Browsing: Environment

When children are out of school for breaks, holidays, intercession or summer, many parents struggle with finding activities for informal learning to take place that aren’t in front of a screen. That is why the University of Southern Mississippi Center for STEM Education has created “S3—Sustainable STEM by the Sea” as an affordable outlet where coastal students discover the habitat and environment in their own back yards.

Among the many species of large wasps in our world, some create beautiful nests from raw materials around them. Paper wasps and hornets scrape wood fibers from trees to create their nests. Others use soil to create earthen structures, the most recognizable being that of Organ Pipe Mud Daubers.

There is something fishy going on in Moss Point, and it spreading across the country.

The Moss Point College and Career Technical Education Center Aquaculture Program is making waves that are affecting not only the fish it grows but also the booming AI developments that are overtaking the world. Aquaculture Instructor Misti Stelljes and three students will present their FishGuard AI technology in Washington, D.C. as a finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition.

I am so excited! 

We put up our hummingbird feeder this week, after we read reports of several hummingbird sightings in North Mississippi. Honestly, there are not many things on earth that are quite as amazing as a tiny hummingbird. So, I can hardly wait to see the first one that visits our new little farmhouse here in Blue Springs, Mississippi. It will be a treasured memory for my husband and me.

For those of you that are open to eating wild plants, you might want to check out a few tasty greens in your yard before you crank up that mower. Unless you have one of those highly managed lawns, free of pesky weeds, many of our common yard plants are edible. And spring is a great time to try some out. I have written about a couple of my favorites before, but as I am seeing many pop up this spring, this is a good time to promote a few.

What living thing in Mississippi is 540 years old, survived hurricanes Camille and Katrina, lived during the arrival of the French Explorer Sieur D’Iberville along with all wars on domestic soil and is still providing shade and beauty to all who walk nearby? Of course, it is a tree, but not just any tree. 

My friend Bob Brzuszek has done it! He has gotten the city of Starkville to not mow in March, to give pollinators a great start in early spring and highlight the diversity of native wildflowers that feed them. The city’s Go Wild initiative encourages homeowners to do the same and take the time to look for and learn about wildflowers and their pollinators (https://www.cityofstarkville.org/680/7316/Highlights).

While white sandy beaches and water as far as they eye can see are the first thoughts of visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as Shrek may say, the Gulf Coast is like an onion and it has many layers. To truly understand its beauty and importance, peel back the layers and discover what is behind the curtain of white sand and water.

Of the many types of wetlands in our landscape, Bayhead Swamps are nearest to us, often part of our backyards and neighborhoods. And yet, they are often recognized only as those “wet” and “muddy” domains where our children like to roam. And why not! Any child playing outdoors loves a mud puddle or ditch to explore. But let me share why these wet spots are a gift to us.

Mississippi State University faculty, staff and students planted trees today [Feb. 13] at Partnership Middle School for the second consecutive year, highlighting the role of hardwood species in landscapes and community spaces.

For many folks, owls are spooky and mysterious creatures. But the truth is that they are some of the most fascinating of the nocturnal creatures in our world. All owls are cool, but the coolest may be Great Horned Owls.

Many kinds of birds flock together in winter, for good reasons. Understanding why makes watching them fun and a chance to appreciate their roles in our world.

For many, wetlands are nice to look at but are otherwise mysterious places. Few people dare to tread through the water, mud, and muck that defines them. Staying on dry land is preferable, but without these wet elements of our landscape, our world would not benefit from the numerous functions and values that wetlands provide. Wetlands are a gift to most wildlife and certainly to humans, if only we paid attention.

Mississippians have long memories when it comes to weather. We remember hurricanes by name, floods by river height, and winter storms by the silence that follows when the power goes out and the world turns glassy and still. That’s why this week’s forecast has many North Mississippi families thinking back to February 1994.

Have you ever wondered why tides are lowest in winter along the northern Gulf of Mexico? Along our beaches, sand flats become exposed hundreds of feet from shore. In shallow bayous, the water can drain almost completely. Wonder no more, it is all about how our planet tilts and spins through the seasons, and the unique nature of the gulf we call home.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) has a lot going on this month – as always. But the MDWFP wants Mississippians to remember two important dates, both of which involve hunting.