-- Fresh strawberry pie is the perfect ending to a light springtime meal.

Mother’s Day may have come and gone, along with a few college graduations, but there are still plenty of special occasions occurring from now until summer. High school graduations, bridal showers and milestone birthdays are just a few of the reasons to celebrate the special people in your life. And it’s a good time overall to switch from winter’s heavy comfort foods and instead, turn to . . .

My wife and I celebrated Mother’s Day for sixty-five out of sixty-six years together. Sadly. last September she passed away. I spent several days planning on what to do, without forgetting her contribution to our family. I called our middle daughter to see if she and her husband might want to go have Mother’s Day Lunch at La Mariposa, Magnolia’s premier restaurant where I eat almost every Sunday after church. They were to pick me up at eleven. The street was full of cars.

We opened the door . . .

When it comes to how we approach certain garden chores, some can quickly devolve into darned if you do, darned if you don’t situations. And when it comes to cognitive dissonance, no matter what, somebody or something is gonna be unhappy.

A few obvious polarizing issues include pruning crape myrtles, the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or herbicides, and growing either native or imported plants that others consider to be weeds. Oh, and which tomato tastes the best.

But it isn’t . . .