Contact: Vanessa Beeson
Photo by: David Ammon, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station
STARKVILLE, Miss.--National Veterans Day will be celebrated Tuesday [Nov. 11] but one location at Mississippi State serves as a permanent, year-round outdoor tribute to former U.S. service members, including the more than 220,000 in the Magnolia State.
The university's Veterans Memorial Rose Garden is located across State Highway 182 from the main campus at the entrance of R. R. Foil Plant Science Research Center--commonly known as North Farm. The area features a central gazebo surrounded by raised brick-bordered beds and three arbors.
Compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the peaceful public space is home to more than 200 plants and 60 rose varieties, including Old Garden, modern shrub and groundcover. Spring and fall are the peak blooming seasons.
"The mission of the garden is to serve as a bridge between the community and university," said Guihong Bi. "We want this to be a place that honors veterans and gives back to the community.
"We strive to promote community involvement and are finding ways to expand that," added the associate research professor of plant and soil sciences who oversees garden operations.
In addition to ongoing community tours, the garden is the frequent meeting site for garden and master gardener organizations, among others. Several community seminars are being planned for next year.
Bi said the garden also is a classroom for courses ranging from those in her department to others in landscape architecture, turf grass management and photography. Additionally, a gardening experience class provides insight into home gardening techniques, while many community schools regularly incorporate a visit into their curricula.
Given its location on grounds of the Foil Plant Science Research Center, the garden is part of a multi-site study area for scientists with the MSU-based Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Currently, researchers are evaluating cultivars based on maintenance and sustainability at this and other MAFES branch stations around the state.
"The roses in the raised beds receive no chemical sprays, limited fertilizer and limited pruning and dead heading," Bi noted. "These roses are low-maintenance, disease-resistant varieties."
As even the most casual flower gardener knows, there are many challenges to rose cultivation in the Southeastern U.S. Heat, humidity, drought and a long growing season all can be stressful for the plants.
Bi said she and other researchers are working on identifying varieties most suitable for Mississippi's climate. In addition to identifying those requiring minimum maintenance, they are developing guidelines for best-management practices to help professional producers, landscapers and home gardeners.
Horticulture doctoral student Judson S. LeCompte said the garden's operation primarily is supported with donations from the general public.
"Public donations are essential to the garden," he said. "They help fund student workers who assist with the workload and help purchase the supplies needed to maintain the beauty of the garden."
LeCompte said the garden currently is accepting donations to erect a flagpole, and also has opportunities for donors to designate benches in memory of loved ones.
Information on contributing to the garden may be obtained from Jana Berkery, MSU Foundation associate director of annual giving, at 662-325-5977 or jberkery@foundation.msstate.edu.
For more about the garden itself, visit http://rosegarden.msstate.edu.
MSU is online at www.msstate.edu.