PICAYUNE —
Something downright amazing is taking place right now that, without someone pointing it out, most likely would pass you right by. I’m referring to the incredibly subtle but exquisite blooms produced by our sweetbay magnolias.
Because the color of these blooms is a creamy ivory rather than the crisp, clear white such as is seen on its relative, the southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and because they are much smaller, you can walk past a sweetbay and never notice that it is blooming. The flowers of the sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) are only about three inches wide, while it is not unusual to find a blossom on our stately southern magnolia, also currently in bloom, that will measure a foot or more in width.
If you are a fan of magnolias and their relatives, you will enjoy a visit to the Crosby Arboretum, as we have planted a number of magnolias along our pathways. The bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) and its subspecies, Ashe’s magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla subsp. Ashei) can be seen near our Visitor Center, and southern magnolia is found throughout our exhibits, as is sweetbay magnolia.
You may not know that the tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), which is found along our Pond Journey pathway, is also a magnolia relative. This tree was one I enjoyed hugging in my younger days while walking in the Smoky Mountains. It was one of the common, fast-growing pioneer species that in the early 1900’s through the 1930’s quickly gained a foothold on the mountain slopes that became opened up to the sun, when two-thirds of the forest lands were timbered in the area that was later to become a very famous national park. Many areas not touched by logging, such as Albright Grove, sport huge specimens of tulip poplar.
Some of you will be familiar with another member of this family, known best by its former Latin name, Magnolia fuscata. The common name for this plant is the banana shrub. It is an old-fashioned evergreen garden species from China that is still coveted today, especially by those with fond memories of grandmothers who grew this plant.
Sweetbay magnolia gets my vote as one of those useful landscape trees deserving of wider landscape use. Like red maple, it will perform well for you in a variety of sites, soils, and sun exposures, although it is naturally found growing in swampy areas, and wet savannas and woodlands throughout the southeastern United States. Like many other plants that tolerate wet feet, it also does fine on upland sites. I’ve noticed multi-trunk specimens being sold by area nurseries, which are quite attractive in the home landscape.
You may know the sweetbay magnolia as the tree with silvery backs to its leaves, when the wind is blowing. For this reason it is a “70 mile an hour tree”, so-called because it is easy to identify at a distance. But it is also a tree that can be appreciated at close range. Take a whiff of its sweet-scented blooms, if you are lucky enough to find one. Sweetbay is also a good addition to the wildlife garden, where birds and other animals will enjoy feasting on its bright red seeds.
Speaking of beautiful but subtle blooms that you may not notice unless you happen to look in the right place, have you ever spotted one of our beautiful native orchids in a local meadow or ditch? We recently learned that Mississippi is home to more than 50 orchid species.
An interesting fact is that only three orchid species are home to Hawaii, a state you might think has the perfect climate for orchids. About 30 Mississippi orchid species are found growing in the area between Hattiesburg and the Gulf of Mexico. Our three coastal counties account for around 20 of these orchid species, and the majority of these are found in Jackson County.
These were only some of the amazing facts we learned from Glen Ladnier, a local orchid enthusiast who will be presenting a program on south Mississippi’s native orchids on Saturday, May 19 from 1 to 2 p.m. Glen visited the Arboretum recently for an orchid reconnaissance expedition, when our group made a few exciting discoveries.
Orchids, unlike sweetbay magnolias, are not plants that are happy in a wide variety of site conditions, although some species do well in cultivation. Many wild species will not survive transplanting, and if you desire beautiful blooms in your garden there will be much better choices to guarantee your success.
I remember, as a child walking in the mountains, coming upon a lovely pink lady slipper orchid. It was lying in the middle of the pathway and had obviously been recently wrenched from its home.
One could imagine an enthused gardener who had hoped to carry the wildflower back to their own garden. But when the plant had been pulled from the ground, most of its roots had remained behind. Looking at the exquisite bloom which had not yet wilted, I pondered the person who would have done this.
Even at an early age it had been instilled in me that wildflowers were sacred and to be appreciated in their natural setting. When you purchase native plants, especially from a mail order source, please ensure that it is stated that they are offer only cultivated – and not collected – varieties.
To sign up for our upcoming orchid program, please call the Arboretum office at 601-799-2311. For more information, see our program schedule on our website at www.crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu. Social media links can be found on our homepage. We are open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and located in Picayune, off I-59 Exit 4, at 370 Ridge Road (south of Walmart and adjacent to I-59).
For further exploration:
Who was Horace M. Albright, for whom Albright Grove in the Smoky Mountains was named?
How tall is the U.S. Champion tulip poplar?
If you do not know what a tulip poplar bloom looks like, find one on an internet search engine.
Lifestyles
Related Photos
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If you have an "eagle eye", you might be able to pick out an attractive bloom on a sweetbay magnolia, a tree commonly found in Pearl River County. Patricia Drackett
ARBORETUM PATHS: Sweetbay magnolia and our glorious native orchids
- Lifestyles
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Arboretum Paths
At the recent Master Naturalist training held at the Crosby Arboretum, Master Gardener Susan Swope discussed how using more natives in our landscapes can save us both time and money. She went on to describe some methods well-suited to lazy gardeners. One was to create planting beds in lawn areas. First, mow the grass as short as possible, then add layers of newspaper or cardboard, add a thick organic layer such as leaves, and there you go— less grass to mow.
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CBAC Did you know? program highlights dangers to senior citizens
Senior citizens face many dangers, said the speakers at the Did You Know? seminar at the Senior Center, and they sought to give the seniors information to help them navigate the risks. The Community Business Advisory Committee (CBAC) hosted the seminar at the Senior Center on Friday, May 17.
- 2013 Partners for Pearl River County By Jodi Marze The 10th class of Partners for Pearl River County celebrated its graduation at First Baptist Church on Friday, May 10, in the Fellowship Hall. The graduating class included: Jason Bounds, Nacole Dillon, Christy Goss, John Huck, Jeff McClain, Teenia Perry, Paul Reese, Brooke Rester, Eric Stafne, Richelle Stafne, Kristin Thibodeaux, Pat Tidmore, and Jim Walker. The staff is comprised of: Jo Woods, Tricia Knight, Shirley Wiltshire, Marilyn Bailey, Rod Lincoln and Scott Langlois (Program Chairman).
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Tami Harris takes state
Local business owner and community volunteer Tami Harris has won the coveted title of 2012 Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs-Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs (MFWC) Club Woman of the Year for the state of Mississippi. A member of the Civic Woman’s Club of Picayune, Harris is one of only three club members, along with Darlene Adams and Leslie Lincoln, to take the state title.
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Arboretum Paths
Last week, students participating in the 2013 Mississippi Master Naturalist Program visited the Crosby Arboretum for an all-day training. The session was part of 40 hours of field and classroom instruction they will receive, educating them about natural resource management and environmental stewardship, and is a part of their preparation to become Certified Mississippi Master Naturalists.
- Chamber Ribbon Cutting Children's International Medical Group held a grand opening and Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at their first Mississippi location, located in Picayune.
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Historic City Hall Dedication Friday
Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m. the New City Hall will be dedicated on Goodyear Boulevard. This event will coincide with the 75th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Old Historic City Hall building.
- PRC Community Band presents: An American Legacy The Pearl River County Community Band, under the direction of Johnny Baker, will present “An American Legacy: An afternoon of American music for concert bands,” on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at the Picayune Memorial High School Auditorium.
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Arboretum Paths
On their recent tour, fifth grade students from Lamar Christian School in Purvis encountered a seemingly endless variety of wildlife, ranging from crawfish to inchworms, to writhing masses of spiny, newly-emerged caterpillars. There is no such thing as a “typical” walk around the Arboretum’s Pond Journey and Pitcher Plant Bog. Every venture reveals something new to every group of visitors.
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Beebe returns to Main Street
“I was excited when the Picayune Main Street, Inc. Board of Directors asked me to return as manager to the local Main Street program. Also, extremely grateful to Picayune City Manager Jim Luke, Mayor Ed Pinero and city council for their blessings and approval to relocate our office,” says Beebe. “One of my favorite sayings is ‘There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.’ I have to say, I had a blast working on committees, projects and events with the most dedicated staff and group of volunteers in Pearl River County from March 2005 to May 2010. I look forward to getting new committees in place and working with ‘seasoned’ volunteers as well as new volunteers who share the same passion and desire to keep Picayune moving forward.”
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