The middle of February in coastal Mississippi is early spring. OK, late winter, but that’s if you are looking backward, not forward. We deep southerners are not fond of cold. So yes, spring it is! It is also when our earliest blooming trees and shrubs begin to break their dormancy and flower – including the most dramatic of them – Swamp Red Maple, Acer rubrum.

Bozo’s Grocery is celebrating 68 years of serving up the finest fresh seafood, shrimp, crawfish, and signature seasonings on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The Pascagoula staple has become a popular tourist attraction and a local favorite, and for a good reason — it’s delicious. 

Mississippi is home to some up-and-coming artists. 

These young people may one day have their paintings, drawings, and sculptures displayed alongside the works of Walter Anderson, George Ohr, Richmond Barthe, Marie Hull, and other of our state’s most renowned artists. 

Dr. Holly Huye, professor in the School of Kinesiology and Nutrition at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), has been announced as the recipient of the 2025 Award for Outstanding Faculty Contributions to Service Learning in Higher Education Research by the Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning in Higher Education. The award is given to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in community-engaged research and/or scholarship on the teaching and learning of service-learning.

As much as we all love the Magnolia State, there is no doubt that Mississippi is one of the most overlooked places in the world. It is one of those things that many of us may struggle to wrap our heads around. Although we are often overlooked, this great state has made some grand contributions to the United States and the world. Some of these may surprise you. 

My go to recipe for feeding a crowd has always been jambalaya. It’s a simple recipe, inexpensive and delicious, and if you are not from this part of the South, maybe even a little exotic. Veggies, rice, sausage and spices, that’s pretty much it. 

Late winter and spring along the coastal areas of the northern Gulf can be pleasant – until the no-see-ums start to bite. Aptly named, these tiny little demons can become so numerous, they can make a sane person scream, holler, and use bad words. Of course, only the females bite – just saying.

But honestly, one of my favorite Valentine’s Day activities is taking place right now in the 3rd grade classes of Mooreville Elementary School of Lee County, Mississippi. It’s a geography-based project called A Valentine from all 50 States!